The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 391

Against all odds, Stella Cameron took first place—again.

Wasn't this just another round of free publicity for Stella?

Meanwhile, Jasper Wilkinson's livestream was exploding with a frenzy of comments and digital confetti. Animated gifts and emojis poured in from every direction.

Jasper had spent hours strategizing how to make Stella look foolish on camera. He'd even swapped to the best phone money could buy, terrified that the feed might freeze or crash just as the audience broke into laughter at Stella's expense.

But while dreams are sweet, reality can be ruthless.

Not only did Stella avoid embarrassment, she emerged from Jasper's trap with an even larger, fiercely loyal fan base. The tables had turned.

On top of that, social media was ablaze with people accusing Franco-the so- called impartial judge—of being a sellout, deliberately giving Stella a hard time for some under-the-table benefit.

Flustered and defeated, Jasper scrambled to shut down the livestream.

At that moment, Rachel Pearce stared at the screen, so furious she nearly choked.

Useless. Absolutely useless. What kind of teammate sabotages their own side?

Why had she ever let herself be talked into this by Jasper? How many of his schemes had actually worked? Every single time, Stella turned the tables and used it as a showcase for her own brilliance.

realization made Rachel's

to

O'Brien and his son Keen-both tall and small-were gazing intently

into Rachel's

she watched, the clearer it became: taking

time...to reach

then, Rachel's phone

she glanced at the screen. The sender

short and to the

back. My door

hand trembled; her phone slipped and clattered to the

distress. "Rachel, are

a strained smile. "Maybe I've just been sitting here too long. I'm feeling a

illness" was, on paper, still in recovery. She couldn't make a miraculous recovery too quickly; there had to be a process. While she no longer passed out every three days or required emergency care every five, she still used her "condition"

remaining

Connolly's duet earned a perfect score and first place. Rachel and Keen

and her friends were about to head to a restaurant for a

one of the judges. "Could I have a word with