# Chapter 306: Sparks, Scars, and a Starlit Promise
Hello everyone, it’s me again! How are you all doing today? I hope you’re ready for another slice of emotional intensity from “The Untouchable Ex Wife.” In this chapter, we follow Leia as she steps away from a private, painful moment and into the warm glow of company, only to be confronted with a different kind of burn—one that scorches her heart with guilt, tenderness, and an offer she can’t refuse. Let’s walk with Leia, along the sand, toward the flames of a barbecue that will set the stage for something much deeper.
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Leia had slipped out of the cottage through the side door, her footsteps muffled by the soft sound of her own conflicted heartbeat. Rather than taking the quick, direct path to the gathering, she deliberately chose the long, winding route along the beach. The night air ought to have cooled her thoughts, but each memory of what had just happened lingered like a stubborn wave at her heels. Perhaps the walk and the open darkness would give her time to compose a face she could wear in front of the others.
When she finally reached the outdoor barbecue area, the cheerful crackle of the grill and the brightness of laughter washed over her. Eyes lit up as soon as she appeared.
“Leia, there you are! We’ve been waiting for you!” Luna called out, genuinely delighted. Since their homes sat beside one another, the two women had grown close, and Luna had spent much of the evening trying to persuade her to join the fun. Leia had refused at first, and to see her now brought an instant smile to Luna’s face.
Leia let out a light, self-conscious laugh and forced a joke. “Hi! Yeah, I figured everyone would think I was pretending to be too snobbish for a barbecue if I didn’t show up.” She winced inside at how hollow that sounded, knowing she was using humor to bury her true, tangled feelings.
“Haha! That’s right—the more, the merrier,” Megan chimed in, but then her tone shifted to something between envy and playfulness. “By the way, Mr. Dalton has been roasting chicken wings for you all night because he knows how much you love them. Look—New Orleans sauce, honey sauce, salt and pepper... He made every flavor you could imagine. If only we were so lucky!” Her eyes swept over the neat, fragrant rows of wings laid across the grill, each one glistening under the flames.
Leia’s gaze moved from the glistening wings to the man who stood near the fire, his careful hands turning the meat and managing the heat. Her heart lurched, touched deeply by his kindness but equally weighed down by guilt. She approached him, picked up a nearby basting brush, and tried to add more sauce to the wings, hoping she could somehow repay his devotion. “You’ve been working hard, Mr. Dalton. Actually, I should be the one roasting chicken wings for you tonight.”
But Santiago’s sharp eyes spotted a danger before she could even notice it. “Be careful!” He stepped swiftly in front of her, shielding her from the hungry, snapping flames. Leia barely had time to blink before she saw him wince—a bitter shower of sparks had landed on the back of his hand, leaving small, angry burns in their wake.
A collective gasp rippled through the people around them. Megan raised a hand to her mouth, exclaiming, “Ah! Are you alright, Mr. Dalton? You can’t afford to have scars on your hands—you would ruin all your modeling jobs!”
Leia’s stomach twisted with fear, and her voice was barely more than a whisper. “Mr. Dalton, are... are you okay?”
Santiago frowned as he studied the burn, then shook his head as if to dismiss it. “It’s okay. I’ll just wash it off. That should be fine.” He turned and walked toward a sink nearby, leaving the warmth of the flames behind.
Leia followed him like a child who had broken something precious. She stood a few steps away, watching him turn on the tap, letting the cold water stream over the sensitive skin of his hand. The silence between them became heavy, and her words finally broke it–small, tentative, almost guilty. “Mr. Dalton, are... are you mad at me?”
Santiago lifted his eyes from the water and allowed the flicker of a gentle smile to cross his lips. “I want to be mad at you...” He paused, then added in a quieter voice, “but I can’t, and I don’t have the right to either.”
Leia’s breath caught. She swallowed hard, and after a moment of hesitation, her voice came out even smaller. “So, you... you know what happened just now?”
He turned fully then, and looked at her with undivided attention. “What do I know?”
His clear, honest gaze was too much for her to bear. Leia dropped her eyes, shame coloring her cheeks. “No, it’s nothing.” The words felt thin and brittle, but she couldn’t summon the courage to say more.
Santiago didn’t press her. Instead, he let out a sad, quiet smile, as if he had already understood more than she wanted to reveal. “I figured you were stargazing at the beach just now. I actually wanted to invite you to take a walk on the sands...” He paused, and the next phrase landed with soft regret. “But it seems I was too late.”
“No, you’re not.” The words escaped Leia before she could stop them. She lifted her gaze to the velvet sky stretched overhead, thick with glittering stars, and a moment of genuine excitement flickered in her eyes. “Look! All the stars are out now... so we can enjoy the view together if you want.”
Santiago stared at her, his eyes suddenly bright and full of hope, as though her invitation had unlocked a whole new night. “Really?” he asked, the single word carrying more meaning than he allowed himself to put into his tone.
“Yes, we can go right now!” Leia answered, a lightness returning to her heart for the first time in hours.
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That is where this raw and tender chapter leaves us — two souls standing at the edge of a starlit possibility, with unspoken truths hovering between them like sea breezes waiting to be caught. Santiago’s small sacrifice, the burnt mark on his hand, becomes the symbol of his quiet, patient affection; but Leia still carries secrets and uncertainties in her heart.
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**Reader’s Impressions & Star Rating:**
I can’t help but feel for both Leia and Santiago in this chapter. Leia is visibly struggling with guilt and an inner turmoil she hasn’t yet faced honestly, while Santiago is the gentle, selfless counterpart who knows more than he lets on, yet still chooses to offer her an easy way out rather than pressure her. The details are so vivid—the row of chicken wings, the sparks that fall on his hand—they pull you into the warmth and tension of the barbecue in a way that feels almost cinematic. I adore the emotional contrast between the bright fire and the quiet starlight. If I could rate purely on vibes, I’d give it an overwhelming amount of stars, but taking all the narrative tension and character depth together, this gets a strong **⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars**.
**Next Chapter Prediction:**
Now that Leia has agreed to take that walk under the stars, I suspect this quiet seaside stroll will finally force a conversation about the thing she is so afraid to admit. Santiago might gather the courage to reveal his real feelings, or perhaps Leia will open up—just a little—about what happened before she arrived. But in true dramatic fashion, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else catches them in that intimate moonlight, planting doubts or misunderstandings that will shake everything up. Get ready for hearts to be tested and secrets to reach the surface.
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