SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 63

Camille's point of view

The morning sun filled my home office, bathing the pristine white furniture in golden light

that should have been soothing Instead, I stared at my tablet screen, my chest so Eight I could barely breathe. The headline of the Wall Street Journal's business section screamed at me in hold black letters:

**LEWIS INDUSTRIES TO RESCUE RODRIGUEZ SHIPPING WITH $100M INVESTMENT**

The subheading twisted the knife deeper:

**Wedding Bells to Follow: Rodriguez-

Lewis Union Cements Business Partnership**

My coffee cup crashed to the floor as I stood abruptly, hot liquid splattering across imported marble tiles. I didn't care. The words on the screen burned through my mind, erasing months of careful planning, of sy "No," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion I rarely

allowed myself anymore. "No, no,

NO!!!

I scrolled through the article, each paragraph feeding the fire growing inside me.

*In a surprising turn of events, Lewis Industries has announced a $100 million investment in Rodriguez Shipping's Seattle operations, rescuing the century-

old family business from complete collapse following Kane Industries' recent debt acquisition.*

"Sources close to both families confirm that the business alliance will be strengthened by personal ties, with an October wedding planned between Stefan Rodriguez and Rose Lewis, sister of the late Camille Le Rodriguez. "This partnership represents not just a business opportunity, but the joining of two family legacies," Richard Lewis stated in this morning's press conference. "Sometimes tragedy can lead

to unexpected new beginnings."* The tablet flew from my hands before I realized I'd thrown it, shattering against the far wall in a spray of glass and electronics. The destruction wasn't enough. Nothing could qui After everything I'd done. After buying his company's debt. After taking his family home. After systematically destroying everything the Rodriguez name stood for.

Stefan was still choosing Rose. Still moving forward with the life they'd planned while I was supposedly dead at

bottom of

my parents - MY PARENTS were funding it

intercom buzzed, Rebecca's voice

the

three deep breaths before

Victoria's face

in the tightness around her eyes. She was in her Tokyo hotel suite, the skyline

careful work, undone by a simple investment deal." "They can't do this," I replied, pacing the length of my office. "We own the debt.

few assets we couldn't touch, primarily the Seattle operations we thought were too worthless to bother with. Your father has found a legal workaround that kee The word "father" sent fresh pain shooting through me. Richard Lewis was funding the revival of Stefan's business, cementing Rose's triumph, all while having no idea he was destroying his supposedly dead da "The wedding announcement wasn't coincidental," Victoria continued, her analytical mind already dissecting the strategy. "It's a deliberate message to investors and clients, a statement of confidence in the new "I want it stopped." My voice came

"This is why I've always cautioned against

sald calmly. "This

to my own ears. They're getting MARRIED, Victoria. With my parents' blessing and financial support. After everything they did to me. After every “And they will still pay. Perhaps more completely than before.” Victoria leaned closer to the camera, her expression intensifying. “This development presents new opportunities. They're rebuilding, investing emot Her logic should have calmed me. Should have helped me see past the raw hurt to the strategic implications. Instead, I felt something crack inside, some final piece of the woman I'd once been breaking away "I feel like everything we've done was for nothing," I said, collapsing back into my

concern. "Perhaps we've been too... indirect in our approach." A small, dangerous smile curved her lips. "We need to create a scandal that will completely destroy your sister

looked up sharply. "What kind

The kind that would make Stefan question his choice." Victoria tapped her fingers against her desk, a habit

next words.

breath caught. "That is a

reserve, uncertain if such a personal attack would serve our larger goals. But now..." "Now it's exactly what we need," I finished, a cold clarity replacing the emotional turmoil I'd felt moments before. "Evidence that Rose

toward the screen. "Show

Chapter 61

return tomorrow. This isn't something to discuss over even our most secure channels." Victoria's expression softened again, nearly imperceptible but there for those who knew how to read her. "For now "I'm

authority overlaying business command. "Now more than ever, Camille Kane must appear unaffected by Rodriguez Lewis affairs. A After ending the call, I showered and dressed mechanically, donning a pale blue suit that Rebecca had selected for the luncheon. My outward appearance perfectly matched what

when I descended the mansion's grand staircase. James stood by the open door, his expression professionally

Botanical Gardens, Ms.

"Take me to the Rodriguez

hesitated, unusual for him. "Ms. Kane, the property

it's no longer in Rodriguez hands. I know we own it I just...

into the driver's seat.

maintained their family compounds, I stared out the

estate had been in their family for five generations. I'd lived there

Stefan's