SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 8

CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW

The nightmare grabbed me by the throat, dragging me under before I could fight back.

I was standing in the rain outside a restaurant, my face pregard against cold glass, watching Rose and Stefant inside. They sat at a candlelit table, champagne glasses raised in a toast. Stefan wore the tie I'd gi Their

laughter reached me somehow, cutting through the glass barrier. They were laughing at me.

"Did you see her face?" Rose's voice echoed unnaturally lour "When she found the divorce papers? Like a stupid. puppy being abandoned at the shelter."

Stefan chuckled, pouring more champagne. "And when she realized it was you? God, I almost felt sorry for her."

"Almost," Rose agreed, her smile shark-

like. “But not quite. She made it too easy, Stef. Always so desperate to be loved. So willing to believe the lies."

They clinked glasses again. The sound transformed into breaking glass, shattering windows, car metal crumpling

The scene shifted. I was in my car, rain hammering the windshield, wipers fighting a losing battle against the downpour. My cheeks were wet- tears or rain, I couldn't tell anymore.

Headlights appeared behind me, too bright, too fast. Gaining.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, foot pressing the accelerator. The headlights grew closer, lighting up my rearview mirror until I was blind.

against

world spinning as my car broke through the bridge railing. That weightless

The water rushed up.

lungs. As I sank, I saw them standing on the bridge. Rose Stefan. My parents. All watching impassively as I drowned. Rose waved goodbye, her

my mother

replied. "She was always such a

head, and

I woke gasping, sheets

around my legs like grasping hands. For terrifying seconds, I couldn't remember where I was. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, painted cherubs, golden trim, luxury I hadn't earned Victoria. The adoption. My

the terror remained, clinging to my skin like river mad. I pushed myself upright, ignoring

ChaMer

awake, too late to hope for peac swung my legs over the side of the bed, needing to move, to prove to myself I wasn't drowning deep. I The marble floor was cold against my bare feet as I padded to the bathroom, flipping on lights as I went. The

hair

residue. But when I closed my eyes, I saw them again. Laughing

between a laugh and a

was standing in a bathroom worth more than my old car, in a mansion owned by one of the world's wealthiest women, who wanted to

hand against my mouth, trying

laughter transforming to sobs that tore through my chest. Every breath hurt my bruised ribs, but I couldn't stop. Years of swallowed tears

For three years of marriage to a man who'd never truly seen me. For

into my palms. The physical pain was almost a relief, something solid to

"Enough."

nothing away, but her eyes were sharp, assess Shame burned through me. She'd offered me strength, power, a chance at revenge, and here I was, dissolving on her bathroom floor