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

with Camille," Margaret finished softly, "Is

looked away. "That's not

I wonder if you ever truly mourned your sister

emotion broke through, not grief, at fury at being

you?

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

was still married to him? And who announced

stepped back as if slapped. This wasn't

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

moved between them. "Enough. This

too, Daddy. Sometimes

gasped. "Rose! Don't

suggestion of suicide, implied clearly

Richard soothed, stroking her

continued sobbing, but inside, triumph

just want

be Stefan's wife.

you talk to Stefan? Tell him Lewis Industries can help save what's left of his company? Richard exchanged a look with Margaret. "I'll speak with him. But I'm not promising anything yet. I need to see the

Margaret asked. "That he

straightened her shoulders. "Not that crudely. Just understanding that joining our families would be part

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

love Stefan? Had she ever loved anyone beyond what they could do for

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

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

Outside in her

steering wheel, frustrated. Her mother's

matter," she muttered. "As long as Daddy

buzzed with Stefan's text: Not coming home tonight.

just "home." As if he was already

manipulating Camille's marriage, orchestrating opportunities to comfort

did not

repeatedly until he finally

it, Rose?

invest in the Seattle

A long silence followed.

does your father

tighter. "Just family loyalty. The wedding to

Another silence.

that's it. A business

company,

"It's not like that..."

cut through. "Tell me, Rose, was any of

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