The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

When Foreman made his way back, the auction was already underway.

Jasper spotted him and immediately rushed over, eager to share the latest gossip he'd overheard.

"Foreman, guess what? The new heir to the Burton family-Sellers-turns out to be a real creep! I just heard people talking: apparently Sellers tried to take advantage of some woman... Can you believe it? Who would've thought? He actually has that kind of sick obsession. Just goes to show you really can't judge a book by its cover!"

Foreman, didn't you step out for a bit earlier? Did you catch any of the drama?”

Haynes, Rachel, and Jasper had all stepped out to the garden earlier, so they'd missed everything that happened. When they returned, the entire hall was buzzing with rumors.

Foreman hesitated for a second, then nodded slightly. "Yeah, I saw a bit of it."

Jasper, always the gossipmonger, perked up at once. "Foreman, come on-spill! Just how much of a freak is Sellers? And what about the woman-was she pretty?"

Foreman replied, "She was blocked by the crowd. I couldn't really see her face. As for Sellers..."noveldrama

He trailed off on purpose, letting Jasper's curiosity build. He dropped his gaze, hiding any trace of amusement in his eyes. Jasper was the kind of person who couldn't keep anything to himself; once he got wind of a juicy story, he'd be retelling it over drinks with his rowdy friends in no time, and not a single one of them knew how to keep their mouths shut. Within a month, Sellers' scandal would be the talk of the entire upper crust.

Still... that wasn't quite enough.

While Foreman was weighing his options, Jasper grew more impatient, firing off questions. "Seriously, Foreman, just how twisted is Sellers? I heard he's in his thirties and he's never even had a girlfriend. There used to be rumors he was into Aurora, but he never managed to win her over. Looks like that was just a cover, huh? The truth is, he's a total pervert, right?"

Jasper's eyes sparkled with gossip-fueled excitement.

Foreman said nothing. Jasper was already running wild with speculation.

"Something like that," Foreman answered noncommittally.

Jasper wouldn't let it go. "But you still haven't told me what exactly Sellers did! Did he... you know, drop his pants or something?"

He shuddered in disgust at his own suggestion. "No way, right? With all these security cameras around, is he not worried about getting caught?"

Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, Jasper clapped his hands. "Oh, wait! Maybe he's an exhibitionist! I've heard some people get off on that kind of thing!"

Foreman fell silent. Suddenly, any rumors he'd considered spreading

seemed almost charitable

compared to Jasper's wild

vel

imagination. In the art of exaggeration—especially the dirty kind—Jasper had no rival.

After a moment, Foreman finally said, "I only arrived after things started, so I don't know every detail. But according to what people were saying, he got a little handsy with her."

He did, after all, grab Stella's hand-and step on her foot, too-so technically, the rumor wasn't a total fabrication.

Jasper looked skeptical. "Sounds to me like those folks just don't want to offend Sellers, so they're glossing over what really happened. They're trying to make him look better than he is."

Hearing this exchange, Haynes couldn't help but glance at Foreman. Normally, Foreman wouldn't even entertain a conversation like this? with Jasper. In fact, he'd probably tell him to mind his own business. Something was off tonight he was not just listening, but actively gossiping right along with him.

Still, calling Sellers a pervert...