The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Tiny pearl studs adorned her earlobes, catching the light with a gentle glow each time she nodded.

Her face was breathtaking-like a goddess stepped out of a painting.

Just moments ago, the crowd had been mocking Stella as some country bumpkin, but now their jaws dropped in unison.

All eyes fixed in disbelief on the woman descending the staircase, her every step measured and graceful.

In terms of looks, she was every bit Aurora's equal.noveldrama

Yet there was something different—an elegant, classic beauty that made Aurora's bold glamour seem almost ordinary by comparison.

There wasn't a single trace of provincial awkwardness about her. Every gesture radiated poise and sophistication.

Beauty that ran deeper than the surface-beauty in her very bones. Even among the city's elite, women like her were rare.

Standing there, she made even Aurora-the Williams family's darling, groomed since childhood as the city's leading debutante-seem unremarkable.

No one knew how long the stunned silence lasted, until finally, someone couldn't help but whisper, "Isn't this Skyler's other daughter? The Williams family is truly blessed. Skyler's children are all so striking."

"I heard she grew up outside society. I thought... well, I didn't expect her to have any sense of style. But she's absolutely beautiful-and so dignified."

"If no one told me, I'd have taken her for the heiress of some old-money family."

"She's every bit as stunning as Aurora. Honestly, maybe it's time Aurora's title as queen bee changed hands!"

The crowd, shaken from their shock, began murmuring praise for Stella. The transformation was just too astonishing.

Aurora's reputation had always been untouchable no one ever doubted she'd outshine anyone else at any event, her brilliance eclipsing

others. That's why, unless

were

especially close to Aurora, or had no choice but to invite her, most debutantes preferred not to risk being overshadowed at their own parties.

Over time, Aurora's invitations dwindled, but she seemed unbothered. She was used to admiration, envy, even exclusion. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, after all.

Aurora's composure never wavered.

Yet tonight, for the first time, that unbroken streak was shattered-by a girl who'd grown up far from the circles of privilege.

Now, the crowd's glances at Aurora brimmed with a mix of curiosity and thinly veiled schadenfreude. They'd all expected this newly "found" daughter to be a social

favel

disaster-someone to make Aurora

shine brighter by comparison.

But Stella was holding her own, and then some.

Every eye in the room was now on Stella, the praise growing more effusive with each passing moment. Given how much further she'd had to climb, she deserved every compliment.

Just then, a discordant voice broke through the admiration.

"So what if she's pretty? She's still an airhead. How could she possibly compare to Aurora? Aurora's a violinist, a painter, a racecar driver, a perfumer-there's nothing she can't do. It's an insult to even put Stella in the same league."

"Exactly. Aurora's talent is obvious to everyone. But Stella? I hear she barely made it through high school."

"Doesn't matter how sophisticated her packaging is-she's just a pretty face. The minute she opens her mouth, the truth will come out!"