The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 2048

Stella gave a slight nod. "You probably know why I came to see you today. It's about Joshua showing up in Solmaris out of nowhere. I wanted to ask if you had any prior notice."

"After Beckett and I left Aetheria three years ago, we gradually lost touch with Joshua," Laurel explained.

"For the last two years, there's been almost no contact. I genuinely had no idea he was coming to Solmaris."

Stella hesitated. "Why is he here? Is there a problem with his... hypnosis?"

"He says the Gardner Heirloom went missing. He came specifically to find it."

Stella was taken aback. "The Gardner Heirloom is lost?"

Laurel looked at her closely. "You didn't know about it either? It seems it might have truly been lost under special circumstances."

Stella understood what Laurel was getting at.

Her mind raced through all the gifts Joshua had ever given her.

He had showered her with enough rare treasures to fill a castle—she could literally open a museum.

For a family as astronomically wealthy as the Gardners, their heirloom had to be priceless.

Yet, Joshua had never once mentioned it to her, nor had he ever shown any particular attachment to any of the items he gifted her.

The heirloom definitely wasn't in her possession.

Besides, something like a family heirloom wasn't just handed out casually.

"If he's only here to find the heirloom, he shouldn't be staying too long," Stella reasoned.

Laurel massaged her throbbing temples. "Joshua never plays by the rules. I can't read his mind or figure out his real intentions.

Looking for the heirloom is one thing, but tracking down whoever played the violin back then? I have no idea what he's really scheming."

"Should we ask Harold and Jake?" Stella suggested. "They're his assistants. They must know what he's planning."

Laurel immediately shut that down. "Ms. Cameron, absolutely do not ask them. Don't even go near them."

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