The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 989

For a moment, both of their expressions were complicated.

Jonathan hadn’t quite expected this turn of events either, but the important thing was that Stella hadn’t embarrassed the Williams family. That alone was a relief.

Skyler, on the other hand, was positively beaming, every inch the proud father relishing the fact that Stella was his daughter.

Sensing that the time was right, Skyler turned to the crowd clustered around Stella and said, “Star’s a bit tired—let’s let her rest for a while. You can chat with her again later.”

With that, the guests took the hint, dispersing with polite smiles.

Skyler leaned in to Stella. “You must be exhausted, sweetheart. Rest for now. When the party’s over, I’ll introduce you to the company’s shareholders.”

Stella nodded softly. “Okay.”

Once Aurora had left, Abby and Joshua made their way to Stella’s side.

Joshua handed her a glass of water. “You must be thirsty. Here.”

Stella realized how dry her throat felt. She accepted the glass with a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

Abby, noticing the fatigue in Stella’s eyes, leaned closer. “Social events are no joke, huh? Just the hair and makeup takes hours, not to mention having to make small talk with a never-ending parade of people.”

Stella took a sip of water. “I guess this kind of thing will become the norm for me. At least everyone was just being polite—no one tried to make things difficult.”

She really had been working hard to learn the ins and outs of the business world, but even a genius couldn’t master it all in just a few days.

She knew this was still her biggest weakness—and it probably would be for quite some time.

Abby looked at her with genuine concern. “Star, you hardly ate anything all night. You must be starving. Let me get you something to eat.”

She glanced at Joshua. “Stay here with Star. Don’t leave her side until I get back, okay?”

Joshua nodded. “I won’t.”

By the old Williams family rules, this never would have been allowed.

But the way the family saw it—if Stella was focused on men, at least she wouldn’t be causing trouble for the company. As long as she didn’t go too far, they were willing to turn a blind eye.

As Stella and Joshua waited on the sofa for Abby to return, a steady, measured footstep sounded behind her.

“Stella. We meet again.”

Her eyelashes fluttered violently. She turned to see a strikingly handsome, if somewhat pale, face.

Those dark, brooding eyes and that cold, almost predatory smile—they were so achingly familiar, like a nightmare she never wanted to recall.

Her hand, though healed, throbbed with a ghost of old pain.

Leonard looked at the disbelief in Stella’s eyes and smiled, clearly satisfied. “What’s wrong? Didn’t expect to see me here?”