The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

She and Karl had been together for so long, their lives had tangled up with the same group of friends.

It was through these friends that she heard all about Karl and that so-called "first love."

They told her that Karl cared most about her, that he barely spared a kind word for that other woman. They urged her to go back to him.

After all, it was Candida who'd stood by his side during his darkest days, tending

to him, supporting him. Now, just as she was about to finally "reap the rewards," why should she let someone else swoop in and take it all away?

Their arguments made sense.

But Candida didn't want to go back.

It wasn't pride, or some lofty refusal to accept a comfortable life. If not for Karl's accident, with her background, the Burtons never would have let her into their family in the first place.

She'd even considered turning a blind eye to Karl's affairs and just focusing on building her own wealth. Maybe that was enough.

But she couldn't do it.

The very thought of it made her sick-physically ill.

a person who disgusted them, even for money? No matter how much she tried, she just couldn't swallow

so much time around Stella, Candida had learned a bit about her story too. She could understand why Stella's mother, Nora, had left the

foolishly in love. She'd left because she was repulsed-down to her

would willingly leave their own child behind and run, unless staying was truly

same mouth which once kissed her now

skin crawl. The idea of spending a lifetime enduring this man was enough to make

and immediately strode

instinctively backed up a few steps,

left to talk about

shocked

that look for? What, do you think I'd hurt

turned sharply to glare at

isn't it? You said something to

the crossfire, could only stare back in confusion. Was

entire

are you talking about? This has

it

hands on our family shares. Now she's driving a wedge between us. If it weren't for her, would you

disbelief etched across her face. "We broke up because your old flame came back, remember? Maybe you should take a