The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1765

Beckett pressed his lips together. "What a pain. He's the one in love, and we have to be his bodyguards… This is so annoying."

Laurel knew he had agreed.

She smiled. "I knew it. When it comes down to it, you would never abandon Joshua."

"I'm only doing it for you," Beckett said stubbornly.

Laurel mercilessly called his bluff. "You're more of a drama queen than any woman I know. No wonder you're still single."

Beckett's eyes widened as he stared at her, annoyed.

"You… you're making fun of me too?!"

"I've been married, and Joshua has a girlfriend," Laurel pointed out. "You're the only one who's perpetually single. Doesn't that tell you something?"

Beckett was furious, but for a moment, he couldn't find a comeback. He just left, stewing in his anger.

-

The doctor carefully applied medicine to Leonard's wound.

Leonard said little, and the doctor didn't dare ask questions, though getting injured so severely was certainly strange.

Stella sat in the medical room, watching the doctor treat Leonard's wound.

She suddenly remembered that, aside from Haynes O'Brien, the only person she had ever stabbed was Leonard.

What was most terrifying was that each time she stabbed him, he seemed completely indifferent, not even trying to dodge.

Could he have some kind of weird fetish? The more it hurts, the happier he is?

Stella couldn't help but wonder if that first time she'd stabbed Leonard had opened up a whole new world for him.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

She had no idea how she was supposed to act around this man from now on.

A psycho was one thing, but a smart psycho was terrifying.

If she ever got back, she would be sure to tell Aurora to stab Leonard a few more times; he'd probably become utterly devoted to her.

"I probably would have gone back," Stella said. "Even if I wanted to continue with my career, I would never have had any peace without handing over the original shares."

Leonard looked at her. "You're very honest."

Stella tried to hold it back, but she couldn't.

"I hate you, so I have no interest in exploiting your guilt or feelings for me. Leonard, I will never forgive you."

"Fine," Leonard said. "Then never forgive me."

Stella fell silent.

Leonard's dark eyes, as deep and black as ink, rested on her.

"Since you're so unwilling to stay here, I can give you a chance to leave early."

Stella's head snapped up to look at him.

Leonard continued, "If you can prepare a birthday gift for me for every year from my birth until now, and celebrate one birthday with me, I'll let you go."