SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 76

The lobby of Kane Industries gleamed with

polished marble and sleek glass. Camille stepped out of the elevator on the top floor, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked toward her office. Three days had passed since the Phoenix Gala, and her

Now the world knew who she really was. The media couldn't get enough of the story: the supposedly dead wife who had returned as a powerful executive, the systematic destruction of her ex- husband's company and her sister's reputation. Some painted her as a victim-

turned-

hero, others as a manipulative schemer. Camille didn't care which version they believed.

She pushed open the glass door to

her office and stopped short. A massive arrangement of white roses sat on her desk, their scent filling the room. A knot formed in her stomach. She knew who they were from before she even read the card. "Ms. Kane," her assistant Rebecca said from behind her, "I'm sorry. He sent them before I arrived this morning. Security checked them thoroughly."

Camille nodded, finding her voice. "It's fine, Rebecca. Could you please take them away? Donate them to the hospital across the street."

Rebecca quickly removed the flowers while Camille settled at her desk, turning her attention to the documents awaiting her signature. She had just begun reviewing the first contract when Rebecca's voice came "Ms. Kane, Stefan Rodriguez is in the lobby requesting to see you. Security wants to know if they should turn him away."

Camille's pen stilled above the paper. She had expected this, of course. It was only a matter of time before he would try to reach out. Still, her heart hammered uncomfortably against her ribs.

"Tell them to send him up," she said after a moment. "And Rebecca, please stay close by. If I need you, I'll call." "Of course, Ms. Kane."

Five minutes later, Stefan stood in her doorway. He looked awful, shadows beneath his eyes, his normally perfect suit slightly rumpled, his face drawn with exhaustion. There was a time when seeing him like this would have torn at her heart, when she would have done anything to comfort him.

Now she just felt... nothing.

"Come in and close the door," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk. She remained standing, unwilling to cede even that small advantage.

Stefan stepped inside, his eyes never leaving her face. "Camille," he breathed, his

voice cracking on her name. "I still can't believe it's really you."

00

"Not the woman you knew,

tone, then moved closer, stopping when she held up a hand. "Please, Camille. I just want to talk. I've been going crazy since the gala. I can't sleep, I can't eat...." "What do you want, Stefan?" Camille cut him off, her voice steady despite

here?"

Chapter 76

“I

see you." He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it slightly disheveled in a way that

How you were willing to throw

a fool," Stefan said, his eyes filling with tears. "I was blind and stupid and selfish. Rose... she manipulated me, fed me lies

hand again. "Don't blame Rose for your choices. You weren't hypnotized. You weren't drugged. You looked me in the eye and

collapse within himself, sinking into the chair. "You're right. I'm not trying to escape responsibility. What I did

finally sat

I never stopped loving you. Even with Rose, even after I thought you were gone... there was always something missing. It was

laugh escaped her throat. "Are you serious? You think after everything you've done, everything that's happened, we could just... what? Get back together? Resume our marriage like none of this ever

I understand what

the money, none of that matters. I'd give up everything just for the chance to make things righ Camille studied him, this man she had once loved beyond reason. She could see the desperation in his eyes, the genuine misery. There was a

marriage, Stefan?" she asked quietly. "Not the happy moments. Not the trips or the gifts or the fancy dinners. I remember sitting alone on our anniversary, waiting I remember the way

terrible husband," Stefan admitted, his voice breaking.

tilted her head. "Or have your circumstances changed? You've lost your company. Your reputation is in tatters. Rose has shown her true colors. And suddenly, convéniently, you remember y Stefan flinched as if she'd slapped him. "That's not

If none of this had happened, if I hadn't 'died,' if your

now, begging

was

up, smoothing her skirt with steady hands. “Mou don't love me, Stefan. You never did. Not really. You loved the idea of me, the supportive wife, the pretty accessory, the woman who never challeng Chapter

That woman

the night I found

selfish then. But these past months without

he insisted. "I may not have hired those men, but I created the situation that led to it. I share the blame. And I have

in his eyes, real remorse, real pain. But it

I meant what I

sake, but for mine. I refuse to carry the weight of hating

second chance. There are some things