The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1763

But neither of them knew anything.

Simone was more cooperative, racking her brain every day to think of places Leonard might be hiding. Aside from losing her freedom, she hadn't suffered much.

But Aurora was a different story.

She acted entitled, relying on her status as a Williams and as Stella's sister, refusing to even offer any clues.

At first, Joshua had been hesitant, but as time dragged on, he was on the verge of madness and ordered his men to use harsher methods on Aurora.

Every day, Aurora was subjected to electroshock "treatment" to her head. Since she claimed to have forgotten, Joshua was determined to make her remember. She was also subjected to extensive lie-detector tests.

Her spirit was being utterly crushed.

Joshua glanced expressionlessly at Laurel Quinn before turning to a doctor in a white coat standing silently nearby. "Did you hear that? She's a Williams. She can't be missing for too long. I'm giving you a few more days to completely cure her amnesia."

The doctors each held cold, intimidating instruments. At Joshua's words, beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

"Yes… We'll do our best."

Then, the doctors began to "treat" Aurora's head with medical devices Laurel didn't recognize.

"Ahhh!"

The screams were incessant, echoing throughout the room.

Laurel watched, stunned. The words of protest she wanted to say were stuck in her throat.

She had only seen Joshua this grim and out of control once before, right before she had hypnotized him. He hadn't been like this in a long time.

The sounds of Aurora's agony lasted for about half an hour before finally falling silent.

Without so much as a glance at Laurel, Joshua left the room.

Aurora lay unconscious on the floor. From her struggles, the iron chains had left a ring of bruises around her wrists.

Laurel took one last look at Aurora and left the dungeon as well.

Joshua was already gone. Laurel knew that trying to persuade him now was useless; he wouldn't listen.

She had to find Beckett Torres.

Beckett scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. "Why are you even bothering? Let him burn for all I care. Kidnapping a Williams heiress—honestly, he's digging his own grave. And if he was going to do it, the least he could do was cover his damn tracks instead of leaving you to sweep up his mess. If those families find out we're involved, they'll put a target right on our backs. You're just enabling him, Laurel."

Laurel's expression clouded with worry. "Stella's disappearance has completely unhinged him. He's past the point of caring about the consequences. If this goes on any longer, he's going to go on a rampage. Solmaris is going to be a bloodbath."