The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Sherman never really posed a threat to him-he'd never taken the man seriously.

But now that Mr. Burton had publicly vouched for Stella, even Sherman wouldn't dare stand in the way. There was nothing he could say.

...

Mr. Burton's endorsement of Stella left the Watson family in the audience utterly stunned.

Florrie couldn't help but gloat a little. "Dad, looks like you're too late," she whispered, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You see how fond Mr. Burton is of Stella?"

Nicolle, however, refused to give up so easily. "Mr. Burton only said he'd take Stella on as his student. He never said anything about making her a granddaughter."

With Mr. Burton showing Stella such favor, Florrie knew it was all the more important to get on her good side.

the banquet hall.

friend's urgency and called after her, "Florrie, where are you rushing

then that Florrie remembered she hadn't properly greeted Aurora yet. She circled back, a little sheepish. "I'm going to find

lowered her voice. "My father's thinking about adopting Stella. Before that happens, I want to talk to her and see where

surprise flickering across

was never one to keep secrets. She leaned in. "My dad's tried toget my brother to come back to the family, but he refuses. He can't seem to let go of Stella-they grew up together, and their bond is... something else. I heard she's had a rough time lately-she just went through a divorce.

rambled on, oblivious to the way Aurora's expression

to present Stella's identity to the world, the Watsons

carefully, "aren't you worried about what people will

takes in

Florrie understood the implication.

that one lie just leads to a hundred more, and

up for good. Even though Antoney was born out of wedlock, there was no scandal-if anything, Nicolle now saw him as