The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

The vase shattered against his shoulder, then crashed to the floor with a piercing crack.

Glass fragments scattered everywhere.

The commotion turned heads all across the hall.noveldrama

Foreman Richards, who had just been looking for Stella, saw the scene unfold and strode quickly over.

He lowered his voice. "Star, what happened?"

Joshua glanced up at him, suspicion flickering in his eyes. If memory served, Foreman had arrived with Haynes.

Abby pointed straight at Sellers. "That man just tried to grope Star!"

Foreman's gaze darkened at her words. When he turned to Sellers, his expression was ice-cold.

His voice was flat and cutting. "Mr. Burton, isn't this a bit disgraceful, treating a lady like that?"

Sellers wiped a few drops of water from his face, his dark eyes glinting with a frosty hostility. His lips curled in a sneer.

"Really? You think anyone's going to believe I'd force myself on a divorced woman with a kid?"

Abby bristled. "Excuse me? Who do you think you are looking down on? So what if she's divorced? Did that make her any less beautiful?"

"Last I checked, men who can't keep their hands to themselves don't care if a woman's been married before. If a creep wants something, even a pig in a dress wouldn't be safe from them."

"Our Star is young and gorgeous. There are plenty of men who'd marry her, divorced or not, kid or no kid. Unless, of course, she turned you down and now you're throwing a tantrum-trying to drag her down so you can feel big and bully her into marrying you. Pathetic."

"Men like you can forget it. If Star ever remarries, it sure as hell won't be to you."

Abby's tirade was so convincing that the onlookers shot a few glances at Stella, visibly swayed.

Stella was, after all, breathtaking-so youthful that no one would guess she'd ever had a child.

Abby was right: with looks like hers, divorce and children wouldn't matter. Plenty of men would line up for a chance.

The crowd's eyes slid to Sellers, now with open disgust.

"He looks all polished, but who knew he'd stoop so low?"

"Probably jealous-maybe too many men are after her, so now he's lashing out."

"I saw it myself. He grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go. Shameless!"

Sellers had grown up the golden boy-always the prodigy, always admired. No one had ever dared mock him or spin stories at his expense like this.

His gaze sharpened, murderously cold as he stalked toward Abby.

"Say one more word, and see what happens."

The malice in his eyes made Abby's heart jolt. She instinctively took a few steps back.

Seeing this, Stella frowned and moved to shield her friend.

But Foreman stepped in first. "Mr., Burton, are you really going to threaten a young lady in front everyone? Or are you planning to lay a hand on her, too?" fo

A polite smile touched his lips, but his eyes were dead serious.

Sellers faltered, glancing around.

The crowd was staring at him with outright contempt. He steadied himself, realizing he'd almost lost control-provoked by nothing more than a few words from these two women.

No wonder Sherman had suffered at Stella's hands.

"Well played," he said coolly, glaring at Stella. "I won't forget this."

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off.

"Star," Abby whispered, stepping closer to Stella, "Are we just letting this go?"