SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Rose paced her parents' living room, each step calculated to display distress. Tears streaked her makeup, deliberately mined before her arrival. The afternoon sum highlighted her red eyes and trembling hands

"I don't know what else to do," she sobbed. "Stefan barely talks to me. He sleeps at his family home every night."

Margaret Lewis watched with exhaustion. The past weeks bad stripped years from her face, first Camille's death, now Rose's relationship troubles,

"Maybe he just needs time," Margaret suggested wealdy, The Rodriguez company's collapse is a terrible shock."

"Time?" Rose's voice

cracked perfectly. "He talks about canceling the wedding, Mom! Everything we've

planned!"

Richard Lewis sat with newspaper forgotten, expression guarded. Since the scandal photos emerged, he'd grown quieter around Rose.

"Stefan's lost everything," he said finally. "His company, his estate, his reputation. Perhaps a wedding isn't his priority."

Rose knelt before her father, grabbing his hands-

a rehearsed move that looked spontaneous.

"Daddy, please, I can't lose him. Not after Camille." She pressed her face against his hands. "I can't bear another loss."

Richard stiffened at the mention of Camille, but his fingers curled around Rose's hands.

"What do you expect us to do? Kane Industries bought their debt. The Rodriguez company is finished."

Rose looked up hopefully. "You could invest enough to save the Seattle branch. That's all Stefan needs, just enough to keep that plece alive." Margaret gasped. "Richard, you can't possibly..."

"It would take millions," Richard interrupted, though he didn't immediately refuse. "Eor what? A struggling shipping

route that's barely profitable?"

"For family, Daddy, Stefan would be family once we're married. Rodriguez and Lewis, joined through us."

She watched her father calculating behind his eyes.

"Even if I wanted to help, Stefan doesn't seem eager to marry you. Why would I invest without guarantee?"

Rose's heart beat faster. This was her opening "Make it a condition. Help save the Seattle branch if Stefan agrees to the wedding. This fall, as planned." Margaret stood. "Outrageous! You can't buy yourself a husband, Rose!"

"It's not buying," Rose protested. "It's saving what matters to both of us. Our future. The company his grandfather built."

"And when he resents you for forcing his hand this way?"

Rose turned, real anger flashing. "Forcing? He loves me! He's always loved me, even when he was with..." She stopped abruptly.

room. Camille's ghost

when he was with Camille," Margaret finished softly, "Is that what you

looked away. "That's not

you ever truly mourned your sister at

broke through,

you?

her memorial service. I established

him? And

This wasn't how

she whispered, real tears replacing manufactured ones. "We found comfort

them. "Enough.

can't lose him too, Daddy. Sometimes I think about joining Camille, about

gasped. "Rose! Don't

her ultimate manipulation, the suggestion of suicide, implied clearly enough

figure something out," Richard soothed, stroking her hair. "No one's

continued sobbing, but inside, triumph bloomed. Her father's resistance was

want

be Stefan's wife. To

Stefan? Tell him Lewis Industries can help save what's left of his company? Richard exchanged a look with Margaret.

asked. "That he marry you is exchange

families would be part of the arrangement. A business marriage." Richard

Rose prepared to leave, her mother touched her arm. "Do you truly love Stefan? Beyond his name,

caught Rose off guard. Did she love Stefan? Had she ever loved anyone beyond what they could do for

replied easily. "Why else would I fight

confusing possession with love, dear. They're not the same

Outside in her

slammed her hands against the steering wheel, frustrated. Her mother's questions had unsettled her more than she

doesn't matter," she muttered. "As long as

text: Not coming home tonight.

just "home." As if he

done, manipulating Camille's marriage, orchestrating opportunities to comfort him when

Rose Lewis did not

repeatedly until he finally

is it, Rose?

Industries can invest in the Seattle branch. Save what's

A long silence followed.

your father want

gripped the phone tighter. "Just family loyalty. The wedding to proceed as

Another silence.

it. A

father saves my company, I marry

"It's not like that..."

cut through. "Tell me, Rose,

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