The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Candida pulled out her phone and tapped into a chat window.

A photo immediately appeared on the screen.

A man and a woman were nestled together, looking far too intimate. The man seemed to have dozed off, while the woman pressed her lips to his cheek.

A mocking smile flickered in Candida's eyes.

"Karl, do you get it now?" she asked quietly.

Karl hesitated, then blurted out, "None of this is real. Scarlett took those pictures when I was drunk-you know I can't hold my liquor. And there were a bunch of friends there, they can all vouch for me—"

Candida cut him off, her tone icy. "If you weren't with her, how would she even have a chance to take a photo like this?"

Karl's eyes darted away. "She works at that lounge. We just ran into each other by coincidence..."

Candida couldn't help but sneer. "Coincidence? Every single day?"

Ever since Scarlett returned, Candida had been bombarded with her harassing messages.

Scarlett would beg her, asking Candida to keep her boyfriend in check and stop making life difficult for her. She claimed she'd already paid dearly for her past mistakes, that she was suffering enough, and pleaded for Candida to stop seeking revenge.

At first, Candida had been naïve enough to feel sorry for Scarlett.

She even spoke up for her. And when Scarlett messaged her yet again, saying

Karl and his friends were hassling her at work, Candida went there herself.

She saw for herself as some spoiled rich kid harassed Scarlett.

Karl just stood by, watching coldly.

But Candida noticed that when that guy grabbed Scarlett's hand, something flashed dangerously in Karl's eyes.

Without warning, Karl smashed his glass and punched the guy-hard.

In all the years she'd been with him, Candida had never seen Karl lose control like that.

Since taking over the family business, he'd only grown more composed, to the point where his expression rarely gave anything away.

the kind of thing only reckless boys did

Candida realized Scarlett's desperate appeals were just a new form of

of telling her: Karl only

Karl stepped forward and grabbed her hand, snapping

when I needed her most. She left without a backward glance,

nothing for her now-only

her hand free, her irritation

him made her feel sick,

leaving, Stella,"

enough to understand what was going on. She

turned to go, but Karl blocked Candida's path, his voice suddenly

I haven't agreed to break

something

your

of disgust on her face seemed to cut Karl to the

only curled into a deeper, almost sinister

lowered his head,

let's get one thing straight. The only reason you get to throw a tantrum is because

if you push

that cruet smile lingering. "I

about these things. You know I'm more than

have you forgotten what it was like when

eyes widened, her face

how miserable

now: pleaded with

crawling back to me.

bank account, made sure she

job.

sleep on the streets than crawl

to steal the

even afford

old friends all avoided her-no one dared to

knew exactly what Karl was doing:

convince herself it was just about

couldn't swallow