SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 42

Rose stared

at Stefan, the wedding invitation sample still clutched in her hand. The gold- embossed lettering seemed to mock her now.

"What do you mean, postponed?" Her voice came out too high, too tight.

Stefan loosened his tie, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. "Just what I said. We need to push the wedding back. Until things stabilize with the company.

"Push it back? Push it back?" The invitation crumpled in her grip. "We've sent save-

the-dates to three hundred people. The venue is booked. The deposit is paid!"

"I know." Stefan moved to the bar, pouring himself a drink without offering her one. "My father made it a condition of his help with the company. No distractions. Full focus on saving what's left."

Rose watched him toss back expensive scotch like it was water. The careful control she'd maintained all these years

began to slip."Your father doesn't control our lives."

"He controls the board. He controls the family shares. Right now, he's the only thing standing between me and complete professional ruin." Stefan poured another drink. It's just a few months. Once I save the c

"If you save the company," Rose corrected, her voice laced with venom. "Let's be honest, Stefan. Your business is sinking, and you have no idea who's behind it."

He flinched as if she'd slapped him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"I'm being realistic." She advanced on him, the crushed invitation still in her hand. "We've planned this wedding for a year. A year!

New York will be there. This is our moment, Stefan.

hardening in his expression. "My company is crashing. My family legacy is at risk. And you're

words came out as a strangled laugh. "Is that what

bounced harmlessly off his shoulder, but the action broke something loose inside her. All the careful planning, the years of manipulation, the patient waiting, all th "Do you

For is?" She grabbed a crystal vase from the side table, feeling its weight in her hands. "The people I've cultivated. The connections I've built. All to

and flowers exploding across imported wallpaper. Stefan stared at her, shock replacing exhaustion. "Jesus, Rase! What's wrong with you?" "What's wrong with me?" She seized a framed photo of them, ripping it from the wall. "What's wrong with you? First you let someone destroy your company piece

Stefan grabbed for her arms, but she twisted away, snatching a

have you," she hissed, "after everything,

dawning in his eyes. "What

hung between them, dangerous, unanswerable. For a moment, she

over again. The bottle smashed against the marble fireplace, alcohol spraying across family photos, across the custom rug they'd chosen together, across

words tore from her throat. "While you played husband to my pathetic

another act of destruction. A crystal paperweight through the

with growing horror, "Rose, you need to calm down. This isn't about

Camille who

heard before. "She's dead. And

their perfect apartment. Something in his tone cut through her

Rose agreed, sudden caution threading through her

your father's company. Not your family

too much in us to postpone now. Too much time. Too much

"What exactly did you do,

question struck like lightning, unexpected and searing. Had he suspected

Rose forced

"What are you asking me, Stefan?" "Nothing." He looked away, the moment breaking, "Nothing Just.. this isn't the Rose I know."