The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella didn't react, her expression unreadable as she walked away.

Only when they'd left Haynes's line of sight did she finally break her silence and apologize.

"Joshua, I'm sorry you had to put up with that."

Joshua gave a small shrug. "Honestly, it's all part of the job. Ms. Murphy once told me, back when she was an agent, she dealt with far worse. Compared to her stories, today was nothing."

Stella glanced at him, a touch of admiration in her eyes. "You've got a great attitude."

He chuckled. "No one ever said making money was easy. And Ms. Cameron, you pay me well every month. I don't have much else going on, so I like to give it my best-prove I'm worth every penny."

Stella found herself genuinely appreciating Joshua's cheerful resilience.

"If he gives you any more trouble, you tell me right away," she said. "Don't worry, I won't let him push you around."

Joshua nodded. "Thank you, Ms. Cameron. I trust you."

They had just reached the riding arena when a burst of applause and excited voices rippled through the air.noveldrama

"That was amazing! Haven't seen anyone shoot from horseback like that in ages!" "She's gorgeous. Is she some kind of celebrity?"

"Are you kidding? She's not a celebrity-she's the eldest daughter of the Williams family. Way out of your league, so don't do anything stupid."

Stella turned to see Aurora Williams astride a sleek chestnut horse, bow raised. In one smooth motion, Aurora loosed an arrow at a distant target.

Thwack!

Dead center.

Another round of gasps and cheers erupted.

Stella noticed now-every one of the five targets lined up across from Aurora had an arrow planted right in the bullseye.

Aurora was dressed in crisp riding attire, her long hair pulled simply back into a ponytail. Sunlight spilled across her face, giving her an ethereal glow-she looked like a goddess out of an old legend, fierce and radiant, as if she'd just stepped off the battlefield.

A crowd had gathered along the rails, drawn to her magnetic presence. It wasn't just the men—women, too, couldn't help but watch in awe.

Keen O'Brien clapped with all her might, her delicate little face lit up with excitement.

"Auntie Aurora is incredible!"

Beside her Rachel stood in silence, her expression tight. Next to Aurora's dazzling display, Rachel felt like a withered leaf, utterly invisible. No one seemed to notice he presence at all.

The difference was staggering. The gap between them felt like worlds apart—a complete mismatch.

Even when standing next to Stella, Rachel had never felt this overshadowed. But right now, something unfamiliar crept in: self-doubt.

She'd never felt this way before.

It hit her then-some people were simply born to shine, gifted in ways others could never catch up to, no matter how hard they tried.

Aurora, for her part, seemed unfazed by the envious, admiring, and adoring looks thrown her way. She'd clearly seen it all before, her composure unshaken.

Suddenly, the rhythmic beat of

hooves echoed across the field.

Three arrows shot through the air in

a blur, so fast they were almost

invisible, and thudded into the targets.

By the time the crowd realized what had happened, all three arrows were already

embedded squarely in the bullseye.

A hush fell, then disbelief rippled through the onlookers.

"What in the world just happened?"

"Did she really shoot three arrows at once?"

"My God, every arrow hit dead center. Is she some kind of sharpshooter?"

The crowd turned to see a young woman atop a horse-striking, with fine features and an effortless beauty. Her mixed heritage gave her a unique charm, blending the best of East and West.

She was every bit Aurora's equal.

Aurora flashed a smile. "No wonder everyone says, when it comes to mounted archery, Simone Lerman is second to none."

Simone's lips curled in a modest smile. "It's about the only thing I can do that's worth showing off."