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."

others' relationships, others' chances. Only now did I see how systematic it had been. "And her time after London? The gap year before she

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.

Chapter 44

stared at my sister's face in the photo. The calculating look in her eyes. The

positioning to ensure her best

"How long?"

countries. Then disappeared from his

color, shopping at exclusive boutiques. The timestamp indicated just two weeks before she'd returned to New York, before she'd reconnecte Before my life had

asked,

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 "We've compiled everything into a comprehensive dossier, Wells

nodded, clutching the envelope

second payment will be transferred today. Thank you

Wells hesitated

"Forgive me for asking, but why dig into Rose

those photos had stolen my husband, possibly arranged my "death," certainly destroyed my life Instead, I gave him the practiced smile I'd perfected over the past year.

allowed myself to process what I'd learned. The envelope sat heavy on my lap, filled with

those times I'd wondered why people chose her,

been willing to do things I never would.

buzzed Victoria

message

hovering over the keys before adding: She's worse than we

Release the first photo to that

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

me that I was now using the

becoming just like her in my

the window. The face looking back was still strange to me sometimes, sharper cheekbones, more

and the car moved forward, leaving these questions answered. I opened the envelope again, spreading the photos across my lap. Rose's secret life. Rose's hidden scandals. Rose's true natu By

begin to crack. The world would start

strange mix of emotions churned inside me, vindication, yes, but also sadness for the sister I'd once thought I had. The