The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Neville watched Foreman's face closely, searching for any hint of truth or deception in his expression.

But who was Foreman? The man was far too practiced to let anyone read him so easily.

Neville found nothing. There was no time to waste on subtle games, so he got straight to the point.

"Foreman, Star disappeared in Sandford. You must know something. Star trusts you-she's always considered you a good friend. I don't think you want anything to happen to her, do you?"

For a split second, Foreman faltered, but he quickly masked it, his composure snapping back into place.

If even Foreman couldn't find her in Sandford, how could Neville possibly succeed? And if Neville managed to track her down, Foreman would look all the more incompetent.

Foreman replied, "It's true, I was the one who welcomed Star when she arrived in Sandford. But recently, I was attacked and ended up in the hospital. I've been recovering, so I haven't had much contact with her."

He paused, as if something had just occurred to him, then looked at Neville. "By the way, as far as I know, Mr. Connolly, you've always had people shadowing Star to keep her safe, haven't you? So, don't your men know where she is?"

Neville's eyes darkened. After receiving Joshua's call back at Neo-Vespera, he'd tried to reach the bodyguards watching Star. They, too, had vanished.

If the bodyguards had disappeared, it was all the more likely something terrible had happened to Stella.

Neville fixed Foreman with a hard stare. "Star's disappearance isn't a trivial matter. I've heard she may have crossed paths with Leonard. If Leonard took her, then she's in real danger. Right now, I'm asking everyone to put aside their grudges and keep Star's safety as the priority."

A brief silence hung in the air before Foreman responded. "If Star vanished on my watch, I suppose that's my failing. But I honestly have no idea where she is. I only realized she was missing after Joshua called me not long ago. Strange, isn't it? Even I didn't know she was gone-so how did Joshua, a bodyguard who's supposed to be on leave, find out? I'm looking for Star too, Mr. Connolly. If I hear anything, you'll be the first to know."

Neville could see Foreman wasn't going to give him anything more. He didn't plan to waste any more time here. He gave Foreman a long, cold look.

"If anything happens to Star because you put your own interests first, I promise you-I won't let it go."

But he knew, without real evidence, there was little he could do to Foreman.

Neville left without another word. Once inside the car, he turned to his assistant. "Have someone keep tabs on Foreman. Quietly. If he does anything unusual, I want to know immediately."

"Yes, Mr. Connolly."

***

When Abby came to, the first thing she saw was Nocturne Stella being destroyed. She froze, horrified, and tried to stop it-but it was already too late.

She saw Stella, eyes red from crying, struggling desperately against the grip of the bodyguards restraining her.

Then Abby's gaze landed on a young man standing above Stella, looking down at her with chilling detachment.

She'd never met him, but she knew instantly who he was.

"Leonard!"

This was the very man they'd been hiding from.

At the sound of her voice, Leonard turned to look at her. "Ms. Murphy is awake."

His face was expressionless, but his eyes were ice-cold. He didn't bother with the gentle pretense he showed to Stella-there was no warmth for Abby. . noveldrama