SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 7

ROSE'S POINT OF VIEW

My phone buzzed while I was getting my nails done. Normally, I'd ignore it, Tuesday afternoons are my me-

time, after all. But something made me look. Maybe it was intuition. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was just that delicious feeling I'd had all morning, like something wonderful was about to happen.

The headline made me smear the perfect French manicure Julie had just finished on my right hand.

"LOCAL WOMAN FEARED DEAD AFTER CAR FOUND IN RIVER"

My hands shook as I clicked the link, not caring about the ruined nail polish. There it was, in clean black and white: Camille Elizabeth Lewis, age 25, presumed dead after her car was discovered in the Morton R "Oh my God," I whispered, but inside, fireworks were going off. Champagne corks were popping. Every cell in my body wanted to jump up and dance.

"Everything okay, Miss Lewis?" Julie asked, concerned about my trembling hands.

I forced my face into the appropriate expression of shock and grief. "My sister... there's been an accident. I... I need 10 go

The drive home was torture, having to keep my face properly devastated while my heart soared like a bird finally freed from its cage. I barely made it through my front door before the laughter bubbled up, wild a

She'd

actually done it. My pathetic, clingy little sister had finally done something right. She'd disappeared

exactly like I'd arranged, right down to the car in the river. Those gays I hired through three different cutouts had followed my instructions perfectly.

I poured myself a glass of the Cristal I'd been saving for a special occasion. This definitely qualified. Taking my phone and the champagne,

favorite window seat, the one with the perfect view of the garden Camille used to

everywhere now. Local news, social media, even some

The photos they'd chosen were perfect, Camille always photographed terribly, looking washed- out and uncertain

shadow.

whispered, raising my glass to the empty room. "Thanks for finally getting

voice into something appropriately

sorry." He sounded genuinely upset, the fool'I'm on my way over. You shouldn't

alone right

he promised. ended the call and stulled

four years

be dark when he

perfect stage set for my performance. The grieving sister, devastated by

it was

phone buzzed again, Mommy this time. I let it ring

with tears. "Please tell me

a sob. "They found her

This was what I'd wanted all these years, to be

of a sister. "The police think..." I paused for effect. "They think she might

purpose. She's been so strange

about Camille's depression, the careful suggestions that she wasn't coping well with life. Everyone

should have helped her more," Mom wailed. "Should

have," I soothed, while inside I was dancing

No more perfect little Camille with her sad eyes and qu I caught sight of a photo on the mantel, me and Camille at her wedding, her maid of honor dress carefully chosen to make her look frumpy next to my designer gown. I picked it up, studying her face. She'd neve "You should thank me," I told her image. "I've given you the perfect exit. Everyone will remember you as the tragic, beautiful soul who couldn't bear

Were."

and checked my makeup in the hall mirror. The waterproof mascara was artfully smudged, my eyes red from