The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Mr. Burton could see right through Marvin's little scheme.

Chuckling, he ruffled Marvin's hair. "Relax. Stella and the Watson boy are just close family friends. There's nothing romantic there, and your dad won't have any competition from him."

He grinned, then leaned in conspiratorially. "If you need to be worried about anyone, it's not Mr. Watson-it's Stella's ex-husband."

The group laughed, the conversation light and easy.

But unexpectedly, Joshua-usually so cheerful and talkative-sat in silence the whole time, not saying a single word.

Neville sensed something was off, but tonight was Stella's concert, and he didn't have the energy to worry about anything else. There were already too many things on his mind.

Besides, onstage, Stella was dazzling.

She wore a deep burgundy mermaid gown that hugged her figure perfectly. Already beautiful, tonight her careful styling made her utterly breathtaking.

With her Nocturne Stella violin in hand, she moved with grace and poise, every gesture radiating elegance. It was as if she was bathed in a halo of light- impossible to look away from, like a star shining in the night sky.

In the audience, Haynes O'Brien stared at the woman on stage-so familiar, yet suddenly a little strange.

For the first time, he understood what Keen O'Brien had always felt.

She was born for the stage.

To hide that brilliance and force her back to the life she used to live would be a terrible waste.

from now on, he would do everything he could to support Stella's career, to let her pursue

more of

audience realized these beautiful pieces were all her original work,

songs before—they're so good, and they're

performer, she

the new

original

yearet just

win the

taking home

slipped backstage to change,

onto the

widened

concert? Lauretta's a star in

to support Stella? Just what's

who already knew about the

is Raven, and

to Neo-Vespera

both

makes

"Aurora said lightly

wasn't