The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 540

Stella listened with a gentle smile, content to let the conversation flow around her without adding anything of her own.

Back in the main hall, Florrie immediately spotted Aurora.

It was impossible not to notice her-Aurora shone with a kind of effortless brilliance, both in looks and in poise, that made her the undeniable center of attention wherever she went.

But Aurora wasn't alone. A cluster of young women surrounded her, each one the daughter of one of the city's most prominent families.

Aurora was chatting with a girl her own age-pretty, bright-eyed, and quick to laugh.

Florrie nodded toward them. "See the girl standing across from Aurora? That's Adah Gardner—one of her closest friends and the eldest daughter of the Gardner family."

"The Gardner family?" Stella echoed.

Florrie explained, "The Williams, Chapman, Gardner, Lerman, Burton, and our own Watson family-they make up the six leading families in Novaris."

She gestured discreetly as she spoke. "I'm just talking about the Novaris families, of course. There are other prominent families from abroad, but Mr. Burton is old- fashioned and didn't invite any outsiders to this event."

As Florrie listed the names, Stella realized she actually knew quite a few of these high-profile families.

The Williams and Burton families, of course-those went without saying.

The Chapmans were the family of her good friend, Lauretta.

The Watsons belonged to Antoney.

the Lerman and Gardner families

probably already know plenty about the Burtons and us Watsons, so I won't bore

family has three sons and a daughter, all of

Williams' eldest son is in talks to unite with the Chapman family—an alliance through marriage,

for the

paused, lowering her

actually one of Aurora's admirers. From what I've

turned to her. "What do you

"The Lerman family's head is Leonard Lerman. He's

son,

liked

rest of

mother have always lived on the fringes-barely tolerated, never truly belonging. Leonard himself was never ambitious, and honestly, he always seemed a bit

the night

like Aurora could have her pick of suitors-every eligible bachelor in the

He didn't stand

between them, but I heard Aurora once said she'd

tooth and nail, and somehow, against all odds, claimed the head

the family head, did

snorted softly. "He went straight to the Williams family

ruthless things to get that position-nobody knows exactly what, but there's plenty of talk about

never let Aurora marry