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.

Camille's ghost hovered

he was with Camille," Margaret finished softly, "Is that

looked away. "That's not

if you ever truly

genuine emotion broke through, not grief, at fury

you?

Larranged her memorial service. I established the foundation in her name. I'm the

was still married to him? And who announced the relationship to

stepped back as if slapped. This wasn't how the

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

between them. "Enough.

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

gasped. "Rose! Don't say such

ultimate manipulation, the suggestion of suicide, implied clearly

Richard soothed, stroking her hair.

inside, triumph bloomed. Her

just want to

"To be Stefan's wife.

what's left of his

asked. "That he

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

leave, her mother touched her arm. "Do you truly love Stefan?

Rose off guard. Did she love Stefan? Had she ever loved anyone

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

"Make sure you're not confusing possession

Outside in her

frustrated. Her mother's questions had unsettled her more than

matter," she muttered. "As

text: Not coming home

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

desplie everything she'd done, manipulating Camille's marriage, orchestrating opportunities to comfort him when her sister "disappeared," building a narrative

Rose Lewis did not lose.

Stefan repeatedly until he

it,

can invest in the

A long silence followed.

does your father

tighter. "Just family loyalty. The wedding to proceed

Another silence.

that's it. A

saves my company,

"It's not like that..."

it?” His bitter laugh cut through. "Tell me, Rose,

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