The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Simone and Aurora had no idea Leonard was behind Stella's kidnapping.

They only heard about Stella's abduction and her injured hand from the news, and the story left them both stunned.

When Aurora brought it up, Simone nearly jumped.

"Was it really that serious?"

Aurora nodded. "Whoever dared to kidnap Stella in Novaris... it could easily be an enemy of the Williams family. It makes sense that my brother would warn me. And with Leonard being attacked recently too, maybe these old family feuds are turning into something uglier-business rivalries spilling into violence. We should be extra careful for a while."

As Simone looked at Leonard, lying in a coma with severe injuries, she finally grasped how dire the situation really was.

"You're right. I'll redeploy the security team my brother put under my charge. We'll make sure both of us are protected."

Only then did Aurora's anxious expression soften.

***

After a month of dedicated care from Dr. Burton, Stella's hand had finally regained enough movement that she could take care of herself again. She no longer needed help with every little thing-no more awkward meals or assisted showers.

During her recovery, Abby had been the one by her side, attending to all her needs. The two had been friends since childhood, so while Stella felt awkward at first, it was far more comfortable than having a stranger around.

Abby moved in with her, sharing meals and routines, never once complaining about the work. She was more attentive than any professional nurse.

Stella tried several times to persuade Abby to take a break, but Abby always refused.

"Star, please," Abby insisted, "let me look after you. No matter why it happened, you lost the chance to play violin because of me. Taking care of you is the least I can do. If I didn't, I'd probably need a therapist just to cope."

Hearing that, Stella couldn't bring herself to send Abby away again.

While Stella was in the hospital, Marvin Connolly stopped by to visit her once.

Haynes asked if she wanted Keen O'Brien to visit as well, but Stella quickly declined. She was still wary, afraid Leonard might have one last trick up his sleeve.

Truth be told, Stella hadn't even

wanted Marvin to visit. But he wasn't under the same strict protection as Keen, so he'd heard about her injury from the media and demanded to see her. Neville arranged a private jet and promised Stella that Marvin wouldn't be in any danger, and only then did she reluctantly agree.

Although Stella could now manage on her own, her hand was still weak-she

couldn't lift anything heavy and needed plenty of rest.

One day, after examining her hand,

Dr. Burton said, "Stella, the main treatment is finished. From here, it's all about rehabilitation. I'll be consulting with some renowned orthopedic specialists abroad, to see if there's any hope of restoring full dexterity to your hand."

He looked at her with fatherly concern. "Stella, you mustn't give up."

Stella smiled. “Don't worry, Dr. Burton. I won't."

He changed the subject. "I heard you're planning to join the Williams Group and

go into business?"

Stella didn't hide the truth. "That's

the plan. The shares my mother left

me will be unfrozen next month. I

always thought I'd just collect

dividends and stay out of it, but now

that have the time, learning the

ropes could be a good path forward." noveldrama

Dr. Burton stroked his graying beard, smiling warmly. "That's an excellent attitude. Since you're my student, I owe you a proper gift. And if you're heading into the business world, I suppose it's only fitting I give you something truly special."