The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"She's meticulous to the point of being calculating," Sellers remarked, his tone edged with grudging respect. "No wonder Aurora suffered so badly at her hands."

He continued, "I suppose you're aware by now-there are rumors about Aurora all over the internet, and no matter how hard we try, we can't suppress them. Aurora's not the only one taking the heat; the whole Williams family is being dragged through the mud."

Leonard barely knew Stella-everything he did know came secondhand from Simone.

"Why would Stella do this?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

Sellers shrugged. "Part of it is retaliation, sure. But the bigger reason? She refuses to return to the Williams family with her status in question, unrecognized and powerless."

He explained how Skyler had tried to bring Stella back into the Williams fold.

"Stella's got Haynes and Neville on her side now, and this is Novaris-good luck making trouble for her here."

Leonard shot him a cold look. "So you're just going to do nothing? Let Aurora swallow this humiliation?"

Sellers raised an eyebrow. "Unless you have a way to snatch her from under Haynes and Neville's noses? From what I hear, Neville's people are keeping a close watch on Stella, protecting her in secret."

A faint, chilling smile played at Leonard's lips. "If I want something done, nothing can stop me."

They were still talking when Simone stepped into the hall.

"Aurora's changed and feeling better. You can come see her now."

Without another word, Sellers left Leonard behind and strode into the room.

Leonard moved to follow, but Simone stopped him.

"I need a word, big brother."noveldrama

He studied her. "What is it?"

She glanced toward Aurora's room.

He got the message. "Let's talk in my study."

He led Simone down the hall. The most striking thing in his study was a painting,

prominently displayed on the wall. Simone recognized it instantly.

"Big brother, did you win this at auction?"

It was *Nightfall*-the very painting Simone had accompanied Aurora to bid on at the last charity auction. The piece had gone for a staggering price, snapped up by a mysterious bidder-so high, even Sellers had been outbid.

Leonard raised an eyebrow. "You know this painting?"

Simone recounted what had happened at the auction. "Aurora's always loved painting, you know that. She was drawn to this one in particular. In fact, people say the figure in the painting's back view might be Aurora herself. I can't believe it ended up with you! If you give it to her, she'd be over the moon."

Leonard's gaze softened as he looked at the painting, his expression uncharacteristically gentle. "It wasn't bought for Aurora."

Simone was taken aback. "Not for her?"

Usually, if Leonard so much as heard that Aurora liked something, he'd give it to her without hesitation. Was there really something he wanted to keep for himself?

His eyes drifted from *Nightfall* to the other carefully framed paintings on the wall. “Summer's works—I want to keep them for my own collection."

Simone didn't know much about art, but she did know that her brother's childhood dream was to become a painter. He'd always had real talent. But during the family's bitter power struggles, both his hands had been injured-tendons and all.

He could still handle daily life, keep up with his workouts, or practice martial arts.

But as for the delicate precision painting required? That was a dream now out of reach.