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.

was the kind of thing only reckless boys did not the Karl

then that Candida realized Scarlett's desperate appeals were just a

way of telling her: Karl only loses control because of

Karl stepped forward and grabbed her hand, snapping her out of

then. She abandoned me when I needed

feel nothing for her

hand free, her irritation

very sight of him made her feel sick, physically

leaving, Stella,"

quietly by her side, had seen enough to understand

blocked Candida's path, his

haven't agreed to break

seen something disgusting, deliberately widening the gap

require your

face seemed to cut Karl

curled into

head, looming over

only reason you get to

push

things—” He paused, that cruet smile

And you know I never joke about these

you forgotten what it was like

face draining

how miserable she'd

Karl did exactly what he was doing now: pleaded with her, over and over When she

you'll come crawling back to me. You'll

made sure she

job.

rather sleep on the

he sent someone to steal the little money she

couldn't even afford

all avoided

what Karl was doing: forcing her

to convince herself it was just about the money

swallow her