Even though countless curious—and at times envious—eyes followed her every step, Aurora seemed oblivious. She carried herself with the same calm, unhurried smile, as if she didn’t notice the attention at all.
That composed confidence didn’t go unnoticed; in fact, it made people look at her with newfound respect.
Whispers drifted through the crowd:
“Is that Aurora? She really is stunning, isn’t she? The moment she walked in, every other debutante here seemed to fade into the background.”
“No wonder all the family heads are so taken with her, like she cast some kind of spell.”
“Just her looks alone could outshine ninety percent of the girls at this party.”
“It’s no wonder someone tried to smear her reputation by spreading rumors about her being illegitimate. Without some dirt on Aurora, she’d be impossible to outshine—even for someone hoping to marry into the Williams family.”
“I’ve heard she’s brilliant too. Top of her class in everything at school, apparently.”
“And that’s not all—she’s a violinist, an artist, a racecar driver, an extreme sports enthusiast, and an internationally recognized perfumer. People say her dancing is exceptional, and even her calligraphy has earned praise from masters.”
“Exactly. Aurora isn’t just adored by men—girls look up to her too. My best friend absolutely loves Aurora’s paintings. It’s a shame she didn’t get an invitation tonight. She even asked me to try and get Aurora’s autograph and a photo.”
“I heard about that! She’s famous in the art world, which is how Leonard Lerman, head of the Lerman family, first became interested in her. And she’s a force on the racetrack too—that’s where Sellers Burton, from the Burton family, met her.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance