All Chapters of No Longer Theirs: The One They Can't Replace: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Joshua listened in silence until the cigarette in his fingers burned out. The orange ember scorched his skin, jolting him back to reality as he winced."Mr. Stroud, if I may be frank, you and Ms. Lynch… You're sometimes a bit too close." Sean eyed the pastry box on the coffee table with a pang of unease. "I know Ms. Lynch saved your life, and her health suffered for it, so you feel indebted to her."But she's inserted herself so deeply into your life—she's everywhere. Don't you see how Mrs. Stroud has been pushed into a corner with no room to breathe?""I know my limits with Jessica." Joshua looked up, his gaze laced with displeasure. "And I don't like being questioned. Don't bring this up again."Sean lowered his eyes and fell silent."What about the receptionist and security? Have they been dealt with?" Joshua's voice was cold and heavy as he grabbed the stack of divorce papers and stood abruptly."I've already fired them.""Is that enough?" Joshua tossed the papers into the t

"You're divorcing Joshua the sleazebag? For real?" Sasha's eyes widened in shock as she gripped Winter's shoulders tightly."For real. I've already moved out of Rippleview Court and given him the divorce papers. He's stalling and refusing to sign, though." Winter smiled, and her eyes crinkled slightly. "But it doesn't matter—it's just a matter of time. I'm definitely getting this divorce."It's probably a shock to him. He's lived 30 years without anyone daring to cross him like this. He'll need time to adjust.""Pfft. What's so great about him? He thinks he can just refuse and move on? Who does he think he is?" Sasha's lips fired off like a machine gun, unloading on Joshua. "Everyone calls him a big shot in business—big shot, my ass! He's just a big-headed old fart!"Winter pressed her fingers to her lips and laughed. Her bright eyes and radiant smile left Sasha dazzled, and the latter planted a loud smooch on her cheek. "Winz, now that you're getting divorced, you're glowing! Befo

Winter's fingers went limp, and the broken bottle slipped from her grasp, crashing to the floor. Her delicate, flushed face turned pale, and her body trembled as she swayed backward, collapsing against a solid chest.Anger and panic swirled within her. The world spun, and the club's noise faded in and out. Yet, faintly, she felt the man's arms encircle her waist, the smooth silk of her dress doing little to hide the hard contours of his muscles. They pressed against her soft, flat abdomen with each subtle movement.The tattooed guy, now bloodied and reeling, got exactly what he'd asked for—though not the kind of thrill he'd hoped for. Hissing in pain, he opened his mouth to curse. But before he could, the man who had his right arm wrapped around a flushed Winter's waist, raised a hand.His wrist, adorned with a sleek steel watch, had sharp lines and faintly bulging veins. He pressed a single finger to his thin lips. "Shh."The tattooed guy was stunned. Before he could react, two bo

"What's wrong?" Joshua asked, noticing the sudden shift in Blake's expression.Blake's lips curled into a cold, mocking smirk. "My cat slipped out behind my back to raise hell."Joshua asked casually, "Since when do you have a cat? Aren't you allergic to cat hair and dog fur?"Blake's gaze lingered darkly on the Bugatti, his tongue pressing against his cheek. "This one's got short fur!"Joshua pictured a hairless Sphynx in his mind.…Winter was still dizzy, but her head had cleared enough to walk. Sasha, on the other hand, was plastered and letting loose with full-on drunken chaos.One moment, she clung to Winter, sobbing that her friend was wasted on an asshole like Joshua; the next, she cursed Joshua out as a rotten bastard. Then, she waved her hands wildly and belted out songs at the top of her lungs.Halfway through a verse of lyrics, she propped herself against the wall, "livestreaming" her vomiting session until she'd emptied her stomach. Only then did Winter and Elijah

Back in the car, Joshua's handsome face was frosted over. The atmosphere was thick with his simmering rage.Getting chewed out by Sasha for no reason had him fuming. He pulled out his phone and called Blake, unleashing a barrage of accusations and warnings. "Keep your pet in check, and tell her to stay away from Winter. Doesn't she realize that they're not in the same league?"With that, he hung up. He wanted to say worse, but for Blake's sake, he held back."Mr. Stroud, I pulled the surveillance footage," Sean said, climbing into the car and handing him his phone, which was loaded with the video. "Mrs. Stroud had a run-in with someone today. Take a look at this."Joshua looked down. The video showed Winter being harassed by the tattooed creep, followed by the mysterious man stepping in to save her. Then, Joshua saw the scene of that man holding her in the booth, her head resting against his chest, their closeness almost intimate.Joshua's eyes widened, and he jolted upright as a