The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Come one, come all, and see for yourselves! This ungrateful jerk—after hitting it big, he's ready to toss aside the girlfriend who stood by him through thick and thin!

Well, I'm not that easy to get rid of!

He wants me to just disappear quietly, pretend nothing ever happened? Dream on!"

The woman's voice rose above the crowd as she recounted how she'd been with Sellers since she was eighteen. She spoke of all the home-cooked meals she'd made for him, every little way she'd cared for him-painting herself as the selfless girlfriend, and Sellers as a callous villain.

By the time she finished, Sellers looked like the textbook definition of a heartless scoundrel, while she had become the tragic figure-deceived, her youth and love wasted on the wrong man.

The more she talked, the more the crowd's eyes turned on Sellers-curious at first, then openly scornful and condemning. In every circle, a cheater and his mistress are social poison.

Sellers' expression darkened as the woman's accusations grew more outrageous. His glare was cold and menacing as he suddenly grabbed her by the throat. "Say one more word, and I'll kill you. Don't push me."

Stella, watching him about to strike, yanked the tablecloth off the dining table. Plates, glasses, and cutlery clattered and flew toward Sellers in a noisy cascade.

She stared at him, shocked and appalled. “Sellers, I can't believe this is who you really are!"

Without hesitation, Stella stormed forward and slapped Sellers hard across the face.

A sharp smack rang out, the sticky sweetness of spilled juice splattering across her hand.

Sellers was so blindsided by the sudden turn of events that he didn't react in time. The slap landed, flush and stinging.

His eyes narrowed, rage flickering dangerously. He moved toward Stella, but

before he could reach her, a slim, sharp-featured young man stepped between them.

"Excuse me, sir, what are you planning to do? You're not thinking of hitting someone, are you?"

Stella glanced up. It was Joshua.

Joshua shook his head

disapprovingly. "Sir, no matter hownoveldrama

angry you are,

that doesn't give you

the right to get violent-especially not with a woman. Besides, you're in

the wrong here. You owe both of these ladies an apology for stringing them along."

Just then, Foreman came over to join the group. He'd meant to intervene, but Joshua had beaten him to it.

Jasper, meanwhile, was oblivious to

Foreman's concern. He was

completely absorbed in the unfolding drama. When he realized the people at the center of the commotion were Stella and Sellers, his eyes lit up with excitement.

Wait—what did Sellers' girlfriend just say? Blind date?

So Sellers and Stella were set up together? Wow, this is perfect! Someone like Sellers-total psycho-was absolutely made for Stella.

Everyone at the charity auction, Rachel included, already knew that Stella was the one who'd had a run-in with Sellers. But no one had bothered to clue Jasper in.

After all, at the auction, Jasper's wild imagination had already spun such outrageous stories about Sellers that even Rachel had felt a little queasy listening. It was obvious none of it was true, but Rachel never bothered to correct him-doing so would only encourage him to invent even more unhinged tales about Sellers.

Rachel had no desire to hear any of it, and honestly, nobody else did either.

Not long after, Jasper had another brilliant idea: livestream the whole thing. Rachel had quickly shut him down-nothing good ever came from Jasper going live. She refused to be the one cleaning up his mess again.

But Rachel wasn't here now, so there was no one to stop him. Jasper whipped out his phone and shamelessly started a livestream, even paying to boost it to the top of the trending page.

Stella might be an internet sensation, but Jasper was determined this time, he'd steal the spotlight.