SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW

The fist came at my face too fast to dodge. I tried to block like Jason had taught me, but my arms felt heavy as stone. His knuckles grazed my cheek as I stumbled backward.

"Too slow," he barked. "Again."

My lungs burned. Sweat stung my eyes. We'd been at this for almost two hours, and the digital clock on the gym wall showed 5:47 AM. The sun wasn't even up yet.

Jason Winters stood opposite me on the training mat, barely breathing hard. His military haircut and scarred face gave nothing away, no tiredness, no frustration, just cold assessment. As Victoria's head of secu

"I can't,"4 gasped, hands on my knees. "Need water."

"Your sister won't give you water when she's destroying

everything you love," he said flatly. "Your ex-

husband won't offer a break when he's laughing at your weakness,"

The mention of Rose and Stefan sent fresh anger coursing through me. I straightened, raising my fists again. Jason nodded once, approval flickering in his gray eyes. "Channel it. Use it."

He circled me slowly. I tracked his movement, watching for tells we'd discussed yesterday, the slight shoulder drop before he jabbed, the weight shift before he kicked.

There, his right foot pivoted slightly. I ducked the punch that followed, slipping inside his

guard like he'd demonstrated. My counter-

strike hit his ribs, not hard enough to damage but enough to make him grunt.

"Better," he said, stepping back. "You're learning.”

Those words were the closest thing to praise I'd received since this nightmare training began. Three weeks of waking at 4:30 AM for combat lessons with Jason, followed by business classes, language instructi "Ten minute break," Jason said, checking his watch. "Then weapons training."

I collapsed onto a bench, grabbing my water bottle with shaking hands. My body felt like one massive bruise. Even my fingernails hurt.

In the mirrored wall opposite me, a stranger stared back. My once-

My face had thinned from the grueling exercise regiment and surgery, cheekbones now

said from the doorway. Victoria stood there in her impeccable

a green smoothie in a steel tumbler. "Protein, vitamins, minerals. Drink it

taste was awful-like liquified grass

I'd learned not to complain. Victoria didn't

especially not from

improvement," she said, scrolling through

reactions remain inadequate."

before," I muttered, gulping the vile smoothie. "Three weeks ago, my

eyes flicked up from her screen. "And how did this serve you when Rose took everything? discarded you? When those men attacked you

When

of fists connecting with my ribs sent

care about fair. It respects

that probably cost more than my parents' car. "Your meeting with Japanese investors is at nine. After that, corporate finance with

"Your Stanford and Harvard credentials have been

in Swiss boarding schools explains your absence from American social circles. The timing is perfect, mysterious heiress emerges just as public

returned, carrying a collection of wooden training knives. Victoria nodded to him and turned

lessons with Madame Rousseau. Your French remains embarrassingly rudimentary for someone

a retort.

board members at seven." She handed me a tablet. "Their

faces and bios of twelve

all

details to

"Jason, focus on knife defense today. The weakness in her left

me up from the bench. If I expected gentleness after Victoria's demanding

said, demonstrating a slashing motion with the wooden trainer." They're

standing closer than

a shallow cut on my forearm where I'd failed

aching muscles. The bathroom alone in my suite was bigger than my entire

personal stylist,

My reflection looked

Exactly as Victoria intended.

the door with hissual stoic expression. Since becoming Victoria's adopted daughter, I hadn't driven myself anywhere. Hadn't cooked a meal, made

my existence was

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