SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

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.

Camille's ghost hovered between

with Camille," Margaret finished softly,

"That's not what

you ever truly mourned your

broke through, not grief, at

you? I

memorial service. I established the foundation in her

him? And who announced the relationship to the world after her death?," Margaret said

as if slapped. This wasn't how

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

moved between them. "Enough. This

into her father's arms. "I can't lose him too, Daddy. Sometimes I

gasped. "Rose! Don't say

the suggestion of suicide, implied clearly enough to

Richard soothed, stroking her hair. "No one's going to

triumph bloomed. Her father's

just want

"To be Stefan's wife.

then looked up with swollen eyes "Will you talk to Stefan? Tell him Lewis Industries can help save what's left of his company? Richard exchanged a look

he marry you is exchange for

understanding that joining our families would be part of the arrangement. A business marriage." Richard nodded. "I'll speak with

mother touched her arm. "Do you truly love Stefan? Beyond his name, his connections,

off guard. Did she love Stefan? Had she ever

course I do," she replied easily. "Why else would

confusing possession with love, dear. They're not

Outside in her

frustrated. Her

"As long as Daddy talks to

Not coming home tonight. Staying at

apartment," just "home." As if he was already

him, desplie everything she'd done, manipulating Camille's marriage, orchestrating opportunities to comfort him when her

did not

Stefan repeatedly until he finally

it, Rose? I'm

she blurted. "Lewis Industries can invest in the Seattle branch.

A long silence followed.

what does your father

family loyalty. The wedding to

Another silence.

it. A business

my company, I marry

"It's not like that..."

it?” His bitter laugh cut through. "Tell