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.

minds," her mother added, taking a step forward.

I became someone new? Or how your

flinched. "All of it. Please, Camille. We need to

Chapter 77

back to her klesk, putting the solid oak barrier between them. "I said everything

can't mean that," her father insisted, moving closer. We're

held no humor. "Is that what

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

I told you," Camille replied, her voice rising despite her efforts to stay calm. "I stood in our family home and told you both that Rose was having an affair with Stefan. That she had manipulated both of "We didn't believe it because it seemed impossible," her mother said,

cut in. "You adopted a teenager

a gift of love. And you didn't just love her, you favored

true," her father protested, but the

and praised her efforts. When I got an A-, you asked why

confidence dry. "And it wasn't just when we were young. When I told you Stefan was cheating, your first instinct wasn't to comfort me or prot

"You didn't. And deep down, you know that's

filled the room, broken only by the thunder outside and her mother's

father finally said, his voice rough. "We've made terrible mistakes. Unforgivable ones. But

Surely that's a second chance, a miracle. Can't we at least try to heal

Camille asked. "The fact that you never truly saw me? That you believed the worst of me and the best of Rose, no matter the evidence? That when I needed you

your death, it

last year living with the knowledge that our last conversation with you was an

Camille's voice remained steady, though her heart pounded painfully in her chest. "You want me to tell you it's okay, that I forgive you, so you can sleep at night "We want our daughter back," her

daughter is gone," she said quietly. "Camille Lewis ded that night in the parking garage. The woman standing before you

her head fiercely. "You might have a different name,

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

Chapter 77

said. "Not entirely. Yes, she was my executioner.

parents flinched as if

Camille walked back to the window, watching lightning streak across the darkened sky.

finally did tell you about his affair with Rose, that's exactly what happened. You defended them both.

truth he couldn't bring himself to admit, that every word Camille spoke was accurate. "We've lost everything," her mother whispered. "Rose is gone. The family name is ruined. And now you... you won't

a hint of gentleness entering

a Hollywood movie 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 asked, his voice breaking. "Twenty six years

taken from me," Camille replied. “The night I discovered

me for dead.

I don't wish you ill. I simply don't have room in my new life for people who couldn't love me as I deserved

“I spent

your love. I'm

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