SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 18

Rose point in view

By evening, I was exhausted from maintaining the perfect balance of grieving sister and focused businesswoman. My driver took me to my parents' house for our weekly family dinner, a tradition I'd insisted on

In reality, these dinners served to monitor my parents, manage the family narrative, and remind everyone of my central role in holding things together post- tragedy. Tonight, however, I dreaded facing Mom's suspicious eyes. The house looked the same as always, manicured lawn, gleaming windows, tasteful luxury evident in every detail. The home I'd been brough established my dominance over every aspect of family life.

Helen, the housekeeper, opened the door before I could ring the bell. They're in the sitting room, Miss Rose." Your mother's had... a difficult day."

Mom was drinking again. Perfect. An inebriated mother was easier to manage than a suspicious one.

I found them exactly as expected-

Dad with a financial report, pretending to work while actually hiding; Morn on her third martini, staring at nothing. The picture of a family fractured by loss.

"Evening," I said brightly, kissing each of their cheeks. "Helen's cooking smells amazing"

Mom looked up, eyes slightly unfocused. "You're late."

"Investor meeting ran long, Good news, though, we've secured funding for the international expansion." Dad attempted a smile. "That's wonderful, princess. Your business acumen never ceases to amaze me." "You're in no condition," Dad muttered, not looking up from his papers. "Rose will handle it."

Mom's laugh was bitter, cutting. "Rose handles everything, doesn't she? So capable. So composed. Never a hair out of place, even when discussing her sister's remains."

The accusation in her tone was unmistakable. I kept my expression neutral, concerned but steady. "Mom, I know this is difficult. But falling apart won't bring Camille back. Someone needs to stay strong for this "This family." She snorted, taking another sip of her drink. What family? My daughter is dead. My husband buries himself in work rather than face his grief. And you...

She trailed off, studying me with eyes suddenly sharper than her intoxication suggested.

"And I what?" I asked softly.

The moment stretched, tension crackling between us. For an instant, I thought she might actually say it, the suspicion I'd seen growing in her gaze over recent weeks. The doubt that had prompted her to hire a But Dad intervened, setting aside his papers with forced cheer. "Let's eat, shall we? No sense letting Helen's cooking go cold.":

Chapter.

alternating between silent glaring and pointed barbs, Dad attempting desperately to Maintain normal conversation, me navigating the minefield with practiced ease. By dessert,

thinking," Mom said as Helen served coffee,

halfway to

though she

my veins. Camille's journals. The private thoughts of a girl who saw more than she let on, who might have documented suspicions, patterns, manipulations over the years. Things I definitely didn't want "Perhaps." Mom sipped her coffee, eyes never leaving mine. "But they've given me such insight into her state of mind in those final weeks. Her concerns about her marriage. Her doubts about certain relationshi Dad shifted uncomfortably. "Margaret, is this appropriate

appropriate to discuss

why her body was never found? When should we examine why she drove to that bridge on a night she was

canceled our dinner plans at the last

you told them." Mom's voice was dangerously quiet. "But her journal entry that day says she was excited about your dinner. About

her cup with deliberate care.

slightly "I'm simply a mother with questions about her daughter's death. Questions our other daughter

on the stairs. Dad and

he finally said, running a hand through his thinning hair. "Grief

had been planted, and now

work commitments. In the car finally allowed myself to drop the mask, anxiety crawling across my skin like ants. This was bad, Worse that I'd anticipated.. Mom's suspicions. The journals. The private

Stefan might turn against me if he learned the full truth. He'd been increasingly distant these past weeks, withdrawing into grief and guilt over the divorce papers he'll signed the day before Camille disappe I'd carefully nurtured that belief, of course. Better he blame himself than look too closely at me. Better everyone think Camille had been driven to desperation by her failing marriage than suspect I'd arranged for I poured myself a drink as soon as I entered my apartment, mind racing through contingencies. First priority: find those journals and see exactly what Camille had

if that didn't work? A chill ran through me, not fear, but cold determination. When I faced myself in the mirror, my expression was steady,

create a new narrative. One

mother, unable to accept

loss of her daughter, became obsessed with conspiracy theories and

I'd do whatever it took to protect

they found, with appropriate sisterly emotion. Then I'd visit Mom, see if I could locate those

would continue

an appropriate mourning period. He had no idea how

their relationship to

Men like Stefan were

to manipulate. So eager to believe what you wanted them to believe. So desperate to be loved that they never

observations of my manipulations, her documentation of our conflicts, her growing suspicions about my intentions,