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!

matters in New York will be there.

He turned to face her, something hardening in his expression. "My company is crashing. My family legacy is at risk. And you're worried about

The words came out as a strangled laugh. "Is that what you think this is? Just a

hurled the crumpled invitation at his head. It bounced harmlessly off his shoulder, but the action broke something loose inside her. All the careful

For is?" She grabbed a crystal vase from the side table, feeling its weight in her hands. "The people

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 by piece, and now you're letting your father

but she twisted away, snatching a bottle from the

have you," she hissed, "after everything, I

suspicion dawning

between them, dangerous, unanswerable. For a moment, she froze, bottle raised

spraying across family photos, across the custom rug they'd chosen

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

act of destruction. A crystal paperweight through the television screen. A chair overturned, Books swept from

"Rose,

on her tongue. "Poor, sweet Camille who everyone loved. Camille

voice held an edge she'd never heard before. "She's dead.

breathing hard, surrounded by the wreckage of their perfect apartment. Something in his tone cut through her rage. Something

agreed, sudden caution threading through

I'm your future. Not your father's company. Not your family legacy.

under her designer heels. "I've invested too much in us to postpone now. Too much time. Too much

eyes. "What exactly did you do, Rose? When

question struck like lightning, unexpected and searing. Had he suspected all along? Had he seen through her careful

Rose forced

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