SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 37

Stefan hurled his crystal tumbler against the wall of his home office. The sound of shattering glass matched the chaos in his mind. Forty percent. His company stock had dropped forty percent in a single day. Bil

His phone kept buzzing, board members, investors, his father. All demanding answers he didn't have. How had Kane Industries outmaneuvered them so completely? The takeover of Pacific Maritime shouldn't h Yet here he sat, watching his family's legacy crumble through real-

time stock updates on his phone screen. Each notification drove the knife deeper.

"Darling?" Rose's voice drifted through his office door. "Can we talk about the wedding plans? The planner needs final numbers for-"

"Not now." His voice came out harsh, rough from hours of emergency calls.

She entered anyway, dressed for the evening in a red designer dress that probably cost more than his employees made in a month. "The venue won't hold our date forever. We need to confirm..."

"The date? Stefan spun to face her, rage boiling over. "You want to discuss wedding dates while my company burns? While everything my family built over generations disappears?"

Rose stepped back, unused to seeing this side of him. "The business troubles are temporary. Your father will...”

"My father?" He laughed, a bitter sound that scared even himself. "My father hasn't returned my calls since the stock crash. The board is meeting tomorrow to discuss my removal as CEO. And you want to talk a "Stefan, please." She moved toward him, reaching for his arm. "We'll figure this out. Kane Industries can't..."

"Kane Industries." The name tasted like poison on his tongue. "That woman...

there's something about her. Something familiar that I can't place."

"Camille Kane? Don't be ridiculous. She's lived in Europe most of her life. We only met her recently at..."

"I know what she told

jump. "But every time I see her, every time she speaks... it's like a

something calculating replacing her previous concern. "Perhaps

is about our entire future disappearing while you

maintaining appearances," Rose snapped back. "The right wedding, the right guests, the right

"Connections?" Stefan

step back. "Is that what I am to you? A connection? A stepping stone for

be absurd. I love you.

Since you

hung between then, heavy with unspoken accusations. Rose's face paled

Camille," she said

turned away, unable to look at her. "Such a nice,

phone buzzed again. Another stock alert. Another drop. The numbers blurred before

postpone the wedding

voice rose sharply. "We can't postpone The society

whirled back to

future! And all you care about

her cry too many times to trust them

low. "Like you helped Camille? Is

offering?" The color drained from Rose's face. For a moment, real fear flickered in

of promises lately." Stefan moved to his bar, reaching for another glass. "Seems to

palms. "What do you want me to say? That I'm sorry? That I wish things had

him. "Care about something

care about

you?" He met her eyes in the bar's mirror. "Or do you