The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1229

"It was dark that night, and the cameras didn't pick him up," Simone said softly. "It's possible you saw wrong. You misunderstood him last time, too, didn't you?"

Simone had never believed that Joshua was the one who tried to kill Leonard. She was convinced it was just an excuse her brother had fabricated to keep them apart.

Leonard laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "You'd choose a man with ulterior motives over your own brother! Fine. Just fine. What a wonderful sister you are!"

Simone had been at the hospital for a day and a night, and instead of gratitude, she was met with accusations. A cold laugh escaped her lips.

"And what about you, brother? You'd do anything for Aurora, wouldn't you? When it came down to it, you were even willing to abandon your own sister. You have no right to lecture me."

She was referring to the time they had both been kidnapped, and Leonard had chosen to save Aurora.

At Simone's words, Aurora's gaze shifted, and she cast a subtle glance at her. Simone had always avoided talking about that incident. It was understandable that she wouldn't want to revisit such a traumatic event, and to avoid reopening the wound, Aurora had never brought it up either. She had no idea Simone harbored such deep resentment over it.

Leonard was stunned into silence.

The air in the room grew thick and heavy. For a long moment, no one spoke.

Suddenly, a knock at the door shattered the silence.

"I'll get it," Aurora said, rising from her chair.

A delivery man stood in the hallway. "Package for Mr. Leonard Lerman."

Without waiting for a response, he handed a small box to Aurora, turned, and walked away. Aurora looked down at the box, her brow furrowed in confusion.

She returned to the room.

"Aurora, what is that?" Leonard asked.

Aurora plugged the drive into the computer. It contained a single video file. Curious, she clicked it open.

On the screen, a familiar-looking severed arm appeared. A large hound was tearing at it, gnawing on the flesh as if it were a ham hock. Simone and Aurora could clearly see the watch on the wrist and the black and gold ring on the middle finger.

It was Leonard's.

After the dog had finished its meal, the screen went black.

Time seemed to stop.

Leonard's eyes turned blood-red, and the sound of his teeth grinding filled the silent room.

"Joshua," he roared, "I will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"