The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1321

Stella and Haynes both ignored Israel, deeming it beneath them to even engage with a man like him.

Stella turned her attention to Skyler. "Father, you must have come all this way for a reason. Is something important going on?"

"Jonathan," Skyler said, his voice grim, "give Star the video."

Jonathan handed a phone to Stella. She pressed play and was met with footage of Gibson's interrogation.

At first, Gibson was tight-lipped, remaining stubbornly silent no matter what the Williams family asked. But as Skyler's patience wore thin, Jonathan had his men employ... other methods. Gibson held out for a while, but eventually, he broke.

"That pretty boy, Joshua, he told me Stella ordered him to kill Stuart," Gibson rasped on screen. "Otherwise... why would a lowly bodyguard kill Stuart? They had no history, no grudge. He did it to prove his loyalty to me, even helping me kidnap Keen. Then he played the hero, coming to the rescue alone to clear his own name and make the Williams family owe him big time. He killed my son. I didn't believe a word he said, but I figured I could use his little scheme to trap them both. Hahaha, I heard the pretty boy and that ungrateful brat almost died. Serves them right!"

Skyler, of course, didn't buy Gibson's one-sided story. But just as he was about to press for more, Gibson lunged, smashing his own head against the wall and killing himself instantly.

Skyler and Jonathan were left stunned.

Power was only comforting when held in your own hands.

Skyler's voice cut through Aurora's thoughts. "Star, whether Gibson was trying to frame you or not, this all started with Joshua. If he hadn't killed Stuart, would Keen have been kidnapped?"

"Just say it," Stella replied, her voice flat. "What do you want?"

Jonathan's tone was severe. "I've looked into this Joshua. His background is a blank slate. He's a menace, and you can't keep him around. If you find it difficult to handle him, we can be the bad guys for you."