The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Stella.

Ever since Stella had defeated Harry, her name had exploded across the globe.

Rumor had it she was now set to represent the Novaris region in the upcoming competition.

She was already the hot favorite, the one everyone whispered about as the likely champion.

So it was only natural that, when she walked into the arena, all the other competitors paid attention.

But what wasn't natural-what made Abby uneasy-was the way they stared.

The looks weren't just unfriendly; they brimmed with something else. Not jealousy, but a cold, dismissive contempt that was impossible to pin down.

Abby leaned in and whispered, "Star, why is everyone looking at us like that? Did we do something to offend them?"

of aura Stella carried. Even if they were jealous, that would've been easier to read than the strange hostility lurking

her expression remained calm. She seemed to

it," she said

rattled, and her own nerves eased—at least a

Foreman had just finished a phone call and entered the hall. He took in the scene and frowned. The atmosphere felt like a young deer wandering

was unshaken. She acted as if the stares

handled the registration. The woman at the desk shot Stella a look that

Stella politely asked about the competition venue, then set off with Abby to scout it out-better to be prepared than

judgmental stares behind, her face serene, shutting out the negativity as if it couldn't touch

the hallway,

at them. All three were unmistakably of East Asian descent, and

Stella

girl with bleached blonde hair sneered, "Well, if it isn't the homewrecker's daughter. You've got some nerve showing up to compete-don't you have any

her hair dyed a deep wine red, scoffed, "You really think someone like you has the right to compete against our goddess Aurora? Let me

with jet-black hair, spat, "Illegitimate spawn