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?"

Abby couldn't recall a single competitor here who could pull off The Gaze-the kind of aura Stella carried. Even if they were jealous, that would've been easier to read than the strange hostility lurking in their eyes now.

Stella's lashes fluttered, but her expression remained calm. She seemed to sense the tension in the air.noveldrama

"Don't worry about it," she said quietly. "Let's go check in first."

Abby noticed that Stella wasn't rattled, and her own nerves eased—at least a little. But the restlessness lingered, fed by the uncertainty of it all.

Meanwhile, 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 into a pack of wolves-one wrong move, and she'd be torn apart.

Still, Stella's composure was unshaken. She acted as if the stares bounced right off her.

Staff from the local music association handled the registration. The woman at the desk shot Stella a look that was complicated, as if she wanted to say something but thought better of it, with so many people watching.

After finishing the check-in, Stella politely asked about the competition venue, then set off with Abby to scout it out-better to be prepared than scramble around on the day of the event.

Stella left the judgmental stares behind, her face serene, shutting out the negativity as if it couldn't touch her at all.

But as they made their way down the hallway, three young women suddenly blocked Stella's path.

Stella glanced at them. All three were unmistakably of East Asian descent, and their body language was openly hostile.

"Can I help you?" Stella asked, her voice cool.

A 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 shame?"

The next one, 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 tell you, this year's crown belongs to her. Don't get your hopes up."

The third, with jet-black hair, spat, "Illegitimate spawn like you don't belong here. Get lost."

Abby's eyes widened as the truth

clicked. She marched forward, indignant, "Excuse me? You're

calling Star an illegitimate child?net

You've got it backward! Your precious Aurora is the one who should be ashamed. She's the real fake around here-how dare you talk like that?"

These three girls were from prominent families, fangirls fiercely loyal to Aurora. They weren't as well-connected as Simone, and their standing in their own families was

marginal at best, but their adoration for Aurora was unmatched. The thought of her suffering the slightest slight was unbearable to them.

Ever since Stella became famous, the comparisons between her and Aurora had only intensified. Both were violinists, both beautiful-and, if anything, Stella's looks were just as striking as Aurora's, which only fueled the rivalry.

But in their eyes, Aurora was untouchable-a dazzling beauty, unrivaled in and out of their social circles. How could someone like Stella—a divorced woman, already a mother-possibly be compared to Aurora? How could she even dare?