The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella didn't bother to hide the truth or lie-there were security cameras everywhere. It would be pointless.

Mr. Burton turned to Sherman, his gaze sharp. "Sherman, what's going on? Why did you drag Stella away?"

Sherman rubbed his aching forehead. "She and I have some history. I was worried she was only getting close to Grandfather to get back at me—or at the Burton family."

Mr. Burton's confusion was obvious. "You two knew each other before?"

He couldn't imagine how Stella and Sherman's paths would've crossed.

Sherman didn't answer. Instead, he looked over at Skyler.

Stella's background was complicated, and it was still unclear whether the Williams family would even acknowledge her as one of their own. If they chose not to, Sherman could always find another excuse for his actions.

Stella noticed Sherman's glance and found it almost amusing. Without waiting for Skyler to jump in, she spoke calmly, "Sherman deliberately lured me into a room and tried to ruin my reputation."

Skyler's eyes flicked to Stella in surprise. He hadn't expected her to so brazenly turn the story on its head in front of everyone. Wasn't she afraid someone would call her out?

But, despite knowing she was twisting the story, he said nothing. Stella was his daughter, after all. After everything she'd been through, he felt she deserved someone in her corner. Besides, when it came to what happened back then, Sherman really did owe Stella some responsibility. Men were expected to shoulder more, weren't they?

Skyler kept quiet. Jonathan and Aurora also stayed silent, watching the scene play out.

Mr. Burton's face darkened at Stella's accusation. He slammed his hand on the table. "Sherman! How could you do something so disgraceful?!"

Karl interjected, "Grandfather, we can't just take one person's word for it."

"One person's word?" Mr. Burton scoffed. "If he didn't do it, why hasn't he denied it by now?"

Karl shot Sherman a look, expecting him to defend himself, but Sherman didn't say a word. Karl frowned-was Sherman really going to just sit there and take it?

Sherman seemed to catch his cousin's frustration and simply shrugged, unfazed. "Grandfather, nothing actually happened between Stella and me. If you don't believe me, you can ask her yourself."

There had been plenty of witnesses that day. The truth would come out, sooner or later. There was no point in flat-out denying it and making things worse when the truth surfaced.

Mr. Burton was getting more muddled by the minute. "What on earth happened?"

He'd always been strict with his own children, but, like most old men, he was softer with his grandchildren. Sherman had grown up under his watch and Mr. Burton had always doted on him. But even so, if Sherman had truly crossed such a moral line, he wouldn't letit slide-not even for his favorite grandson.

But both Stella and Sherman were being vague. He couldn't make heads or tails of the story.

A sharp cough broke the tension-Skyler could no longer keep silent.

"Mr. Burton," he began, "Stella... she's actually my daughter. She belongs to the Williams family."

Mr. Burton's eyebrows shot up. "Your daughter? Since when? I've never heard you mention her before."noveldrama

Skyler's expression turned awkward. "Well, we planned to formally introduce her after she learned proper etiquette and settled in..."

Mr. Burton, who'd seen his share of family secrets over the years, understood immediately. He asked, "Stella... is she your daughter?"

"...Yes."

Mr. Burton's tone grew pointed. "An illegitimate daughter?"

Stella was younger than Aurora; naturally, Mr. Burton's first assumption was that

Stella was Skyler's child out of wedlock.