The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Chapter 1007

Stella could hardly believe her eyes.

Almost in a trance, she stepped into the room and reached for her violin.

The familiar feel of the polished wood brought tears to her eyes before she could stop them. She cradled the instrument gently, the cool surface against her cheek awakening a flood of memories and longing.

Stella hadn't cried in a long, long time. But now, the tears came-quiet and unstoppable.

This violin was all she had left from her mother.

And yet, she'd been forced to watch as it was destroyed, powerless to protect it- just as she'd failed to protect so many other precious things in her life.

The bitterness of her own helplessness nearly overwhelmed her.

Abby, watching Stella's silent tears, felt a lump rise in her throat too, her eyes stinging.

She and Stella had been best friends for years-she'd met Stella's mother, Nora, more times than she could count, sharing countless home-cooked meals at their table.

Nora had always been gentle and graceful, a woman untouched by the passage of years. In Abby's memory, Nora was forever radiant, playing her violin with effortless brilliance.

Stella for the first time, her heart ached- not just

would help Stella get justice, no matter

Neville to search for the

with Stella still recovering, she couldn't leave her side

upon himself to help. After days of searching-spurred on by

the violin had been hidden deep inside a hollow tree, so well

ran her fingers lightly across the

gentle melody filled the room, bringing Abby

the stage as a concert violinist. But she could still coax a tune from the instrument,

little, the storm in her heart began

looked up at Joshua. "You replaced the

I managed

herself, added,

himself. He actually studied artifact restoration, so he did

violin was

send it out for repairs. But Nocturne

it could ever