The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1950

Joshua smiled cryptically. "Take a guess."

Stella thought for a moment. "When I celebrated your birthday with you?"

She could tell he had been genuinely moved that night.

Joshua offered a mysterious grin. "I think that was when you realized you liked me. If you hadn't, why would you have gone to so much trouble?

If it was just about saying thank you, Neville helped you plenty, but I don't recall you throwing any surprise birthday parties for him."

Stella blinked, entirely speechless for a few seconds.

He... actually had a point.

It was just that at the time, her mind hadn't been focused on romance, so she hadn't analyzed her own actions.

Joshua continued, "I fell for you long before you fell for me, and long before I even realized it myself.

When I found out Leonard had ruined your hand, I was absolutely furious."

Stella smiled and asked, "Was that when you realized I was your 'Moonlight' all along?"

Joshua simply smiled back. "I think it was even earlier than that."

He checked his watch, his tone turning secretive. "Star, I need to step away for just a minute. Wait right here for me."

Stella was curious, but she didn't press him.

"Alright."

She waited in the same spot for quite a while, but there was still no sign of Joshua.

A faint trace of worry began to ripple through her chest.

By now, the sky had turned completely black.

A pale, luminous moon cast a sheer wash of silver over the grounds.

Stella strolled slowly along the marble pathways of the garden.

The surrounding lampposts flickered on, illuminating the dark.

The garden was blissfully serene, wrapped in the quiet embrace of an artificial lake.

She walked a full circle but couldn't spot Joshua anywhere.

As the final note faded away, Joshua turned his head, his gaze locking unerringly onto hers.

In the brief time he'd been gone, he had changed into an impeccably tailored black suit. His hair had been flawlessly styled, elevating his devastating looks to an entirely new level of perfection.

Perhaps it was the magnificent lighting, the overwhelming fragrance of the flowers, or the pure romance of the moment, but as he slowly walked toward her, Stella couldn't help but feel he was practically glowing.

Within moments, Joshua stopped right in front of her.

Before she could even fully process what was happening, he gracefully dropped to one knee, offering up a stunning diamond ring.

"Star, marry me."

Stella's eyes widened in sheer shock, the breath completely catching in her throat.

She stared down at the incredible man kneeling before her, totally paralyzed by the sheer magnitude of the moment.

When she married Haynes, there had been no romantic proposal; they had simply signed the paperwork.

Even when she had agreed to marry Joshua, she hadn't given a thought to the tradition of a formal proposal.

Their wedding preparations were already underway, yet Joshua had still gone out of his way to plan something so spectacularly romantic just for her.