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.

Dad attempting desperately to Maintain normal conversation, me

been thinking," Mom said as Helen served coffee, "about

cup halfway to

Hidden in that loose floorboard in her closet, though she thought I didn't know." Mom's eyes never

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,

appropriate

why she drove to that bridge on

the police," I said calmly, "Camille canceled our dinner plans at

told them." Mom's voice was dangerously quiet. "But her journal entry that day says

minds, Mom. Maybe she wrote that earlier in the day, before she started feeling unwell." "Maybe." Mom set down her cup with deliberate care. "Or maybe something else

mother with questions about her

unsteady on the stairs. Dad and I sat in stunned silence

through his thinning hair. "Grief makes

The seed of doubt had been planted, and now

pleading 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.

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

that didn't work? A chill ran through me, not fear, but cold determination. When I

a new narrative.

mother, unable to

daughter, became obsessed with

I'd discredit my own mother if necessary. I'd

would identify the shoe they found, with appropriate sisterly emotion. Then I'd visit Mom, see if I could locate those journals. The situation was still manageable, still within

Stefan, unwittingly useful in my plans, would continue playing

sister after an appropriate mourning period. He had no idea how I'd orchestrated

their relationship to

Men like Stefan were

So eager to believe what you wanted them to believe. So desperate to be loved that they never questioned the convenient timing

her documentation of our conflicts, her growing suspicions about my intentions, they could