SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 75

Rose slammed her apartment door with such force that a framed photo crashed to the floor, glass shattering across the marble entryway. She didn't bother to pick it up. Instead, she kicked off her heels, sending the pristine white carpet.

She didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore.

Her hands shook as she poured herself a drink, missing the glass entirely on the first try. Amber liquid pooled on the counter, but she ignored it, finally managing to fill the tumbler on her second attempt. She dra "She's alive," Rose whispered, her voice raspy and strange to her own ears. "All this time... she's been alive."

The reality of what had happened at the gala crashed over her in waves. Camille, her pathetic, weak, doormat of a sister, had orchestrated her downfall. Camille, who had always been the good daughter, the pe Rose hurled her empty glass across the living room where it exploded against the wall, leaving a dark stain on the cream-

colored paint like a Rorschach test of her rage.

"AAAGGHH!" The scream that tore from her throat sounded animal, primal. Rose grabbed the nearest object, a glass paperweight, and smashed it into the mirror above her fireplace. Her reflection fractured into

Better. That felt better.

She moved through her apartment like a tornado, destroying everything in her path. Photo frames, vases, dishes, all shattered against walls, floors, windows. She tore designer clothes from her closet, ripping fa thousands, snapping heels off shoes, pulling jewelry apart until beads and gems scattered across the floor like tiny marbles.

When she reached the bedroom, she froze. There on the nightstand sat a photo of her and Stefan, happy, smiling, victorious. She had won him. She had taken him from Camille. He was supposed to be her priz Rose lifted the frame with trembling fingers. Stefan's face stared

back at her, the face

she had desired for so long, the man who had been part of her meticulous plan.

"You let her do this to us," she hissed at his image. "You coward. You stood there and let her destroy everything!" She smashed

the frame against the edge of the marble nightstand, glass cutting into her palm. Blood dripped onto the photo, staining his face red. Perfect. That's what he deserved.

Rose sank onto the edge of her bed, suddenly exhausted. Her anger momentarily gave way to the crushing weight of what she had lost. Her business. Her reputation. Stefan. Even her place in the Lewis family She had spent years carefully building this life, crafting her image, positioning herself at

the top of New York society. And in one night, Camille had taken it all away.

a sob rising in

she wasn't weak. She had survived foster homes where no one wanted her. She had fought her way into the Lewis family. She had built a fashion brand from nothing. She

bed, Rose went to her closet and pulled out the one box she hadn't destroyed. Inside was a burner phone, cash, a passport with a different name, and account

Chapter 75

for disaster, always had

she wasn't going to run.

no mind as she turned on

she whispered, echoing her words from the gala. "Not by

was wearing

The powerful

laughed, a harsh sound in the quiet

Victoria Kane's pet project? Her weapon against

how bad the damage was. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she checked news sites, social media, financial reports. It was worse than she thought. #Camille Returns was Her fashion line was officially dead. Her remaining business partners had all issued statements

had nothing left.

clicked on a

woman was powerful, yes, but not untouchable. Everyone had weaknesses.

Including Camille.

11

in the deception? There had to be something She pulled out a notebook and began to write, ignoring the blood that occasionally smeared the page. She listed everyone connected to Camille and Victoria. She noted possible vulnerabilities, potential allies. S By dawn, Rose had filled dozens of pages. Her eyes burned

had cut her, but her mind was clear. The path

She stood and

her apartment in the gray morning light. It looked like a war zone, which was fitting, because

to the window and looked out over the Manhattan skyline,

the skyscrapers.

her victory, thinking she had

the glass. "You took everything from me. Now I'm going to take everything from you. And this

Chapter 75

the window, a cold calm settling over her. The initial storm

She needed