SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Camille's point of view

The private investigation office smelled of coffee and secrets. I sat across from Martin Wells, retired NYPD detective turned high-

end investigator, watching him spreid photos across his desk like playing cards.

"Four affairs during her time in London," he said, tapping grainy Image of Rose entering a hotel with a man who wasn't Stefan. "Two with married executives. One with a British lord. One with her fashion mentor

Something cold settled in my stomach as I picked up the photo, Rose, laughing, hand tucked possessively into the arm of a silver-

haired man twenty years her senior. The timestamp showed a date just three weeks after I'd married Stefan

"You're certain these are authentic?" I kept my voice steady, professional. Victoria had taught me never to show emotion

during business dealings, even when the business was revenge.

Wells nodded, sliding more photos toward me. “Verified by three different sources. Ms Lewis was... busy during her fashion apprenticeship.”

And these men? They'll confirm the relationships if approached?"

"Two already have." Wells handed me a flash drive. "Recorded statements. Nothing explicitly naming her, but enough detail to make identification obvious. The British lord refused comment, but his ex- wife was quite forthcoming about why their marriage ended."

I studied another photo, Rose leaving a London apartment at dawn, still wearing evening clothes from the night before. The man in the doorway behind her was recognizable as Jonathan Hayes, whose wife ha "Mrs. Hayes fired her a week after this was taken," Wells commented. "Publicly claimed it was due to 'creative differences.' Privately told friends it was for sleeping with her husband."

The revelation shouldn't have surprised me. Rose had always taken what she wanted, regardless of who got hurt. Yet seeing actual evidence of her betrayals while I had remained loyal to Stefan sent a wave of

Wells

grimaced. "Harder to prove, but multiple sources confirm Rose borrowed' design

concepts from other. apprentices. Three designs she claimed as her own match sketches that mysteriously disappeared from colleagues.

workstations."

chances. Only now did I see how

be studying in Paris, but we can only place her there for three months. After that, she surfaces in Monaco," He slid across several photos that made my breath catch. Rose, barely recognizable with platinum blonde hair, hanging on the arm of an older man whose face had been splashed across enough tabloids to be "Anton Bessonov. Russian businessman with questionable connections. Under investigation in three countries for

Chapter 44

in the photo. The calculating look in her eyes. The

careful positioning to ensure her

"How long?"

his yacht. Traveled with him to seven countries. Then disappeared from his life just as news of

natural color, shopping at exclusive boutiques. The timestamp indicated just two weeks before she'd returned to New York, before she'd

I asked, my

in her main account. Classic laundering pattern.” I sat back, letting this new information settle. Rose, my perfect, polished sister, had been a kept woman for a suspected criminal. Had potentially helped launder money, Had certainly been unfaithful to Stefan be

nodded, clutching the envelope that held my sister's

will be transferred

Wells hesitated as

leave. "Forgive me for asking, but why dig into Rose Lewis's past? What does Kane Industries gain

wasn't just Camille Kane, Victoria's heir. That the woman in those photos had stolen my husband, possibly arranged my "death," certainly destroyed my life Instead, I gave

car, I finally allowed myself to process what I'd learned. The envelope sat heavy on my lap, filled with evidence of Rose's true nature. All those years

times I'd wondered why people chose her,

been better, she'd simply been willing to do things I never would. Lie. Cheat. Steal. Betray.

phone buzzed Victoria checking

Her message was

replied, fingers hovering over the keys

Release the

satisfaction. This was what I wanted, Wasn't it? To expose Rose's lies? To destroy her reputation just as she'd

wondered what it said about me that I was now using the same tactics Rose

like her in my

at a red light, and I caught my reflection in the window. The face looking back was still strange to me sometimes, sharper cheekbones, more defined jawline, eyes harder than they'd once been. But whose revenge, really? Hers or mine? And when it was over,

questions answered. I opened the envelope again, spreading the photos across my lap. Rose's secret life.

constructed would begin to crack. The world would start to see what I'd always suspected beneath her polished

have felt only satisfaction. Instead, a strange mix of emotions churned inside me, vindication, yes, but also sadness