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.

face when she

hit again, putting slightly more force

she did to you?" Victoria's voice hardened. "Think of Stefan signing

Heat bloomed

I threw another

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

attacked you. Think of your parents choosing Ilose over you

piece of furt, of betrayal, of worthlessness. I hit until my arms burned and sweat soaked my nightgown,

a towel without comment. I wiped my face, suddenly

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

met her eyes, seeing not pity but recognition. Understanding. She knew this

herself.

we begin." She checked

that probably

rent at 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

But from sunrise onward, your are no

expectations and possibilities. I straightened my shoulders,

I'm not strong

blade. "Strength isn't something you're born with. 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

are your

something magnificent from

the gym, back through silent hallways that would

bedroom door, Victoria paused. For