The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

When Joshua heard about Stella's competition, he insisted on coming to watch—no matter what.

Neither Stella nor Abby could dissuade him, so they gave in and let him tag along.

Fortunately, Neville had arranged for plenty of bodyguards, ensuring Joshua's safety was never in question.

The competition itself proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Most of the contestants performed with their usual confidence and consistency.

Only Felipa seemed shaken, making mistake after mistake.

When it was over, Felipa faced the host's interview, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I just... wasn't myself today. That's why I made so many mistakes..."

She didn't play up her misfortune or mention the circumstances that had dragged her down. After all, repeating the same woes too many times only breeds resentment.

Felipa's almost-confessional restraint, her reluctance to say more, left the audience's imagination running wild.

People began to wonder: Was it Stella's presence that had rattled her so badly?

Stella, for her part, remained entirely unfazed.

When her turn came, there was a brief, heavy silence in the auditorium.

someone started to boo. The sound caught on, growing louder, until the entire hall seemed to erupt in

the stage!"—and suddenly the

at

of here! You're not

to watch the likes of you

out! She shouldn't even be

so intense

coaxing from the host, the

was broadcast live, and viewership online soared past

ten minutes, the audience remained in

as if Stella's mere existence had

in who didn't know the backstory might

utterly out of

his brow, fumbling for words to calm the crowd. But every

watch and signaled the host to

reluctantly handed

take the mic, the crowd only

stage, looking out at the chaos, Stella spoke in

many of you

“We all

I'd like those who want me off this stage to

if someone had hit