The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 984

“Our family—the Williamses—is hardly some struggling household. We can easily afford to give her a little allowance and spending money.

The very next day after she came back to the Williams family, we handed her a bank card. While the amount isn’t enormous, it’s a hundred thousand dollars every month.

That money is just for her personal spending. As for clothes, makeup, jewelry, handbags, even her car—those are all provided by the Williams family.

If she ever needed a large sum for something special and her allowance wasn’t enough, all she had to do was let us know.

We have never restricted her finances. Even after she ran away from home, we didn’t freeze her card.

And now you’re telling me she fainted from exhaustion because she was working a part-time job…”

Jonathan let out a cold laugh. “A hundred grand a month just for pocket money—hell, that would be enough even for Aurora.

Are you sure she could possibly spend that much?

And this story about us not giving her any living expenses—did Stella tell you that?”

Lauretta bristled at Jonathan’s tone, as if he thought Stella was just playing the victim.

Her expression cooled. “Mr. Williams, can you really be sure Stella even spent the allowance you gave her?”

A hint of mocking disdain flickered across Jonathan’s face.

“So you’re trying to tell me that Stella is so proud she’d rather work herself to exhaustion than touch a single cent from the Williams family?

Please. Are you sure it’s pride, and not just an inability to handle hardship?”

Lauretta opened her mouth to respond, but fell silent.

She realized that no matter what she said, Jonathan would always assume the worst of Stella.

She’d said Stella fainted from overworking, but instead of asking if Stella was all right, Jonathan only harped on how generous the family was, as if Stella was just refusing to accept their kindness.

There was no way to have a real conversation with him.

She had once admired Jonathan, even felt proud to have married him.

But now, all Lauretta felt toward the man in front of her was a deep, bitter disappointment.

Lauretta approached them with a friendly smile. “What are you all talking about?”

Katrina and Wendy turned to her, both looking uneasy.

“Lauretta, are you finished with your conversation?”

Lauretta glanced at their faces, then at the groups of guests all murmuring among themselves. She understood immediately.

She gave her friends a reassuring look. “Don’t worry. Star can handle herself in a crowd like this.”

…

Elsewhere in the room, Simone was sticking close to Aurora, her face stiff from forced politeness as they mingled.

Though she was always at Aurora’s side, Simone was hardly just a sidekick.

Her beauty and presence were on par with Aurora’s.

Which was, in fact, one of the reasons she’d always had the confidence to be Aurora’s best friend.