SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 9

Victoria stopped at a heavy wooden door, unlocking; it with key from her robe pocket. Inside was a home gym. unlike any I'd ever seen, state- of-the-

art equipment, mirrors covering one wall, a boxing ring taking up the center of the room.

She flipped on lights that mimicked daylight, making; me blink at the sudden brightness. Without a word, she crossed to a cabinet and extracted hand wraps and boxing gloves "Put these on."

I took them, bewildered. "Victoria, it's the middle of the night."

"And you're awake, drowning in self-

pity instead of planning your resurrection." Her voice wasn't cruel, just matter-of-

fact. "So put them on."

My hands trembled as I wrapped them, clumsy from Inexperience. Victoria watched, neither helping nor criticizing, until I managed to secure the gloves.

"Hit that." She pointed to a heavy bag hanging in the corner

I approached it uncertainly. "I've never boxed before."

"I'm not teaching you to box. I'm teaching you to channel your rage." She positioned

herself behind the bag, holding it steady. "Now hit it. Hard as you can."

Feeling foolish, I threw a weak punch. The bag barely moved.

when she saw you

again, putting slightly more force

the anger you have? After what she did to you?" Victoria's voice hardened. "Think of Stefan signing those divorce papers on your anniversary. Think of your

Heat bloomed

I threw another punch, then another, each one harder than

last

Now think of them laughing in that restaurant.

replacement." The image from my nightmare flashed before me, champagne glasses clinking, Rose wearing my ring, Stefan in the tie I'd given him. Something snapped inside me. My "Yes!" Victoria's approval fueled me.

you. Think of your parents choosing Ilose over you for fourteen

rhythm of it, fists connecting with leather again and again. Each punch carried away a piece of furt, of betrayal, of worthlessness. I hit until my arms burned and sweat soaked my nightgown, u llut

comment. I

time," Victoria said, unwrapping the gloves from my hands. "The last time you break for

recognition. Understanding. She knew this journey because

herself.

checked her

that probably

my old apartment. "In exactly four hours, you'll meet with the lawyers to finalize the adoption papers. By noon, you'll be legally Camille Kane. By evening, you'll have begun your education in fina She tossed the gloves into a

be transformed. But from sunrise

in the air between us, weighted with expectations and possibilities. I straightened my shoulders, Ignoring the protest

I'm not

And you, Camille, have been gathering bricks for years without knowing it."

are your building

construct something

hallways that would soon become familiar. My

door,