The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Someone like him, running the family? Unbelievable. He must've talked his way into that position-no other explanation."

"I always thought the head of a family was supposed to be a man of his word. Turns out, you can just make it up as you go. Honestly, if that's all it takes, I could do it, too. And when I inevitably screw up, I'll just claim I was kidding the whole time."

"Leonard's out here kidnapping people and getting violent-how's he any different from those oil tycoons' spoiled sons and the trust fund brats from earlier?"

"Just hand over the evidence to the police and let him face the law!"

"Oh, come on. Don't be so naïve. Solmaris is a textbook capitalist country- submit the evidence today and, poof, it'll disappear by tomorrow. If the law could actually bring these fat cats to justice, would there still be so many of them running around unpunished?"

"By that logic, the people in the livestream earlier who suggested calling the police clearly had ulterior motives."

"Wasn't it Stella's brother who said that? Tsk, tsk... Doesn't want to see Stella succeed, huh? Probably hoping she'll get destroyed so he can snatch up her shares when she's gone."

As the flood of online comments poured in, Leonard's eyelid twitched with rage.

He could already imagine the ridicule and mockery he'd face tomorrow. His reputation was about to crater, and the Lerman Group's stock would likely take a nosedive.

No one wants to do business with a ruthless, untrustworthy man. It's one thing for his partners to quietly know what he's like; it's another for it to be broadcast to the entire world.

At a time like this, no one would dare step up to defend him-much less risk collaborating with him.

Leonard pressed his lips into a thin line, his face darkening, eyes blazing with fury. Without thinking, he clenched his phone so hard that the screen gave a sharp crack, spiderwebbing beneath his fingers.

Simone glanced over at him, but unlike before, she didn't reach out to check his hand. Instead, she looked away, her expression unreadable.

Inside, Simone sneered. He'd rather sacrifice his own sister's interests than stop backing Aurora? Well, let him see the price of that loyalty.

Her gaze shifted to Stella. No wonder her brother was wary of this woman. None of Aurora's enemies in the past had ever managed to make him suffer quite like this. This woman clearly knew how to play the game.

Because Stella was still live-streaming, everyone in the room became more cautious-no one dared act as brazenly as before.

Despite his anger, Skyler managed to force a smile, softening his voice as he said, "Since we forgot to turn off the livestream, perhaps we

all, family

should do that now. After r

matters shouldn't be aired in front of thousands, don't you think?"

But Joshua cut-in, "Family matters are one thing. But Leonard's kidnapping and assault of Star? There's hard evidence-that's not just a private affair. Mr. Williams, and to the rest of the Williams sons-how do you propose we handle this?"

Joshua was forcing the Williams family to take a stand. If they didn't speak up now, the backlash tomorrow would land squarely on them.

Jonathan and the others all looked to Skyler. Things had escalated far beyond anyone's control. Even Jonathan knew he couldn't simply dictate the outcome.noveldrama

After a long, tense silence, Skyler finally spoke. "We'll follow Star's wishes. We'll make a public statement-effective immediately the Williams family is severing all business ties with the Lerman Group."