SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 72

Camille's point of view

I stood in Victoria's office, staring at the meticulously crafted guest list on the desk between us. Names neatly typed in three columns, people whose lives would forever change in exactly two weeks' time. Rose.

"Are you certain about this?" Victoria asked, her voice carrying none of its usual commanding certainty. "Once we take this step, there's no going back."

I traced my finger down the list, stopping

at Richard and Margaret Lewis. The parents who had raised me, then forgotten me when Rose's manipulation had proven more compelling than their love.

"I'm certain," I said, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "It's time for everyone to know the truth."

After two years of careful planning, of strategic destruction of watching from the shadows as Rose's empire crumbled piece by methodical piece, the moment had arrived for the final revelation. Camille Lewis wa Victoria studied me, her sharp eyes missing nothing. "And your motivation? Is this

about justice, or is it personal satisfaction?"

The question hung between us, more significant than it might seem. For

two years, Victoria had guided my transformation from broken victim to powerful avenger with one consistent warning: emotion clouds judgment. Strategic revenge required cold calculation, not heated passion. "Both," I admitted, honesty winning over performance for perhaps the first time since my rebirth. "I want justice. But I also want to see their faces when they realize what's happened. Who's been behind their des Something like approval flickered in Victoria's eyes. "At least you're honest about it. That's progress."

I moved to the windows overlooking Manhattan's skyline. Somewhere in that sprawling city, Rose was hiding in her penthouse, her fashion empire destroyed, her reputation in tatters, her fiancé gone, her godfat "Alexander thinks I should reconsider," I said, still facing the window.

Victoria's reflection appeared

mine in the glass. "Does he now? And what are his

give Rose power she currently doesn't have. Knowledge of who's been orchestrating her downfall." I turned to face Victoria. "He thinks it's smarter to let her suffer without ever

was dangerous, manipulative, ruthless. Giving her information was giving her a weapon. But something in me needed this final her, unveiled,

think some victories need to be witnessed to be complete" I said

11

Chapter 72

plans. “Then we'll proceed. The Phoenix Gala, two weeks from

Lewis has returned from the dead,"

hand paused

is revealed, there will be questions. Investigations. Legal complications. The

want statements. Lawyers would raise questions about identity fraud, about insurance claims processed after my “death," about

redirect most of the

be managed, if not

fixing me with her penetrating gaze. "After

question hit harder than I expected. For two years, every thought, every action, every decision had been filtered through the lens of revenge. I had become Camille Kane for the sole purpose of destroying F "I don't

rose, moving to stand directly before me. "Two years ago, I found you in that parking

painful clarity. The brutal attack that Rose had arranged after I'd confronted her about Stefan. Victoria appearing like some avenging angel, her driver scattering my attacke "I offered you a choice," Victoria continued.

transformation," I said

over victimhood. Strategy

story together," Victoria reminded me. "A way to explain your disappearance while giving us time for your recovery, for the

between us. No search parties. No desperate appeals from my parents. No reward offered for information.