The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Am I imagining things, or does Stella's performance of 'Moonlight' sound almost exactly like the original composer's?"

"The original composer? You mean that Raven Williams from Neo-Vespera University, right? I heard she's in the University's Hall of Fame-a total enigma. No one even knows what she looks like!"

"Plenty of virtuosos have played 'Moonlight,' but none of them have ever captured that unique timbre the composer brought to it."

"There's no way Stella is Raven, is there? I've seen Stella perform 'Moonlight' before, and it's nothing like the original."

"Yeah, but last time, Stella wasn't playing on the Nocturne Stella. Wasn't it some generic piano? I still have the video on my phone..."

"Could Stella actually be Raven?"

"This performance of 'Moonlight'... it's uncanny, really."

The astonished whispers rippled through the crowd. Even Simone, usually so composed, looked genuinely surprised.

"Aurora, if I remember right, the composer of 'Moonlight' was called Raven, wasn't she? In the Williams family, isn't that Stella's name too? Could it really be her?"

Aurora was caught off guard as well.

composer, Raven, but always figured it

be the brilliant, legendary Raven enshrined in the Neo-Vespera University Hall

fleeting expression, Simone laughed softly. "Aurora, your half- sister really is full

never thought much of

be fair, neither

how generously Nora had raised Stella, she could never truly compare to young women born and

with a smile. "If Stella's getting so much attention, that's not necessarily a bad thing. When Father finally reveals her

"Mr. Williams... is planning to

her satisfied, she might not be willing to hand it over. She's the legitimate eldest daughter, yet announced to the

yet we

"But if that comes out, the rumors could hurt

the time comes, Father will let it be known that Stella wasjust the result of

youthful indiscretions."

Understanding dawned on Simone.

to let everyone believe Stella was

that

Williams family was willing to go to

found it par for the course. In these powerful families,