SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 46

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Chapter 46

Rose point of view

I stared at my phone screen until the words blurred, reading the same headline for the twentieth time. "ROSE LEWIS: THE PRIVATE LIFE SHE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SEE” Beneath it, that grainy photo of me How? How had anyone found this? I'd been so careful.

My boutique office, normally my sanctuary, felt suffocating now. Outside, I could hear my staff whispering, their usual respectful silence replaced by urgent murmurs. They'd seen the stories. Everyone had.

Three major fashion sites had dropped my spring collection Five influencers had canceled promotional contracts. Two department stores had "postponed" their orders. All within twenty- four hours.

My empire, built so carefully brick by brick, was crumbling beneath my feet.

The phone on my desk rang again. My publicity team, no doubt, with another useless strategy. I'd already released three statements, first denying everything, then suggesting the photos were manipulated, final I ignored the call, returning to my social media feeds. The comments cut like knives.

"Always knew she was fake."

"Poor Camille, no wonder she drove into that river."

"#RoseThoms is right beautiful but toxic!"

Tears stung my eyes. Not from shame, I'd never felt shame for taking what I wanted, but from rage. I'd spent years crafting the perfect image. The talented designer. The grieving sister. The devoted fiancée. All stolen moment captured on film.

The office door banged open. Stefan stood there, still wearing his work suit, face thunderous. He held his phone in a white-

knuckled grip.

"When were you going to tell me?" His voice was dangerously quiet.

I stood, smoothing my skirt, forcing my face into concerned lines. "Stefan, darling. I've been

trying to reach you all day. These rumors are....”

"Not rumors." He stepped inside, slamming the door behind him. "Facts. With photographic evidence."

"It was years ago. Before us. Before..."

“Before us?” He laughed, a harsh sound I'd never heard from him. "According to the date on this photo, you were sleeping with your mentor's husband three weeks after I married your sister."

Ice slid down my spine. I hadn't noticed the timestamp. Hadn't thought anyone would look that closely.

"It wasn't serious," I tried, moving toward him. "A mistake One night that meant nothing."

"And the

They knew about Anton too? How much had they

demanded, offense

destroy what we have?"

it. "What exactly do we have, Rose? A relationship built on our manipulation of Camille? A future "I never lied to

me like he'd

where you really were during your 'year in Paris'? Because according to these new photos, you spent six months on a Russian

was doing this? Who had the resources and motivation

it looks like," I said, falling back on

what it looks like. Not

marriage was struggling. Not your sudden devotion after

you," I hissed, genuine anger flaring. "I loved Camille. Her death

us her car went off that bridge. You didn't look surprised, Rose. You

people

Stefan said slowly, "is that I'm beginning to wonder if I

again before I could

mother's eyes red-

usually so warm

gone cold.

in. I'd faced criticism before,

you can see.

into my voice.

you were studying? Is that what you call lying about where you were during your 'fashi laugh was sharp, almost cruel. “That's not even the worst part. The worst part is that while I was being cold to

to come back, you were busy messing around

me. The betrayal in his eyes cut deeper than my parents' disappointment. He truly had been waiting for me, just as I'd

all those nights you... and you were on some Russian's yacht? In some lord

office thinking about you, missing bed?"

having fun?"

cut deep from all sides. My mother had always been my strongest advocate, always taken my side

who would always

are

with Jonathan at a private dinner. Me with Lord Hartley at his country estate. Me boarding Anton's yacht

to advance my career," I said, drawing myself up.

to be working in Paris while lounging on criminal yachts," my

while claiming to be learning design

me. My parents had never confronted me this way, had always

mother's question sliced through my shock.

get away with everything because she was so special, so tal My voice had risen to a shout,

hurling it against the wall. Water and flowers sprayed across my design sketches, ruining weeks of work. "My entire career is

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