The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Tears streamed down Candida's cheeks, falling in heavy drops.

A deep sense of helplessness washed over her she simply wasn't strong

enough.

"Karl, for all those years I stood by you, cared for you... I'm begging you, please— don't hurt Star, okay? Please... I'll go back with you right now. I won't say another word about breaking up."

Karl's eyes narrowed. "You'd beg me for a woman as insignificant as her?"

He knew better than anyone how proud Candida was. Even when she'd hit rock bottom, desperate and alone, she'd never once pleaded for mercy. She'd always known that if she did, he would cave-yet she'd chosen to sleep on park benches rather than send him a single message. She'd even blocked his number, cutting him off completely.

And now, for the sake of a woman he saw as nothing more than an insect, she was begging?

Karl's face darkened with a mix of shock and fury.

Sure, Candida had once done the same for him, back when he'd lost his eyesight. But that was different. He was not like other people. There was no comparison- he wouldn't allow it. Anyone who dared stand on his level... could not be allowed to stay.

That thought made his gaze turn icier still.

He looked at Candida, his expression softening with a gentle smile. "Candida, don't you realize? The more you care about someone, the more you beg for them, the more I want to destroy them."

By now, two bodyguards had closed in. One of them easily pinned Candida's arms behind her back. She struggled wildly, but she was no match for their professional training.

"Karl, you ungrateful bastard, I'll never forgive you!" she screamed.

Karl looked on, expressionless, unmoved by her fury. To him, threats and hatred

from the weak were nothing but impotent rage.

He told himself he shouldn't have pushed things this far-she was, after all, his girlfriend. But just a little taste of freedom, and Candida's heart had already slipped away from him. She refused to return, no matter what he did.

Playing nice was too slow, and clearly ineffective. If he hurt Stella, made an example of her-maybe that would finally get through to Candida. He wanted her to know: anyone she tried to depend on would only end up suffering. There was nowhere for her to go but back to him.

As for whether Stella was innocent... He didn't care. He doubted she was any better than the rest.

The second bodyguard was already closing in on Stella. As he grabbed her wrist, someone tapped him lightly on the shoulder. The guard froze, confused.

In that split second, Stella whipped a can of pepper spray from her purse and unleashed it straight into his eyes.

He howled, clutching his face in agony. "AAAH!”

Before he could even finish crying out, a sudden kick sent him flying across the room, tumbling to the floor at Karl's feet.

The whole room fell silent in shock.

Stella peered into the shadows, where a figure had appeared—half-hidden, face obscured, but unmistakably...

"Joshua!" she gasped.

Candida's eyes lit up with hope. "Get Star out of here! Don't let him lay a hand on her!"

Joshua stepped from the shadows. He was lean, almost delicate-looking next to the burly bodyguards, and didn't seem like much of a threat.

But Karl's gaze dropped to the bodyguard writhing at his feet, and his expression grew serious. As a member of the Burton family, he'd been trained in self-defense since childhood-he could tell this

newcomer wasn't someone to take lightly.

Joshua moved to Stella's side. "Ms. Cameron, are you all right?"noveldrama