The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1195

“These days…”

He hesitated for a moment before deciding to warn Stella.

“Ms. Cameron, it’s best if you keep your distance from him—for your own safety.”

At that moment, Joshua’s mind was barely functioning. Sometimes, he didn’t even seem to know what he was doing.

What separates humans from animals is our sense of right and wrong—our self-control. But right now, Joshua was nothing more than a wild beast, completely untethered from reason.

Anyone who got too close was at risk.

But Stella was different to him. Even so, Harold wasn’t willing to gamble with Stella’s safety.

What if, when Joshua came back to his senses, he regretted ever hurting her? What then?

After a pause, Harold continued, “You could lock him in his room. There’s no need to bring him any food—just leave some water.”

“Trust me, Joshua won’t blame you later.”

No food meant he’d be too weak to be truly dangerous. That’s how they had handled it before.

Stella frowned deeply. How was this any way to treat a person? Even if someone was perfectly fine, being locked up for three days on nothing but water would drive anyone mad with hunger.

Suddenly, she found herself believing everything Joshua had told her. No wonder he said he didn’t have friends, or that he rarely confided in Harold. Harold really wasn’t the most reliable person.

Still, she kept those thoughts to herself.

“I understand. Thank you,” she replied.

Harold seemed to think she’d taken his advice to heart. “Ms. Cameron, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call me.”

“All right.”

He went on and on, pitching his wares, until Stella began to wonder if she’d wandered into an adult boutique by mistake.

She forced a polite smile. “Thanks, but I won’t be needing those.”

The owner grinned. “If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”

—

Back in the apartment, Joshua was still fast asleep, his brow furrowed in pain.

Stella paused in the doorway, watching him lie there so quietly. After a moment, she walked over to his side.

“Joshua, wake up. You should eat something.”

She had barely come near the bed when he snapped awake. His eyes were cold, empty—tinged with a wild, bloodshot glint that made Stella’s heart skip a beat.