The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1435

But Leonard had let her go with such nonchalance.

Leonard added, "The reason I compensated Aurora was because of your stupid mistake, which gave the Williams family leverage. Without that compensation, do you think they would have let you off so easily?"

Simone's lips parted. "I… I was just trying to help you. Besides, you didn't even touch Aurora. How can she accept those shares with a clear conscience? It's not like you ever did anything to wrong her over the years. If anyone wronged anyone, it was her who wronged you. We don't owe them anything, so why should we have to compensate her? If anything, she owes you. The Williams family should be the ones compensating you!"

"If you were given something, would you be willing to spit it back out?" Leonard said coolly. "Besides, I gave her those things willingly. There's no reason to ask for them back. Money is just an object. I don't want to stay entangled with the Williams family over something so trivial. It's better to pay for some peace and quiet."

Simone stared at Leonard, looking at him as if she'd seen a ghost. To hear such words coming from his mouth was surreal. Leonard was the most competitive person she knew; aside from the Williams family, it was rare for anyone to get the better of him. It wasn't surprising he'd let Aurora take advantage of him. But for Leonard to utter such a philosophical sentiment was almost unbelievable.

Previously, Simone had thought his talk of paying to sever ties with the Williams family was a strategic retreat, a ploy to reawaken Aurora's conscience. But now…

It seemed Leonard might have genuinely meant it.

"Leonard, what has gotten into you lately?" Simone's gaze drifted to his computer. "You haven't really fallen for someone online, have you?"

Leonard's brow furrowed slightly. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just chatting with an artist I admire."

Simone wasn't convinced it was that simple. To prevent Leonard from being hurt by Aurora only to stumble into another disaster, she began to earnestly persuade him.

Simone said, "Leonard, have you ever considered that this Summer might be one of the Williamses? What if it's Jonathan, Israel, or Coleman? Or what if it's Skyler?"

Leonard, however, dismissed the idea without a second thought.

"Summer could never be a Williams."

Simone said urgently, "Leonard, the flowers are from the Williams' backyard! The probability that the artist is a Williams is extremely high. You can't just jump out of the fire pit that is Aurora and into another one!"