The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Joshua stopped and glanced back at him.

"Were you calling me?"

Jasper nodded, his brows furrowed. "What are you doing here?"

This man was strikingly handsome-impossible to forget. Jasper remembered clearly: yesterday, Joshua had arrived with Abby and the others.

Joshua's face didn't so much as twitch. "What else? I'm here to see a doctor."

Jasper gave him a suspicious once-over. "A doctor? What could possibly be wrong with you? Don't tell me you're here to stir up trouble for Rachel because of that woman, Stella."

Joshua replied lazily, "Not everyone has as much free time as you, sir."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Jasper watched Joshua's retreating back, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.

When he returned to the hospital room, Rachel's eyes widened in shock at the sight of Jasper's bruised and battered face.

"Jasper, what happened to your eye?"

The question made Jasper's anger flare all over again. He ground his teeth. "I went out to get lunch and ran into some lunatic who started screaming that I was having an affair with his girlfriend. Before I could even respond, the guy punched me right in the face! I wasn't about to let that slide, so I chased after him, but the bastard lured me into an alley, tripped me on purpose, and sent me sprawling face-first onto the pavement. Then he took off before I could get up."

His expression twisted in frustration. "If I hadn't promised to bring back your lunch, I'd have dragged that rat back here myself!"

The truth was, Jasper had tried to fight back, but the other guy was just too much for him.

There was one detail he didn't share with Rachel-something that wounded his pride as a man. That devious jerk had also landed a kick square where it hurt most. Jasper was still clenching his teeth from the pain. Even the way he walked now was stiff and awkward.

He was never one to let things go, so he immediately phoned Foreman, asking him to track the guy down.

Rachel's face froze for a split second after hearing the story.

Joshua had said earlier that his people were keeping Jasper occupied. Was this Jasper's "accident" Joshua's handiwork?

Most people would try to stall someone by spilling a drink, asking for directions, or maybe picking à pocket. But Joshua? Of course he'd

his fists to "stall" someone.

Jasper, standing there now, looked like a kicked dog, utterly pitiful. There was nothing left of the polished rich kid he usually

pretended to be. Not even after his stint in jail had Rachel seen him so thoroughly humiliated.

Rachel was still lost in thought when Jasper's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Rachel, here's your lunch. Go ahead and eat. I... need to take care of something. I'll be back in a bit."

With that, he hurried out of the room.noveldrama

He needed to get himself checked out, fast. If something important got damaged, what then? He had no intention of living the rest of his life as a eunuch.

After leaving the hospital, Joshua headed to Stella's studio.

Earlier that morning, Abby had driven him over to familiarize him with the place. She'd also handed hima bank card so he could get whatever supplies he needed.

When Joshua entered, he spotted a young woman at the piano, playing a familiar

tune. To his surprise, it was his favorite-Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."

He arched an eyebrow. Was this piece really so popular? Did people play it everywhere these days?

Sensing someone's gaze, Candida Fletcher looked up and was momentarily startled by the handsome stranger who'd just walked in.

"Excuse me, sir, who are you looking for?"

Joshua smiled. "I'm here to start work-are Abby or Stella around?"