chapter1612

Stella knew that even if she did ask Rachel, the answer wouldn't be much different from what Aurora had told her.

Someone as clever as Aurora might withhold information, but she would never lie outright.

And Rachel...

An indescribable feeling washed over Stella at the thought of her. Rachel's methods were neither sophisticated nor particularly intelligent. Yet, both Haynes and Joshua were entangled with her in countless ways.

"It was a bitter pill to swallow, a knot of unease that refused to loosen.

If anyone was her fated nemesis, it might not be Aurora, but it was definitely Rachel.

"Everyone has a past," Stella said. "It's not strange that Joshua has one. These things are his private matters, and he's under no obligation to tell me about them."

Aurora smiled. "You're right. But you don't know what kind of person his ex-wife is, or what kind of unforgettable past they share. What if she's possessive and decides to come after you for getting too close to Joshua? Star, wouldn't you be caught in the crossfire again? Wasn't Rachel a perfect example of that?"

Stella remained silent.

Aurora didn't press further. She stood up. "Star, I've said what I came to say. I won't disturb you any longer. I'll be going now."

Before leaving, Aurora glanced back at Stella.

An ex is always a sore spot for whoever comes after. For Stella, who had already had a marriage destroyed by an ex, she was likely even more wary once bitten, twice shy.

After returning to her room, Aurora called Sellers.

"Sellers, Joshua is back."

Sellers' voice was grave. "Yes, I heard from Coleman... How did it go today? Did Joshua give you any trouble?"

Remembering how Joshua had intentionally embarrassed her in front of so many shareholders that day, Aurora's eyes turned icy.

She recounted the day's events to Sellers in detail, then added, "Sellers, it looks like the plan to drive Joshua away has failed. I just told Stella about his ex-wife, but her reaction wasn't very strong."

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Sellers said, "One of my brothers is an expert in psychiatric disorders. I asked him about the pathology of these kinds of illnesses recently. He told me that major emotional fluctuations are the biggest trigger. Joshua has a family history we can start from there."

Aurora shook her head. "Joshua's mental fortitude and resilience are far stronger than the average person's. Causing him a major emotional swing won't be easy. Even Stella... probably couldn't make him lose control or composure that easily."

With Mr. Burton's support, Stella had seized even more of the Burton family's market share. Sellers already considered her a thorn in his side.

Sellers said, "That sewer rat Foreman might still be useful. I'll have Sherman leak

the news of Joshua's return to him. Let him cause some trouble for Joshua first, and we'll look for an opportunity in the chaos."

Aurora wasn't one to be impatient. "Alright, we'll do as you say, Sellers."

At that, Aurora changed the subject.

"Sellers, I heard there's a party at Solmaris this weekend, and they've invited some prominent foreign families. We've had some

partnerships with foreign families

over the years, but not many. Judging by the Quinn family's attitude in selecting partners, it clear they aren't that exclusive. I was thinking, is it possible for us to pursue deeper collaborations with those foreign families?"

Sellers appreciated Aurora's ambition. "The invitations for this party seem hard to come by, but it s indeed a good opportunity to expand our network. The old master once treated a member of the host family.. I'll get in touch with them. shouldn't be a problem to get a few invitations."