SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 29

CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW

The engagement party filled the screen before me, bright lights and beautiful people swirling in celebration. I sat motionless in Victoria's guest suite, hands folded in my lap breathing measured despite the storm Joy for them. Torture for me.

The Rodriguez family estate had been transformed into a fairytale setting, white roses everywhere, crystal chandeliers hanging from pavilions, string quartet playing softly. Two hundred guests in designer forma And at the center of it all, Rose and Stefan. My sister and my ex-husband.

"The engagement of the year," the entertainment reporter gushed. "Stefan Rodriguez, heir to the Rodriguez shipping fortune, and renowned fashion designer Rose Lewis have finally made their relationship offic respectful period following the tragic death of Stefan's first wife-

Rose's sister Camille."

A "respectful period." Nine months. That's all it took for my existence to become a footnote in their love story.

The camera cut to my mother, diamonds glittering at her throat. "Of course we're thrilled," she said, voice slightly too bright. "Rose and Stefan have always had a special connection. While we continue to mourn

Would I? Would I want them to find

happiness together? To build their life on the foundation of my destruction?

A tear slid down my cheek before I could stop it. I wiped it away quickly, angry at this weakness. Eleven months of transformation. Eleven months of becoming someone new. Someone stronger.

opened silently. Victoria moved to stand beside my chair, her attention fixing on the television where Rose was now tossing

broadcast," Victoria said,

steadier than expected. "To understand what I'm

studied me, missing nothing, not the dried tears, not the tension in my shoulders.

"That I've been

to take back what

like tectonic plates rearranging. "But that life was never worth fighting for. Stefan

expanse. A view fitting for who I was becoming. Not Camille Lewis, forgotten daughter and discarded wife. But

inexorable. "I'm fighting to show them exactly who they are. To make them face

truth is

quiet certainty. “T Victoria moved to the desk, opening folders, dossiers on Rose's fashion business, Stefan's role in his family company, my parents' social connections. Eleven months of intelligence gathering, creating a map of "The acquisition

Not with a frontal assault, but with precision strikes they won't recognize as

fabric supplier through shell companies, Creating subtle quality, issues. Financial pressure through carefully manipulated loan terms. Contract interference with Rod Not revenge in the conventional sense. Not public humiliation or dramatic confrontation. But something far more devastating, the slow, inexorable erosion

I asked, a strange calm settling

live at 9 AM tomorrow Your interview with Fortune runs the following day. By week's end, the business world will be discussing Camille Kane, not Rose Lewis and Stefan Ro Victoria poured two glasses of scotch. "And next week, we close on Bertolucci

reached for it. She aimed directly at the camera, her expression

you ready to begin?" Victoria

awakening

touched her glass to mine. "Not burn," she corrected. "Burning is chaotic, emotional, easily traced. What we're about to do is surgical. Precise.