SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 96

The city lights twinkled below Camille's penthouse like fallen stars trapped on earth. She stood at the floor-

to-

ceiling windows, arms wrapped around herself, watching the tiny cars move through the streets forty floors below. Behind her, Alexander poured two glasses of red wine, the soft gurgle of liquid filling the comfo

It had been three days since the press the Phoenix project has issue and they sorted it out. Three days of relative peace. The thought felt

strange to Camille, peace was not something she had known since finding those divorce papers twenty five months ago.

"Your thoughts seem far away," Alexander said, approaching with the wine glasses. His footsteps were quiet on the plush carpet.

Camille accepted the glass, her fingers brushing his. That small touch sent warmth

spreading up her arm. "Not far. Just... processing everything."

Alexander stood beside her at the window. Unlike many men who felt the need to fill silence, he seemed content to share it with her. That was one of the many things she had come to appreciate about him. "Victoria called earlier," Camille said after taking a sip of wine. "The latest reports show Kane Industries stock has fully recovered. The

Phoenix Grid project is back on schedule."

Alexander nodded. "That's good news."

"Yes." Camille turned from the window. "But that's not what I want to talk about tonight."

She moved to the cream-

sitting close enough for comfort but with space between them, always respec "What would you like

breath. "Us. This thing between us that

how his fingers tightened slightly around the wine

why

his glass on the coffee table. "I didn't want to rush you. After everything with Stefan and Rose..... 1 know

easily to you

names didn't sting like it

a long time," she began, staring into her wine, "I thought that part of me was dead. The part that could feel... this." She gestured between them. "Victoria taught me to channel everything into revenge. To se "And now?" Alexander's

looked up at him. "Now I find myself thinking about you when you're not there. Wanting to tell you things as soon as

Tibe

it scare

Chapter 96

I trusted before, and it almost destroyed me. Because Victoria warned me not to let emotions cloud my judgment. Because I'm not sure who I am when I'm not fighting an "Camille," he said, her name soft on his lips, "do you remember when we first met? At the hospital in Boston?" She nodded slowly, memories stirring from a time that felt distant now, belonging to a different versi Tears threatened at the corners of Camille's eyes. She blinked them back,

woman you're describing sounds like a stranger to me now," she

I see her when you work on the Phoenix Grid, not just as revenge for people. I see her when you talk about the foundation you're

gentle circles on her palm. The simple touch sent waves of warmth through her entire body. "That's why I've never pushed," he continued. "I wanted you to find your own way back to that

to withdraw her hand, to retreat behind the walls Victoria had helped her build. "What if that woman is

Victoria Kane didn't create you, Camille. She helped shape you, but your core, who you truly are, that was always t He

Alexander said softly. "In the hospital. You said it

now, a gift from her grandfather, when she was sixteen. She had worn every day

kept it safe," Alexander said. "Waiting for the right

it in her palm unlocked memories she had buried, of who she had been before the

don't know if I can be that woman

backward. But you can bring the best parts of who you were into

moved closer, the space between them now