The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 531

Everyone in their social circle knew how deeply Skyler cared for Mrs. Williams. If not, he wouldn't have stayed single all these years.

Of course, people loved to gossip. The upper crust was always swirling with rumors and scandals-Mr. Burton, for one, never put much stock in tales of unwavering devotion. He'd seen enough to know "faithful lovers" were usually just playing a part.

So, hearing Skyler might have an illegitimate daughter didn't really shock anyone.

Skyler opened his mouth as if to explain, but the words caught in his throat. Silence settled, and his hesitation seemed almost like tacit admission.

At that moment, Stella spoke up. "Mr. Burton, I'm not a Williams by blood. My last name is Cameron, not Williams."

Jonathan's tone was heavy as he cut in. "Raven, don't be difficult."

Stella turned to him, her gaze steady. "I'm not being difficult. I'm simply telling the truth. Or do you mean to say..." She paused, an inscrutable smile flickering across her face. "Mr. Burton, do you actually think of yourself as an illegitimate child?"

Jonathan's expression darkened instantly. That was the truth, wasn't it? Stella was the illegitimate one. But if that was the case... what did that make him?

He'd spent years resenting his mother for leaving him—she'd never come back, not even once. But his mother was gone now, and she had, in the end, become Mrs. Williams in her own right. That was a fact no one could change.

shift in Jonathan's mood, his brow furrowing slightly. Finally, he

child," Skyler said at

He raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "I'd heard Mrs. Williams passed

glanced at Aurora, who stood quietly, unflinching even as her identity hovered on the verge of exposure. She

falling

that all the resources in the world meant nothing if she hadn't been clever enough to

faces, each etched with different emotions. He had to protect

actually. She left the family. Raven-” He paused, then clarified for

mother left us."

some of the truth, but

shield Aurora,

"So Stella isn't

I didn't know about her at the time I only learned of Stella's existence a few years ago. After I

silent. Aurora said nothing,

intention of adding

what Stella mentioned earlier? What