The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1343

Stella thought of all the injustices she had suffered at Rachel's hands, how Haynes had constantly used his own sense of guilt to make her endure and compromise. She knew that feeling all too well. She had sworn to herself she would never become another Haynes.

But Joshua's response left her confused.

"You don't feel wronged?" she asked.

A small smile touched his lips. "Star, I don't feel wronged at all. Conceding something for someone unworthy—that's what feels wrong. But if the person is worth it, I'd willingly give my life."

He paused, then added, "Star, from now on, you don't owe Foreman anything, okay?"

Stella's eyes began to burn, a lump forming in her throat. Foreman had been good to her, had helped her immensely. But to repay that kindness with Joshua's near-death experience was fundamentally unfair to him. Joshua was always like this. Whether it was with Keen or Foreman, he never put her in a difficult position.

She looked down into his calm, deep eyes. "And what about you?"

"Me?" Joshua asked.

"All the debts I owe you," she said. "How can I ever repay them?"

He smiled. "I just told you. Everything I do for you, I do willingly. And when something is done willingly, there are no debts or favors."

"How did you know?" Stella asked, surprised.

"A guess," he said.

"You can guess something like that?"

He smiled. "She was willing to cooperate with you and go public. That tells me she wanted more than just to marry into the Williams family. If that was her only goal, she would have used the information to threaten them and negotiate terms. Instead, she let the news explode, tarnishing Israel's name and the pristine image the Williamses have cultivated for years. Even if she did marry into the family after that, do you think they would ever accept her? No one, from top to bottom, would welcome her. If she were truly that cunning, she wouldn't have chosen to leak the story. It was the option with the smallest personal gain."