SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 32

INT OF VIEW

CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW

His words hung in the air between us, dangerous and sharp. "Welcome back to the land of the living, Ms. Kane. O should I use your previous name?"

I kept my face still, fighting the storm that raged inside my chest. Years of practice hiding emotions from Rose. Months of Victoria's merciless training. Everything in me focused on not revealing the bolt of fear th

"I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else," I said, withdrawing my hand from his grasp. My voice stayed perfectly steady, cool and distant. "I don't have a previous name."

Alexander Pierce studied me with those unnerving gray eyes, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Too knowing. Too certain.

"Is that so?" He tilted his head slightly, examining me as one might examine an interesting puzzle. "My mistake, then "

But his tone made it clear he believed no such thing. He wasn't backing down, merely shifting tactics.

"First public appearance?" he asked, smoothly changing subjects while maintaining uncomfortable

eye contact. Victoria has kept you well hidden until now."

"Mother believed I needed time to adjust before facing the social spotlight," I replied, using the bland explanation we'd crafted for curious questions. "European privacy has its advantages."

"European privacy," he repeated, the phrase clearly amusing him. "How... convenient."

The way he stressed that word, convenient* made my stomach tighten. This man knew something. Or thought he did. Either way, he presented a danger I hadn't prepared for

"If you'll excuse me," I began, seeking escape from this increasingly dangerous conversation. "I should..." "Should continue making the rounds?" he finished for me Of course, Victoria's careful choreography mu The way he emphasized my last name carried volumes of unspoken meaning.

"I look forward to it," I lied smoothly.

He smiled then, a genuine expression that transformed his severe features, making him appear younger, almost boyish despite his imposing presence.

don't," he said

back, offering a small bow that somehow managed to be

away through the crowd, people unconsciously shifting to make space for him. Despite his youth compared to most titans of industry in the room, Alexander Pierce carried an authority that My heart raced beneath my

One year of

it had taken him exactly

Chapter 32

you met

I knew her well enough how to recognize the tension in her shoulders, the slightly to

said

is." Victoria guided me toward the silent auction displays, creating a bubble of privacy amid the busy ballroom.

this public setting. "He implied he

but I caught the brief tightening of her fingers on her champagne glass,

Camille Lewis was minimal. And Pierce has been in Asia for most of the past year." "Nevertheless," I

of the living and asked if

my previous name."

the calculations happening behind her carefully

based on limited information. Pierce has always enjoyed psychological games, especially with

logical sense, yet didn't fully calm the unease growing inside me. Something in Pierce's

Victoria instructed. "The governor is waiting to

foundation board members, and the

the carefully orchestrated evening, back to my debut as Victoria Kane's heir, back to pretending Alexander Pierce hadn't just threatened to unravel everything with a few well chosen words. For the next two hours, I performed flawlessly. Charmed the governor. Discussed art acquisitions with the museum director, Impressed the foundation board with my knowledge of their programs, All while hyperaware of Pierce's presence in the room, feeling his gaze on me at unexpected moments, catching glimpses of that knowing smile whenever our eyes accidentally met across the crowded ballroom By the time the event concluded and we were in Victoria's private car heading home, exhaustion pressed down on me like a physical weight. Not the tiredness of working muscles, which Jason's

weariness that comes from maintaining

once the privacy screen was securely in place between us and the driver. "He's more dangerous than

evening. "The changes to my appearance are significant. Even Rose wouldn't recognize me if we passed on th Victoria gazed out the window at the city lights, her profile sharp against the darkness. "Pierce

Chapter 32

pressed, needing something more concrete than vague descriptions of

truth is, I don't

car moved through the late-night

as we approached the gate to Victoria's estate, she