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,

up in my favorite window seat, the one with the perfect view of the garden

everywhere now. Local news, social media, even some

they'd chosen were perfect, Camille always

shadow.

little sister," I whispered, raising my glass to the empty room. "Thanks

deep breath, arranged my voice into something appropriately broken. "Baby?" I let my voice crack. "Did

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

alone right

call

four years

house would need to be dark when he

the perfect stage set for my performance. The grieving

support... it was almost

phone buzzed again, Mommy this time. I

thick with tears. "Please tell me

"They found her

was what I'd wanted all these

imitation of a sister. "The police think..." I paused

on purpose. She's been so strange lately,

hints about Camille's depression, the careful suggestions that she wasn't coping well

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

I was dancing "But you know Camille, she never wanted to

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

Were."

doorbell rang, Stefan, right on time. I set down the photo and checked my makeup in the hall mirror. The waterproof mascara was artfully smudged, my eyes red from