The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

"Sherman, weren't we good friends once? Why would I have any reason to want you dead?"

Sherman opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat and he swallowed them back.

The truth that he'd set Stella up, orchestrating her expulsion from the Williams family—was a secret known only to Sellers. He couldn't exactly announce to everyone that he'd plotted against Stella and that she'd been nursing a grudge ever since, could he?

He stumbled over his words. "It's because... it's because I didn't take responsibility for you back then. That's why you resent me."

Stella let out a soft, almost amused laugh. "Didn't take responsibility for me? If I remember correctly, I was the one who chose to cut ties with the Williams family rather than marry you. How is it that, in your story, it's all about you refusing to take responsibility, and me holding a grudge because of it?"

She glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on Jonathan and Aurora. "Sherman, your brother and Aurora are right here. You really shouldn't make things up."

Sherman turned and, sure enough, saw Jonathan and Aurora staring at him, surprise written all over their faces.

Both of them had been there all those years ago. Skyler had been desperate to save face and wanted to marry Stella off to Sherman. In the end, Stella had chosen to walk away from the Williams family rather than be forced into that marriage. Jonathan and Aurora knew exactly how it had gone down.

Listening to the exchange, Jonathan and Aurora exchanged a look, both sensing that something wasn't adding up.

Was there more to what happened back then than they'd realized?

Jonathan fixed Sherman with a steady look. "Sherman, you and Stella were inseparable back then-she was your only real friend. Why would you think she resented you?"

Back then, when Stella refused to marry Sherman, everyone assumed it was because she'd realized Aurora didn't care for him and lost interest in someone she'd only wanted on a whim. It was Stella's decision not to marry; that was her business. Sherman's reluctance to "take responsibility" was another matter entirely.

The Williams family wasn't so easily manipulated.

Even Aurora looked at Sherman now, her confusion plain.

Sherman had always thought his plan had been airtight. Yet with just a few words, Stella had managed to turn the Williams family's suspicions on him.

He struggled for an explanation. "Back then... she hated everything and everyone. Wouldn't it be normal for her to hate me too?"

"Enough," Sellers interrupted, his tone cutting through Sherman's rambling. "The past is the past. Today, we're here to discuss something else."

He turned to Stella. "Ms. Cameron, are you trying to avoid punishment by dredging up old grievances?"

Stella didn't press further. "Fine. Let's leave the past where it is."

She fixed Sellers with a calm gaze. "But Mr. Sellers, I do have to ask-why are you coming after me, the very person who

helped stop

th

your car, instead of

one who

actually sabotaged your brakes?"

Sellers started to respond, but Stella cut him off.

"You're going to say it's because of our argument at the auction, aren't you? But

just because we had a disagreement, does that mean I'd want you dead?"

She looked around, meeting the eyes of everyone in the room. "I've had plenty of arguments in my f Tell me, has anyone in my circle ever turned up dead because of it?"

She turned back to Sellers and the gathered police officers. “Gentlemen, the supposed motive you claim I have doesn't hold water, and you know it."

Her words made the detectives turn their attention to Sellers.

"Mr. Sellers, can you tell us what exactly happened between you and Ms.

Cameron that made you believe she wanted you dead?"

Sellers' eyes narrowed, his gaze icy as he glared at Stella.

Stella remained poised, her smile serene and unbothered.

Sellers swallowed, the tension in his throat visible. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "It's only because she crashed her car into ours that thought she was trying to kill me. has nothing to do with what

happened at the auction." noveldrama