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.

into fights... That was the kind of thing only reckless boys did not the Karl she thought

was only then that Candida realized Scarlett's desperate appeals

Karl

and grabbed her

then. She abandoned me when I needed her most. She left without a

for

yanked her hand free,

him made her feel sick, physically

Stella,"

enough

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

haven't agreed to break

if she'd seen something disgusting, deliberately

doesn't require your consent," she said

of disgust on her face seemed to cut Karl to the

curled into

his head, looming over

straight. The only reason you get to throw a

if you push me-if you

end things—” He paused, that cruet smile lingering.

never joke about these things. You know I'm

forgotten what it was

widened, her face draining

never forget how miserable she'd

now: pleaded with her,

back to me. You'll

sure she couldn't rent an apartment or

job.

sleep on the streets than

he sent someone to steal

couldn't even afford food

all avoided

exactly what Karl was doing: forcing her

it was just about the

swallow