The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 708

Stella let out a quiet breath of relief. “I’m fine,” she said.

She glanced at Candida, then leaned closer to Joshua and whispered, “Get Candida over here. Whatever happens, don’t let them take her.”

A faint, careless smile played at the corners of Joshua’s mouth. “Of course, Ms. Cameron.”

He strolled unhurriedly toward Candida.

Karl’s expression hardened. He turned to another bodyguard and ordered, “Keep her close. Don’t let that man take her away.”

Joshua raised an eyebrow. “Protect her? Mr. Burton, why don’t you ask Miss Fletcher if that’s the kind of protection she wants?”

Karl’s voice was cold. “Let’s allow Candida to choose for herself, then.”

He fixed his gaze on Candida. “Candida, are you leaving with me, or… are you going with them?”

He didn’t spell out the threat, but it lingered heavily beneath his words.

Uncertainty flickered in Candida’s eyes. It wasn’t that she couldn’t bear to leave Karl—she just worried about dragging Stella into trouble.

Before she could speak, Stella’s voice rang out, steady and clear.

“Candida, you don’t need to worry about me. He can’t do anything to me. Barging into my studio, trying to snatch someone and resort to violence—he’s not getting away with it.”

She paused, then looked directly at Candida. “Don’t give in to him. If you surrender once, you’ll spend the rest of your life surrendering. Candida, think about it. Is that really the life you want?”

Tears glimmered in Candida’s eyes, threatening to fall. “But—”