The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 883

A glimmer of delight flashed in Simone’s eyes. “Big brother, you’re finally done with work?”

Leonard’s voice was deep and low. “Yeah. Those old men in the family, clinging to power just because of their age, always scheming to keep control. They never stop to consider whether they’re actually up to the task.”

Simone tilted her head, curiosity in her voice. “Have you ever met the head of the Gardner family?”

Leonard’s tone lifted a little. “The head of the Gardners? I met the previous patriarch a few times, but never the current one. Why do you ask?”

Simone hesitated, her voice turning shy. “Big brother, if I were to marry him, would you approve?”

Leonard’s tone shifted. “Marry him? Simone, how do you even know him? Are you sure he’s really the head of the Gardner family?”

Simone nodded. “I don’t think I’m mistaken.”

With that, she recounted to Leonard how she had come to know Joshua, explaining everything from the beginning.

Leonard listened, astonished. “That’s quite something, Simone. You did well this time.”

The Lerman and Gardner families hadn’t had much direct contact, but the Gardners were powerful enough to rival any of the major families. Their hidden wealth and influence were not to be underestimated.

If Simone truly had a connection with the Gardner patriarch, and if it could lead to something more, it would be a tremendous asset for the Lermans.

As an illegitimate son who’d clawed his way to the top, Leonard’s position was anything but secure. Even now, there were those in the family still plotting to unseat him. But if he could form an alliance with Joshua, no one would dare challenge him.

Simone beamed with pride at her brother’s praise.

Still, Leonard’s expression darkened. “But this is Novaris. Some things are harder to accomplish here. And there are always a few fools getting in my way, trying to ruin my plans.”

Until now, Simone had never considered Stella important enough to mention, so she’d hardly spoken of her. Aurora, for her part, never gossiped or spoke ill of others, so she’d never brought Stella up either. To Leonard, Stella was a complete unknown.

“Big brother,” Simone explained, “Stella is Aurora’s half-sister. Aurora’s mother died because of Stella’s mother.”

Leonard’s own connection to Aurora had been just as dramatic.

Back then, Leonard was just a disregarded bastard, barely scraping by under the Lerman family’s roof. During a family banquet, he had overheard Aurora’s uncle telling her about her mother. That’s when Leonard realized that the glamorous, ever-poised socialite Aurora was, in fact, an illegitimate child herself.

Leonard, who had survived in the Lerman household by any means necessary, was far from naive. After that talk, he’d deliberately approached Aurora, telling her he’d heard everything, and asking if she planned to silence him.

But Aurora had only smiled, calm and unflustered. “Why would I need to? Is being an illegitimate child a crime worthy of death?”