The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1359

A thought struck her, and her expression turned serious. "Joshua, this isn't a family heirloom, is it?"

"No," Joshua replied. "The family heirloom is still with me."

Even so, judging by its ancient design, it was undoubtedly priceless. Stella thought of the fifty billion he had invested for her and suddenly felt that her past attempts to impress him with money had been almost insulting.

After a moment's thought, she decided not to refuse it. "Thank you, Joshua."

A smile finally bloomed on Joshua's face. He had seemed on edge ever since receiving her gifts, and Stella had worried that she had been presumptuous and given him things he didn't like.

"It's not as convenient to wear traditional pendants these days," Joshua said, "so I had it modified. You can wear it as a necklace." He stepped closer. "May I help you put it on?"

"Yes," Stella agreed.

Joshua took the pendant from the box and fastened it around her neck.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back.

Stella noticed his hesitation. "I love it," she said sincerely. "I'll wear it always."

Joshua's eyes, like deep, clear pools, rippled with gentle waves of emotion. "Star, I love all the gifts you gave me," he said softly. He lowered his gaze to meet hers. "Today has been the happiest day of my life. No one has ever done so much for me."

"From now on," Stella promised, "you'll be this happy every year."

"Did you deliver it?" Jake asked immediately.

"I did," Harold sighed. "I never thought I'd see the legendary Gardner family heirloom pendant with my own eyes."

"You don't think Mr. Gardner actually intends to give the other half to Stella, do you?" Jake asked.

"It looks that way."

Jake was quiet for a few seconds. "Stella probably has no idea that her half of the pendant represents half of the Gardner family's fortune and power. The first Gardner patriarch was deeply in love with his wife, so he split the heirloom in two, hoping his descendants would enjoy the same kind of harmonious and loving marriage. He never could have imagined that, after him, the half representing so much power would never be given away again. I mean, who would willingly give away half of their power, even to their own spouse?"

And yet, not only was Joshua willing to give Stella half while he was alive, but his will stipulated that she would inherit everything if something were to happen to him. Jake suspected that if Joshua weren't worried about being powerless to protect her, his lovesickness would drive him to give her everything he owned right now.