The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"No, please! Stella's so talented and elegant-if she can never play the violin again, what a tragedy that would be!"

"Please, let's hope she doesn't draw one of Harry's pieces. Fingers crossed!"

The internet was ablaze with speculation as the host reached into the lottery box. He unfolded the slip of paper.

The moment he saw the chosen piece, the color drained from his face.

It was *The Gaze*.

*The Gaze* was even harder than *Echoes of the Wind*-and it was notorious for being the most vicious of the so-called "Devil's Trilogy."

Of all the possibilities, they hadn't drawn one of Stella's own compositions, but instead ended up with the most impossible challenge.

This was bad. For Stella, this was real danger.

If he could, the host would have torn up the slip and drawn again. But with so many eyes on him, there was nothing he could do but unfold the paper with a look of defeat.

Harry will

chaos, the noise rivaling

But nearly everyone felt a pang of pity for the prodigy-a woman with both beauty and genius, now facing such unfair

is the Violin Warrior. Another rising

the host, then turned to

get either of your originals. I

smirk. "For fairness' sake, I'll go first. That way you can get familiar with the score. Of course... if you'd rather spare yourself a second humiliation, you can forfeit now. No one would blame you for losing to me. Don't worry-I won't make you beg on your knees like a dog. You just have to keep

she addressed the host. "If Mr. Harry wants to play first, that's fine. I'll go backstage to

her storage case and took out the

always brought two

but she

her own

used the

a gentle melody drifted through

Antoney entered and paused, surprised

mouth, as if to say something, but in the end said nothing