The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Even now, she was still determined to keep her promise.

Leonard was the kind of man who would keep his word, but only if it involved someone he actually cared about. When it came to a promise made to an enemy... well, that was just another weapon in his arsenal-a way to toy with them.

Leonard arched an eyebrow, clearly surprised by Stella's willingness to go through with it.

He pretended to consider for a few seconds. "But Ms. Cameron, if you don't do it yourself, won't it look like we're ganging up on a defenseless woman? If you go complaining afterward, that could get us in a lot of trouble."

Although his words sounded cautious, his face betrayed not the slightest hint of fear or concern.

Stella understood: Leonard didn't actually care whether she did it herself.

Her lips, drained of all color, trembled as she spoke. "Then what exactly do you intend, Mr. Lerman?"

Leonard grinned at her. "Since you're not exactly in fighting shape, I won't make things hard for you. Let's try something new. When I break your hand in a minute, for every scream you let out, I'll send one of your dear friends a man to keep them company. How does that sound?"

Sellers flinched at that, unable to hide his discomfort.

People couldn't control themselves when wracked with pain; screaming was almost automatic. In fact, it was the body's way of coping-a small, desperate defense mechanism.

Leonard's suggestion that Stella shouldn't even cry out was tantamount to killing her.

There was no pain quite like the agony that shot through your fingers and into your heart.

Sellers worried Leonard had gone too far. He spoke up, his voice edged with unease. “Leonard, that's enough. She's already been taught a lesson. In her condition, she probably won't ever play the violin again. She's been missing for a while now-people out there must be searching everywhere. We should get out of here before things get dangerous."

Leonard shot him a cold glance. "What's there to be afraid of? As long as we have Stella, Foreman and his people won't dare make a move.

If you don't want to get your hands dirty, just stay out of the way."

Sellers frowned, realizing that the ways he'd imagined punishing Stella were child's play compared to Leonard's. Leonard's methods were ruthless-almost disturbingly so.

If it had been up to him, at most he'd have someone ruin Stella's hand. But Leonard wanted more than that he wanted Stella to destroy herself.

Stella was having the best year of her career, making waves on the international stage. If nothing went wrong, she was a shoo-in for the championship this time.

To shatter her hand, to destroy her mother's cherished violin, to tear apart her future and her

passion-wasn't that punishment enough? There was simply no need for this kind of sadistic cruelty.

Sellers might not have been a good man, but tormenting a woman like this crossed a line he wasn't willing to step over.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden gasp-Abby's voice, sharp with outrage.noveldrama

"Leonard! You're a despicable, cowardly bastard! What kind of man tortures a woman?"

Leonard barely spared her a glance. He simply lifted his foot and brought it down, hard, on Stella's hand.

Abby's eyes filled with tears of rage. "Star!"

Breaking your own hand would hurt,

but at least you'd be braced for

it-you'd have some measure of control. But Leonard's boot was like a sledgehammer, slamming down with merciless force.

Stella heard the sickening snap of bones in her hand, one after another.

The pain nearly made her scream, nearly broke her. But at the last second, she

bit back the cry, swallowing it whole.