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,

in my favorite window seat, the one with the

articles were everywhere now. Local news, social media, even

through them like love letters, each one sweeter than the last. The photos they'd chosen were perfect, Camille always photographed terribly, looking washed- out and uncertain next to my carefully curated glamour. Even in

shadow.

I whispered, raising my glass to the empty room.

arranged my voice into something

sorry." He sounded genuinely upset, the fool'I'm on my

alone right

promised. ended the call and stulled at my reflection in the win mourning period had passed. Six months maybe. Elght at the most Than me for comfort,

four years carefully

house would need to be dark when he arrived.

I went around drawing curtains, ating the perfect stage set for my performance. The grieving sister,

it was almost

time. I let it ring twice

Her voice was thick with tears.

"They found her car... in the

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

police think..."

purpose. She's been

were blooming beautifully. The subtle hints about Camille's depression, the careful suggestions that she wasn't coping well with

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

I soothed, while inside I was dancing "But

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

Were."

I set down the photo and checked my makeup in the hall