The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 2148

Queenie made a firm resolution to keep her mouth entirely shut regarding anything involving Stella.

She didn't want to get trapped by Joshua's interrogation and end up shooting herself in the foot.

She couldn't even outsmart Stella—trying to manipulate Joshua would be absolute suicide.

The door clicked shut, cutting off all sound from the hallway.

Joshua glanced at Queenie. "Take a seat. Give me a minute to finish this game."

"Okay," Queenie said, awkwardly perching on the edge of the sofa.

Joshua picked up his phone and completely immersed himself in his game.

Half an hour ticked by. Queenie had rehearsed every possible excuse in her head, ready to deflect whatever trap he laid for her.

But Joshua showed absolutely no signs of stopping.

Queenie began to fidget, her anxiety spiking.

She had been bracing for a brutal interrogation.

Instead, he had just brought her in here to play games on his phone.

What was his problem?

Was he deliberately giving her the silent treatment just to mess with her head?

She cursed him out internally but didn't dare make a sound to rush him.

Finally, Aurora, who had been pacing the hallway, knocked tentatively on the door.

"Joshua? Queenie? Are you guys done?"

Hearing the knock, Joshua finally looked up from his screen.

He turned to Queenie. "Since Aurora is getting impatient, you can go."

Queenie stared at him, bewildered. "Didn't you say you needed to talk to me privately? We're not talking?"

His tone was completely indifferent. "I did have a question for you earlier. But after playing that round, I forgot what it was. Sorry to waste your time."

Queenie: "???"

Her brain short-circuited. She couldn't comprehend what kind of twisted psychological game he was playing.

When neither of them answered the door, Aurora knocked louder.

"Joshua? Queenie? Is everything okay?"

"Come in, Ms. Williams. We're finished," Joshua called out.

Aurora practically shoved the door open.

His demeanor grew even colder. "If there's nothing else, you can leave."

Aurora's eyes darkened for a split second before she forced a radiant smile.

She pulled an elegant envelope from her designer bag and held it out to him.

"Joshua, I'm hosting an art exhibition early next month. It would mean the world to me if you came."

"We'll see," he said dismissively.

Aurora's smile faltered. 'We'll see' was polite society code for a hard pass.

She rushed to salvage the situation. "Joshua, even if I failed your test and didn't earn your backing, can't we at least still be friends?"

"This has nothing to do with the exhibition," he interrupted cleanly.

"If it's not about the exhibition, then what is it?"

Joshua looked at her, his eyes dark and entirely unreadable.

"Ms. Williams, I told you earlier, I despise being lied to. Failing to show up on time just means you lack resolve.

But looking me in the eye and feeding me a fabricated story? That is an entirely different offense."

Aurora's heart plummeted. "Fabricated story? Joshua, I don't understand what you mean."