The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 800

“No, please! Stella’s so talented and elegant—if she can never play the violin again, what a tragedy that would be!”

“Please, let’s hope she doesn’t draw one of Harry’s pieces. Fingers crossed!”

The internet was ablaze with speculation as the host reached into the lottery box. He unfolded the slip of paper.

The moment he saw the chosen piece, the color drained from his face.

It was *The Gaze*.

*The Gaze* was even harder than *Echoes of the Wind*—and it was notorious for being the most vicious of the so-called “Devil’s Trilogy.”

Of all the possibilities, they hadn’t drawn one of Stella’s own compositions, but instead ended up with the most impossible challenge.

This was bad. For Stella, this was real danger.

If he could, the host would have torn up the slip and drawn again. But with so many eyes on him, there was nothing he could do but unfold the paper with a look of defeat.

“Miss Stella and Mr. Harry will be performing… *The Gaze*.”

The auditorium erupted into chaos, the noise rivaling a bustling marketplace.

Some people cursed Harry; others rallied to Stella’s defense. But nearly everyone felt a pang of pity for the prodigy—a woman with both beauty and genius, now facing such unfair odds.

“Damn it. Harry really is the Violin Warrior. Another rising star, about to be snuffed out.”

Harry glanced at the host, then turned to Stella with a confident smile.

“Stella, what a shame. Didn’t get either of your originals. I wonder—have you ever even played *The Gaze* before?”

At her best, she could play at one hundred percent—but when provoked, she was unstoppable.

In all the years he’d known her, he’d only seen her truly angry once before.

Harry had insulted not only him, but also Stella’s mother, Nora.

Harry destroyed the dreams of so many brilliant young violinists—he was exactly the kind of person Stella despised most.

Antoney stepped forward. “Are you really planning to use the Nocturne Stella for your performance?”

Stella nodded. “Yes. I want to use the Nocturne Stella to defeat Harry. It will mean more—to both you and my mother.”

Her voice was gentle, her tone calm, as if she were talking about the weather.