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.

she

again, putting slightly more

Victoria's voice hardened. "Think of Stefan signing

Heat bloomed

anger flickering to life. I threw another punch, then another, each one harder

last

laughing in that

me, champagne glasses clinking, Rose wearing my ring, Stefan in the tie I'd given him. Something snapped inside me. My

your parents choosing

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

comment.

gloves from my hands. "The last time you break for them. The last time you

recognition. Understanding. She

herself.

checked her

Philippe that probably cost

you'll be legally Camille Kane. By evening, you'll have begun your education in fina She tossed the gloves into a basket and turned to face me fully, silver hair gleaming under

from sunrise onward, your

weighted with expectations and possibilities. I straightened my shoulders, Ignoring the

I'm not

It's something you build, one painful brick at a time. And you, Camille, have been gathering bricks for years without knowing it." She moved toward the door, pausing with her hand on the light switch. "Each betrayal,

are your

something magnificent from

back through silent hallways that would soon become familiar. My

bedroom door, Victoria