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,

one with the perfect view

were everywhere now. Local news,

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

shadow.

the empty room.

my voice into something appropriately broken. "Baby?" I let my voice

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

alone right

"I just can't believe she's gone,I said, adding a little sob for effect. "My baby sister.." "We'll get through this together," he promised. ended the call and stulled at my reflection in the win mourning period

four years carefully

would need to be dark

went around drawing curtains, ating the perfect stage set for my performance. The grieving sister, devastated by loss, turning to her

support... it

phone buzzed again, Mommy this time.

thick with tears. "Please tell me it's

I forced a sob. "They

no, no..." The raw pain in her voice sent a thrill through me. This was what I'd wanted all these years, to be the only daughter, the only focus

sister. "The police think..." I paused for

been so strange

The subtle hints about Camille's depression,

should have helped her more," Mom wailed.

dancing "But you know Camille, she never

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

Were."

my makeup in the hall mirror. The waterproof mascara