SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 12

Camille's point of view

Rose had posted a "tribute" to me, a carefully filtered photo of us as teenagers, her arm around my shoulders, her face glowing while mine was partly in shadow "Missing my angel sister every day. Your light wa Beneath it, dozens of sympathetic comments. Friends who'd never questioned her role in my marriage's end. Acquaintances eager to attach themselves to her grief narrative.

And Stefan, commenting with a simple heart emoji. The man who'd handed me divorce papers on our anniversary, now publicly mourning the wife he'd discarded

“Enough” I said finally, closing the laptop. "I've seen what I needed to see.

Victoria studied me carefully. "And what do you feel?"

I searched myself, digging for the hurt, the rage, the betrayal that should be there. Instead, I found something colder, more focused. Like looking at specimens in a lab.

Mothing, 1 answered honestly. "They're strangers performing in a play."

Victoria's smile was approving "Good Emotional detachment is essential for what comes next."

She gestured to the rest of the files on her desk. "Your new fe awaits, Camille. Elite education. Investment prodigy. My reclusive adopted daughter finally emerging totake her place in my empire."

I picked up my new passport, thumb brushing over the name embossed in gold. Camille Kane. A woman who'd never been hurt by Rose. Never been betrayed by Stefan. Never been overlooked by parents who "And if someone recognizes me? Someone who knew Camille Lewis?"

Victoria's expression turned serious. "Your new life must be impenetrable. If anyone connects Camille Kane to

Lewis, everything we've built collapses."

"How do we prevent that?"

"First, appetere" She gestured to my hair. "Tomorrow morning, our stylists will transform you. New cut, new elor, subtle changes that create distance from your former self."

I touched my long brown waves, mother piece of the old me about to disappear. "What else?

"Body Language Speech patterns. The way you walk, the way you hold a glass, the way you respond to questions. nord sessions with a behavioral coach who work with intelligence agencies. He'll help eliminat The thorough of the plan was both impressive and terrifying, Victoria had thought of everything, anticipated ety pratitial crack in toy raw identity.

stimportently," she continued, "limited

year, you'll avoid any setting

"And der that?

that, when your new identity is

Kane without question, then

opened another file, this one containing financial reports, business plans, investment

She's seeking five million in startup capital. Her current business plan

glanced at the numbers, the projections, seeing the dream my sister had likely been nurturing

will be very interested in her proposal. So interested that

my mind instantly. Me, transformed, powerful, wealthy beyond imagination sitting across from Rose, holding her dreams in my hands. Her not recognizing the sister she'd betrayed, now pos "How

skill you'll need to dismantle their world piece by piece." I nodded, a

me a final document, a schedule that spanned months, detailing my transformation from Camille Lewis to Camille Kane. Language lessons. Etiquette training Finance courses. Self- defense classes.

2 PM. Official introduction to the board of Kane Industries." The day stretched before me, the first of

of executing the

withdrew a small velvet box. "One

silver phoenix rising from flames, suspended on a platinum chain. Diamonds

you. A

moved behind me, fastening the necklace around my throat. The pendant settled against my skin, cool at

she murmured, her hands resting briefly on my shoulders. "From the fire they thought

the phoenix, feeling its

into neat stacks. "Everything is in place. Your new identity, your education, your backstory. Now we need only set the pieces in

pressed another button on her phone.

Moments

who I'd seen earlier, and two others in similar dark suits. They carried tablets and

Mr. Rodriguez returned from Greece this morning," James reported, handing her his

the parents?" Victoria

Lewises are maintaining appearances," another man reported. "Charity functions, social obligations. Mrs. Lewis has increased her anxiety medication. Mr. Lewis has been spending

Industries stock has dropped eight percent since the memorial service. Initial sympathy has faded, investors are questioning Mr. Lewis's focus. The

Focus particularly on Rose's business

"Yes, Ms. Kane."