The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Because of this, Harry's reputation in the music world was sharply divided.

Plenty of people found his arrogance insufferable and couldn't stand the way he looked down on everyone else.

But just as many believed he had every right to be cocky-after all, beneath Mr. Walden, Harry was the undisputed number one. He'd earned the right to be proud, even a little reckless.

Harry was the kind of person whose sheer talent made his arrogance almost unbearable, yet impossible to dismiss. People who'd been on the receiving end of his scathing remarks waited eagerly for the day he'd finally fall from grace.

But year after year, Harry remained at the very top, unshaken and unchallenged.

Eventually, everyone just got used to his attitude. After all, with talent like his, who could blame him?

Stella noticed the troubled look on Antoney's face and quietly asked, "What's wrong?"

Antoney glanced at her, his expression serious.

"That man's name is Harry. Out of all Mr. Walden's students, he's the most gifted. Mr. Walden took him under his wing when he was just five..." Antoney went on, carefully filling Stella in on the details.

you might not know this, but Harry is incredibly strong. He's never lost a single competition he's entered not

at Stella, worry flickering in

he can to undermine your confidence, to make you doubt yourself, to crush you until you want nothing to do with music ever again. There have been countless talented violinists who, after facing him, never picked up their instrument

him the Violin

lose, don't let anything Harry says get to

Harry's jibes, but he was worried about Star-he didn't want her to

he go out of his

a rumor he lost to someone early in his

Stella smiled, reassuring. "Don't

worry

I've

trolls before-whatever he says can't be worse

I

the violin, but, as it happened, she'd never

tense expression, Stella gave

just individual skill. We've been playing together since we were kidseif