The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1233

He had always preferred dealing with intelligent people; it meant certain things didn't need to be spelled out.

For a moment, his mind drifted to Rachel. When he had offered to help her buy votes and inflate her online stats, she had been overjoyed, thinking he was doing her a favor.

In reality, he was digging a pit for her to fall into. He had suggested the same thing to Stella at the time, but she had refused without a second thought. She had a clear sense of right and wrong.

"The information Abby has been passing to us was probably coming from Harland all along," Joshua said. "I heard Leonard tore the estate apart looking for her a few days ago but came up empty. Without Harland's protection, Abby would have been found."

If Leonard hadn't seized power, Harland would have been the next in line to lead the family. A man in that position was bound to have a few cards up his sleeve.

Stella's expression was complicated. "Abby probably has no idea she's been exposed. Will she be in danger staying with Harland?"

"By choosing to protect Abby, Harland is sending us a clear signal: he wants to cooperate," Joshua explained. "And Abby is the perfect channel for communication between us. With an ally as powerful as Harland, taking down Leonard will be twice as easy. I think we should form a temporary alliance with him."

Stella suddenly asked, "If my plan hadn't succeeded, would Harland still have offered to work with us? And would Abby have been in even more danger?"

Joshua looked at her delicate, fair profile. He could have reassured her, told her Abby would have been fine, but he didn't. The plan was succeeding, so why worry her? Besides, even if she had failed, he had a backup plan. But if he didn't let her see the harsh reality of their world, she would forever remain a hothouse flower, incapable of true growth.

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