SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Rose point of view

I paced my penthouse living room, plone clutched so tightly in my hand that my knuckles turned white. The news notification still glowed on the screen: "Kane Industries Acquires Moretti Global Logistics in Surp Uncle Fabio's company. My last financial lifeline. Gone,

The vodka bottle on the bar called to me, promising temporary relief from the suffocating pressure

crushing my chest. Three weeks of systematic destruction had left me raw, exposed, and increasingly desperate. First my company. Then my reputation. Now my godfather's business

The doorbell rang, its shrill tone slicing through my spiraling thoughts. I ignored it, just as I'd been ignoring most intrusions from the outside world. Probably another reporter hoping to document my "fall from gra The bell rang again, followed by pounding that made the door shake.

"Rose! I know you're in there!"

Stefan. I froze, glass halfway to my lips. I hadn't seen him since the embezzlement news broke, since he'd looked at me with such disgust in my father's office.

The pounding continued. "Open this door, Rose! We need to talk!"

His voice held something I'd never heard before, not just anger, but a dangerous edge that sent shivers down my spine. Against my better judgment, I moved to the door and pulled it open.

Stefan looked terrible. His normally perfect appearance had deteriorated into something almost unrecognizable, wrinkled shirt, dark circles under bloodshot eyes, hair uncombed. But it was his expression that tr "Why aren't you answering my calls?" he demanded, pushing past me into the apartment.

"Hello to you too," I said, trying for sarcasm but achieving only a thin, brittle tone. "Please, come in."

"This isn't a social visit." He spun to face me. "I just got off the phone with your father."

My stomach dropped. "And?"

"He wanted to warn me that you were being difficult about the joint statement. Said you were refusing to sign the paperwork canceling our wedding plans."

I crossed my arms defensively. "Why should I? This will all blow over eventually. The media will find someone else to destroy. We can postpone the wedding, not cancel it Stefan stared at me like I'd grown another head. "Are you serious? After everything that's happened? After the lies, the affairs, the stolen designs, you still think there's a future for us?" "Of course there is," I insisted, moving toward him. "People have short memories, Stefan. In six months, no one will care about these ridiculous scandals."

"Ridiculous scandals?" He backed away from my approach You stole other designers' work. You slept with married men to advance your career. You embezzled from your own company!" "Those are just business realities!" Frustration made my voice rise. "Everyone does these things! They only look

BONUS

in

plain on his face. "I don't even know who you are anymore. The woman I thought I was going to marry wouldn't recognize these things as 'bustness realities.“” "The woman you thought you were going

"That's not fair...

with unlimited resources has systematically destroyed everything I've built! My company, my reputation, my

stopped me

voice hardening. "Maybe these 'ridiculous scandals" are just your past catching up

you think this is? Someone appointed themselves judge and jury of my life because

"I don't

it," Stefan replied. "Every revelation seems perfectly calculated to expose exactly who you really are. Someone who takes what they want regardless of who gets

control finally shattered. "You were married when we started

stepped back as if I'd physically struck

hidden resentment suddenly pouring out. "You were

make this about our past. This is about who you are now. What you've done." "Who I am?" I laughed, the sound sharp and bitter. "I'm exactly who I've always been! The only difference is that now

Stefan said quietly. "The Rose I thought I knew wouldn't have stolen designs. Wouldn't

until we were inches apart. "Wouldn't have done everything necessary to get what

air between us, impossible to retract Stefan's face drained of color as he stared

did you just say?" he

Too

admitted in my fury. My mind raced for explanations, for clarifications, for

Chapter 69

out wrong...." I stammered, cold fear

repeated, backing away from me. "You said

would happen.

"No! That's not...."

to do with Camille's death?" His voice was barely

burst from me before I could stop