The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

The people determined to smear Stella's name still refused to give up.

Someone challenged her reputation online: "If Stella is truly so talented, why didn't Mr. Walden take her on as his protégé? Why did he choose Rachel as his last student instead?"

Abby shot back without hesitation. “Because someone at Stella's level doesn't need to be anyone's apprentice."

Every rumor-filled post about Stella that popped up online, Abby meticulously catalogued and sent out cease- and-desist letters, one after another.

Those who received the legal notices scrambled to post public apologies, insisting they'd only been paid to do someone else's dirty work.

Some even admitted outright that the dirt they'd spread about Stella was completely fabricated.

They confessed: they just couldn't stand to see Stella succeed, so they resorted to spreading lies about her online.

In the end, the pressure became too much for Felipa, who withdrew from the competition.

Felipa's best friend, Rowena, was also exposed—she'd been orchestrating a wave of online slander that damaged Stella's reputation. She soon found herself the target of a lawsuit.

to know all about Stella vanished quietly from

Stella turned the tables, Rachel nearly

I fed her so much dirt on Stella, and

quit, her performance

she's reaping more praise than

the prestigious title of Mr. Walden's final student, Rachel's

Walden's home, an old friend—a woman about his age-arrived for a visit. She didn't

for years, so I'll get straight to the point. I came to

With the international music

coming up, I wanted to size up the competition and see if any of my hopeless

lips. "That's no problem. I'll call

waved her hand. "No, no need. I can go to her. Stella's busy enough-between preparing for a concert and the competition, I'm sure

My students have

you

Mr. Walden's smile froze.