SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Rain pounded against the windows of Camille's office, matching her mood as she stared at the notification on her phone. The message was brief: her parents were waiting in the lobby. No warning, no call ahead. They had simply shown up, expecting her to drop everything and see them.

Some things never changed.

"Ms. Kane?" Rebecca stood in the

doorway, her expression concerned. "Your... the Lewises are downstairs. They're insisting on seeing you."

Camille set down her pen, her fingers surprisingly steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "How long have they been waiting?"

"Almost an hour. They refuse to leave without speaking to you."

Of course they did. Margaret and Richard Lewis had always believed doors should open for them, that their demands warranted immediate attention. Even now, after everything that had happened, they expecte "Send them up in fifteen minutes," Camille said, turning back to her computer. "Not a second earlier."

Rebecca nodded and disappeared, leaving Camille alone with thoughts she had tried to bury since the Phoenix Gala. Unlike with Stefan, whose visit she had

anticipated and prepared for, this confrontation caught her off guard. She had hoped her parents would respect her wishes, would understand that some bridges couldn't be rebuilt.

But hope had always been her weakness where family was concerned.

Camille stood and walked to the window, watching raindrops race down the glass. The

sky had turned nearly black, thunder rumbling in the distance. A perfect backdrop for the scene about to unfold.

Fifteen minutes later, Rebecca's voice came through the intercom. "They're here, Ms. Kane."

"Send them in," Camille replied, remaining by the window, her back to the door.

She heard them enter, heard her mother's sharp intake of breath, heard her father clear his throat, that familiar sound that had always preceded his lectures. Camille didn't turn around.

"Camille," her mother's voice broke on her name. "Please look at us."

Slowly, Camille turned. They looked smaller somehow, diminished. Her mother's carefully maintained appearance showed

cracks, hair not quite perfect, makeup slightly smudged from the rain or perhaps tears. Her father

stood straight as always, but new lines marked his face, and his eyes held none of their usual confidence.

"Why are you here?" Camille asked, her voice flat.

"Because you're our daughter," her father said, as if that explained everything, as if the word "daughter" still meant anything between them.

been going out of our minds," her mother added, taking a step forward. "Ever since the gala, we've been trying to process everything. To

I survived?" Camille finished for her. "How I became someone new? Or how your precious Rose tried

Please, Camille. We need to talk about

Chapter 77

talk about." Camille moved back to her klesk, putting the solid oak barrier

insisted, moving closer. We're your parents. Whatever mistakes

Camille's laugh held no humor. "Is that what you call it?

his shoulders. "We had no idea what Rose had done. How could we

with Stefan. That she had manipulated both

raise her," Camille cut in. "You adopted

a gift of

her father protested, but the

got an A-, you asked why it wasn't an

Stefan was cheating, your first instinct wasn't to comfort me or prot Her mother shook

said softly. "You didn't. And deep down, you

only by the thunder outside and her

his voice rough. "We've made terrible mistakes. Unforgivable

a second chance, a miracle.

of Rose, no matter the evidence? That when I needed you most, you abandoned me Her father's face crumpled, his carefully maintained facade finally breaking. "We were wrong. So terribly wrong. When we

your death, it

us. We've spent the last year living with the knowledge that our last conversation with you was an

pounded painfully in her chest. "You want me to tell you it's okay, that I forgive

in the parking garage. The woman standing before you is someone else

"You might

our child. Nothing can change that, not even what Rose

Chapter 77

entirely. Yes, she was my executioner. But you

flinched as if

clear she was the daughter you truly wanted, you gave her more power to hurt me. You taught her that Camille walked back to the window, watching lightning streak across the darkened sky. "When Stefan gave me those

affair with Rose, that's exactly

Camille spoke was accurate. "We've lost everything," her mother whispered. "Rose is gone. The

a hint of gentleness

where the estranged family has a tearful reunion and everything is magically healed. Real life doesn't work that way." "So that's it?" her father

Camille replied. “The night

men attacked me in a parking garage and left me for dead. The night I realized my parents would never believe me

have room in my new life for people who couldn't love me as I deserved to be loved."

voice final. “I spent my

your love. I'm

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