The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Mr. Walden let out a heavy sigh, as if in an instant he'd aged ten years.

"So many eyes are watching me right now. If I were to expel Rachel from my

tutelage at this moment, who knows what stories people would concoct-how

they'd twist the tale to suit themselves.

This matter needs to be approached with caution."

No one else said a word.

...

With Stella's flawless performance of the notoriously difficult piece, *The Gaze*,

her victory at the competition was practically set in stone.

A video of Stella defeating Harry was spreading like wildfire online.

Invitations to music festivals and masterclasses poured in, so many that Abby's

hands ached from sorting through them all.

Tickets for Stella's recitals—and even the competition—were selling out at record

speed.

Abby could barely contain her excitement; she was so energized, she worked late

into the night without a hint of exhaustion.

"Star, we've really made it this time! Even with Haynes pulling strings for Rachel

and Mr. Walden paving the way, what good has it done them?

No one's even mentioning Rachel anymore—and when they do, it's only to laugh

about how Mr. Walden must be losing his touch."

Abby had a feeling Stella was at the very peak of her career.

Still, with Stella preparing for her upcoming concerts, Abby turned down every

unnecessary corporate gig, determined to let her focus completely on her music.

As she scrolled through the latest news, Abby chatted with Stella. "Everyone's

saying you're a shoo-in for the international title now. Just play *The Gaze*, and

no one will be able to top your performance."

For a "newcomer" to outshine even Harry was enough to catch the attention of

musicians around the world. It was nothing short of astonishing.

Stella said, "I really was in rare form this time. That kind of state is hard to come

by. Honestly, it's unlikely I'll ever play at an even higher level in the future."

Abby waved off her concerns. “Even

if you have a dip, you can still play

*The Gaze* without pushing the

difficulty. You’ll be just fine. Star

don’t hold yourself to impossible

standards—you're already

incredible."

Stella smiled as she changed the water in the vase on the table.

Abby watched as she handled the bouquet of baby's breath. "Those flowers are

gorgeous. Joshua really has a thoughtful side, doesn't he?"

She sighed. "You were married to Haynes for five years, and he never noticed you

liked baby's breath. Joshua's only been your assistant for, what, a few months?

And he already knows your favorite."

Stella's hand paused over the vase.

"You didn't ask Joshua to get them for me?" she asked.

“Nope,” Abby shook her head. “I did

think about telling him to pick up

some flowers, but ever since you

beat Harry, my phone's been ringingnoveldrama

off the hook. I haven't had a minute

to arrange anything. And I never told

him you liked baby's breath."

Stella lowered her gaze to the delicate blooms in her hands.

The faint, sweet scent lingered at the tip of her nose, soothing and clear.

She glanced around. "Where's Joshua?"

Abby replied, "He's been taking time off lately—super secretive about what he's

up to. Maybe he's started getting his memory back... or maybe he's found himself

a girlfriend."

After a moment's thought, Stella

said, "Let's give him a raise

tomorrow. If he really does have a

girlfriend, his expenses are bound to

go up. A little extra in his paycheck

will keep him from seeming stingy."

Abby gave her an "OK" sign. "No problem!"

Joshua was not only considerate and capable, but also came in handy when it

came to putting Stella's scummy ex-husband in his place. Having him around as

an assistant was a win all around.

...

A bucket of water splashed over Harry, yanking him awake.