The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 2175

He wasn't deliberately avoiding her or giving her the cold shoulder; he acted exactly like a casual acquaintance.

Sitting beside him, Juniper watched him finish a pastry and asked with a mix of nervousness and anticipation, "How is it, Joshua? Does it taste good?"

Joshua nodded. "Yes, it's very good."

Hearing this, a joyous smile blossomed on Juniper's face, and a soft blush crept over her cheeks.

It was the unmistakable look and smile of a woman receiving a compliment from the man she loved.

Witnessing this, Stella felt a suffocating wave of despair.

She lowered her eyes slightly, taking a sip of tea to hide her reaction.

Beside her, Leonard's low, raspy voice cut through the air. "You and Mr. Gardner are close, Miss Croft?"

Juniper turned to look at Leonard. "Yes, Joshua and I are friends."

Leonard's tone grew deeply intriguing. "Mr. Gardner certainly has quite a few female friends."

Juniper looked surprised. "Does he? As far as I know, aside from Laurel Quinn, he doesn't really have any other friends."

As if remembering something, Juniper smiled softly.

"I forgot, I count as one too.

But Joshua and Laurel rarely meet or keep in touch. They're no different from ordinary acquaintances. Why does it sound like you think he's some sort of ladies' man, Mr. Lerman?"

Leonard remarked, "You're quite defensive of him."

Juniper answered matter-of-factly, "Joshua is my friend. Of course I'd defend him."

Leonard pressed on, "Since you think his relationship with Laurel is nothing special, do you think your relationship with him is very close?"

Juniper replied carefully, "I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'very close,' Mr. Lerman.

Stella, who had barely spoken a word since seeing Joshua, suddenly asked, "You used to be a hacker?"

Juniper admitted it outright. "When you're young, you always think you're invincible and want to try everything.

Who knew reality would hit me that hard?

After being defeated that time, I realized I probably wasn't cut out for it, so I quit hacking.

Besides, I had already built up a decent nest egg. Retiring and living a quiet life now isn't an issue at all."

Stella remembered the cyberattack on her company shortly after she had first arrived in Solmaris.

Could it be... that the hacker who attacked her back then was Juniper?

Leonard seemed to connect the dots as well. He asked on Stella's behalf, "Since you're no longer in the hacking business, may I ask if you had a code name?"