The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 690

Stella’s violin sang with exquisite beauty, every note pouring from her fingertips and filling the hall with a luminous, living melody.

Tonight, she didn’t play Moonlight; instead, she chose to perform another one of her own compositions—“Moon over the Ocean.” The graceful notes drifted through the auditorium like bright, dancing sprites, weaving a spell over the entire competition.

Unlike Moonlight’s melancholy, “Moon over the Ocean” felt serene and gentle. In the minds of the audience, an image began to form: a tranquil sea beneath a brilliant new moon, its silver glow reflected in the softly rippling water. The hush of the waves seemed to wash away every trace of anxiety, easing the taut nerves of everyone listening. The moon’s reflection swayed atop the gentle tides, and in the face of such natural beauty, all of life’s troubles and worries faded into insignificance.

There was a kind of magic in Stella’s music, drawing everyone in, holding them captive. Even Stella herself seemed changed as she played; in that moment, she was like the distant moon in the sky, untouchable, glowing softly, commanding all eyes. To the audience, she was the only person in the room.

Antoney, who often practiced alongside Stella, had heard “Moon over the Ocean” before. Lately, Stella had been practicing more than ever, her skill nearly returning to its former glory. Even at seventy or eighty percent of her best, she still far outshone Antoney’s current abilities.

Watching her on stage, Antoney—once considered a prodigy himself—could only sigh in admiration. “She really is a genius,” he murmured.

At the beginning, Rena and her friends, who had been waiting for Stella to embarrass herself, whispered dismissive comments, unconvinced. But as the music flowed on, surprise crept over their faces, and before long, even they were swept away by the performance.

Only Mr. Walden, gazing at Stella’s silhouette on stage, seemed lost in deep thought.

When the final note faded, the hall was plunged into a breathless silence. For a moment, no one moved. Then, someone began to clap, and suddenly the room erupted in thunderous applause that echoed throughout the venue. Faces glowed with delight and longing for more.

“Well, I only heard what people were saying online—they claimed she had connections, that her videos were all edited, and they sounded so convincing I almost believed it.”

“You can’t trust everything you read online,” someone else scoffed.

As the crowd chattered, the host stepped up onto the stage with a warm smile. This year, the organizers had gone all out to attract attention, even adding reality-show-style twists to the competition. Not only were there judges present, but viewers could also vote for their favorite contestant online. The audience could show support for whoever they thought was the most talented.

Of course, these votes wouldn’t affect the final outcome—the winner would still be chosen on merit, not popularity. Still, whoever received the most votes would win the chance to travel abroad with the team. Even if they didn’t compete themselves, they’d get to witness international performances—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn and make connections with top musicians from around the world.