SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

The sunlight streaming through the windows of the Rodriguez Seattle family estate felt like a mockery to Stefan. Once, this light had illuminated generations of family success. Now, it merely highlighted the dust Stefan sat alone in his father's study, nursing a glass of whiskey despite the early hour. The room still smelled of Eduardo's cigars and leather-

bound books, a scent that had once meant security

and legacy. The carved mahogany desk where his father had taught him to review shipping manifests seemed smaller now, diminished like everything else in his life.

The sound of tires on gravel jolted him from his stupor. He moved to the window, watching the black town car roll to a stop. His stomach tightened. His parents were home.

Eduardo Rodriguez emerged first, his once-

commanding posture now slightly stooped. The past weeks had weathered him visibly. He helped Emily from the car with practiced tenderness, his hand at the small of her back. Stefan's mother looked thinner, her designer outfit hanging loosely where it once fit perfectly. The Italian retreat meant to shield them from the public humiliation of their family's downfall had clearly failed to provide sanctuary. Stefan took a long swallow of whiskey, steeling himself, and strode to the foyer.

"Mother. Father." His voice echoed in the entrance hall.

Emily's eyes found his, hardening instantly. "Where is she? That woman who destroyed us?"

No greeting. No embrace. Stefan expected nothing less.

Eduardo sighed heavily, passing their luggage to the remaining housemaid. "Emily, please. Let's at least sit down first.”

Stefan led them to the sitting room, once the pride of his mother's decorating prowess. The crystal decanters caught the light as he poured drinks with shaking hands.

"Camille isn't here," he answered finally. "She has no reason to be."

Emily snatched the glass from his offering hand. “She has every reason! To gloat, to witness our suffering. Isn't that what she wanted?"

"That's not who she is," Stefan said quietly.

"Who she is," Emily spat, "is a vengeful, manipulative...."

“Enough!” Eduardo's palm struck the side table, rattling the decanters. "Our son betrayed her, Emily. Or have you conveniently forgotten that part?"

The silence that followed felt volatile. Stefan sank into an armchair, suddenly exhausted.

"The board called an emergency meeting," Eduardo said flatly. "While we were away, they voted to accept Kane Industries' offer to purchase our remaining assets." Stefan nodded numbly. "I know."

"You know?" Emily's voice rose. "And you did nothing to stop it?"

"What would you have me do, Mother? The debt they've acquired gives them controlling interest. It was always going to end this way."

Emily's face flushed with rage. "This estate has been in the Rodriguez family for four generations! Your great-

grandfather built it with his bare hands after arriving with nothing but determination."

"And I lost it with nothing but arrogance," Stefan finished bitterly.

"We have three weeks before we must vacate."

speak with Camille," Stefan admitted. "She wouldn't

she wouldn't! She's Victoria

"Camille orchestrated this. Victoria gave her the tools, but the vision was

it?" Emily's voice

he'd taken for granted? For revealing herself not as a victim but as an architect of justice? "Yes," he said

wall, amber liquid streaking

happens when you marry beneath you," she hissed. "I warned you about her. She was never good enough for this family. No class, just a pretty

wallowed in for

everything to our marriage while I treated her as an accessory. She built herself from nothing through hard

constant praise of her sophistication, her fashion sense, her social graces." His voice "Don't you dare blame your mother for your failings," Eduardo interjected, but his reprimand lacked conviction. Stefan

Mother. I ruined us. Rose helped. All Camille did was

the bar and refilled his glass. The silence between them stretched

night before your wedding

her, about you. I wondered if you deserved her devotion."

sip. "I should have

the unexpected truth of those words like a physical

the property in Madrid," Eduardo continued 'It's modest by our standards, but it's paid for Vo mother and I will go

asked, though

uncharacteristically gentle. "You need

"There's nothing to fix!

ever married into this family. If our son has any hope of salvaging his future, it lies with her." "She won't take me back,"

she won't

would she? But there might be a path to redemption

sofa, burying her face in her hands. "This is a nightmare. My son,

Stefan said quietly, "has a name. The same name she had when you welcomed her into this family, before you decided Rose was

flashing. "Rose was one of us! She understood our world, our obligations. She wasn't going to embarrass us at every turn, she doesn't lack

shallow values, the obsession with appearances, the

attack her own sister

drained of

admitted it. In front of me. She wanted Camille gone so badly she was willing to have her murdered." Eduardo slumped heavily into a chair.

Mother, about Rose's superior

mouth opened and closed, no words

"1

bitter smile twisting his lips, "is that if Rose had simply waited, she would have had everything she wanted.

she signed it. I betrayed her, but Rose had to arranged to have her

seemed to press the oxygen from the

the gesture of a man who could no longer bear

with the steadiness of his voice.