The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 849

Skyler took a deep breath and said, “Star, about what happened before… It’s true—it was my fault. I never should have said those things in anger.”

He hesitated, as if searching for the right words, then continued, “All these years, not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about you. If you’d just reached out to me, I would have gladly let the past go.”

“Star—”

He was gearing up for a heartfelt speech, but Stella cut him off, her tone cool and businesslike.

“Since you agree that what happened before was your mistake,” she said, “let’s start by handling the paperwork to change my legal status. It won’t take long. I’ll soon be competing internationally, and the attention I get won’t just be local.”

Her gaze was steady as she went on, “When that time comes, rival teams might resort to any kind of dirty trick to undermine me. I don’t want my background to become ammunition for them.”

She gave Skyler a polite, almost mocking smile. “You wouldn’t want my academic record or family situation to be used against me, would you?”

Jonathan, ever the loyalist, jumped in. “You’re Skyler’s daughter! Who would dare mock you? Star, as long as the Williams family stands, your father will never allow anyone to slander you.”

Stella barely suppressed a bitter laugh.

Just a short while ago, when Felipa and her friends were busy dragging her name through the mud, not a single person from the Williams family had spoken up for her.

She knew exactly what Skyler’s words really meant.

She had to be officially recognized as his daughter, a member of the Williams family, before he’d even consider stepping in to help. In other words, his support came with strings attached.

Stella changed tack. “If you want me back in the Williams family, that’s not impossible. But I have one condition.”

Skyler’s face lit up with joy, as if he’d finally found his long-lost daughter.

“Anything you want,” he said eagerly. “As long as you’re willing to come home, I’ll agree to whatever you ask.”

The only reason Rachel had been able to bully her before was because Stella had no support. Haynes, her husband, always sided with Rachel. Jasper was nothing more than Rachel’s lackey. Stella had neither money nor connections; it was no wonder she’d been outmatched.

But ever since she’d met Neville, Mr. Burton, and a few others, everything had changed. The rumors and scandals that should have ruined her only made her more famous, boosted her influence.

Even Haynes, who’d always had the upper hand, had gotten nowhere with her lately.

Then there were Sherman Burton, Karl, even Sellers Burton—every one of them ended up embarrassed and outmaneuvered by Stella.

It was obvious: with the right allies, Stella was a force to be reckoned with.

So if they thought they could snatch her shares for nothing, they were dreaming.

Even if it weren’t for everything that had happened, even if they were siblings by blood, he wouldn’t let her walk away empty-handed.