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.

moved to the window, gazing out at the gardens his wife had meticulously designed. "We have three weeks

Camille," Stefan admitted. "She wouldn't

brittle. "Of course she wouldn't! She's Victoria Kane's puppet now.

gaze directly. "Camille orchestrated this. Victoria gave her the tools,

it?" Emily's voice

for methodically dismantling everything he'd taken for granted? For revealing herself not

against the wall, amber liquid streaking the

enough for this family. No class, just a pretty face

he'd wallowed in

marriage while I treated her

Rose. How you practically pushed me into her arms with your 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 stood, suddenly unable to remain still. “I don't. The blame is

Mother. I ruined us. Rose helped. All

glass. The silence between

night before

doubts. Not about her, about you.

a measured sip. "I should

truth of those words like a

modest by our standards, but it's paid for Vo mother and I will

me?" Stefan asked, though

gentle. "You need to

"There's nothing to fix! That woman

firmly, "has shown more backbone than anyone who's ever married into this family. If our son has any hope of salvaging his future,

she

would she? But there might be a path

face in her hands. "This is a nightmare. My son, begging for scraps from that woman's

Stefan said quietly, "has a name. The same name she had when you welcomed her into this

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

first time. The shallow values, the obsession with appearances, the

to attack her own sister in a parking garage and make it

drained of

she was willing to have her

again, Mother, about Rose's superior

opened and closed, no words

"1

"is that if Rose had simply

her, but

weight of this confession seemed to press the oxygen from the room.

with one hand, the gesture of a man who could no longer bear to witness his

Stefan said, surprising himself with the steadiness of his voice. "Both of you. Take what