SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

ROSE'S POINT OF VIEW

"You've been distant lately," I said, stirring my coffee with

practiced precision. Three clockwise turns, no more, no less. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Stefan's penthouse, our penthouse now, though I maintained my own apartment for appearance' Eight months since Camille's "death." Eight months of nurturing

Stefan through grief, providing just enough comfort to keep

him dependent without allowing him to fully heal. A delicate balance, but one I'd mastered through years of subtle manipulation.

Stefan looked

from his newspaper, dark circles beneath his eyes betraying another sleepless night. "Have I? Sorry. Work's been demanding."

Alle. His family company practically ran itself, generations of wealth ensuring he needed to do little more thah show up for board meetings and sign occasional papers, No, what kept him awake wasn't work but

"I worry about you," I reached across the table, taking his hand in mine. "You're still punishing yourself over things you can't change."

He flinched slightly at the gentle accusation, eyes darting away from mine. "It's not that simple, Rose."

"Isn't it? Camille is gone." I softened my voice, the perfect blend of compassion and practicality. "She wouldn't want you torturing yourself like this."

Stefan pulled his hand back, jaw tightening. "You don't know what she would want."

Actually, I did. My pathetic sister had wanted precisely what

I'd taken from her, Stefan, our parents' approval, social standing, success. But pointing that out wouldn't serve my current purpose.

to enter my voice. "I just hate seeing

made him so easy to steer. Show the slightest wound, and he'd bend over backward to heal it.

be whole again. The smile that was the biggest lie o "I have an idea," I said, brightening as if the thought had just occurred to me. In reality, I'd planned this conversation for weeks, waiting for the perfect morning to execute it. "Let's get away this weekend. The Ha Stefan hesitated, and I could read his thoughts as clearly as if

thing Saturday,"

but with a firmness that suggested

children witis

the implied selfishness of choosing a charity event

he agreed, already reaching for his phone. Il have my

One more crack in the wall of guilt that had

kiss on his forehead. "I have meetings all day, but I'll be back tonight to help

calculated move. Stefan hated the quarterly reports his father insisted he complete personally. By offering help,

The

from him: Ring is ready Don't peek if you go by the

success. He was feeling playful, romantic even. The emotional distance dissolving precisely

calculated enthusiasm: *No spoilers please! So excited for our weekend

him, not enough to seem desperate. The perfect

we'd spent time together years ago, before I'd orchestrated his marriage to Camille. The place held memories for us,

(Stefan's favorite activity, one Camille had always

carefully curated brunch followed by a walk on the beach where, if all went

looked perfect when we arrived, fresh flowers in every room, champagne chilling, gourmet snacks arranged artfully in the kitchen. Stefan whistled appreciatively as we entered the great room

expression neutrally pleased. "Your family always maintains impeccable standards. One of the things t love

perfect background music, sunset painting the sky in colors that seemed arranged specifically for this moment. The

hand-in-hand down the wooden steps to the

at our feet. The full moon

I'd anticipated, turning to face

I kept my expression open,

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