SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 99:

Morning sunlight

bathed the construction site in golden light as hundreds gathered for the Phoenix Grid groundbreaking ceremony. Camera crews swarmed like bees, jostling for position around the stage erected at the center of Behind the stage, in a temporary structure serving as a preparation area, Camille stared at her reflection in a full-

length mirror. Her cream-colored suit

was impeccable, her makeup flawless, the perfect corporate image Victoria had taught her to project. Yet beneath this polished exterior, unease churned in her stomach.

Hannah Zhao, the chief engineer, poked her head through the doorway. "Five minutes, Ms. Kane."

Camille nodded, adjusting the phoenix pin on her lapel. Even after discovering the blueprint discrepancies, Victoria had insisted the ceremony proceed as planned. "We don't show weakness," she had declared we never, ever let our enemies know we've spotted them."

The door opened again. Alexander entered, handsome in a navy suit, his presence immediately filling the small

space.

"Nervous?" he asked, coming to stand behind her.

Their eyes met in

the mirror. “Not about the speech," Camille admitted. "But knowing Rose is out there somewhere, watching, planning.....” Alexander rested his

hands lightly on her shoulders. Through the fabric of her suit jacket, his touch sent warmth spreading across her skin.

"We've triple-

checked the modifications to Hannah's designs," he reminded her. "The sabotage attempt failed. The Grid is safe."

"For now." Camille turned to face him. "But Rose won't stop. Neither will her

mystery partner. And we still don't know who he is."

Alexander's jaw tightened. "My team is close to identifying him. Very close."

"You'll tell me as soon as you know?"

"Immediately," he promised, though something flickered in his eye, a hesitation so brief Camille almost missed

1. it.

A production assistant tapped on the door. "Ms. Kane? We're ready for you."

Camille took a deep breath, centering herself. Alexander caught her hand.

"Remember," he said softly, "this is about more than beating Rose. This is your vision. Your

creation."

She squeezed his fingers, drawing strength from his steadiness. "Our creation," she corrected. Together they walked out

hundreds of faces turned toward them. Camera flashes popped

at the podium,

Victoria's voice rang out over the

beginning of a revolutionary power grid that will transform New York's energy future. It also represents the culmination of a vision, a vision

Chapter 99

applause. For a heartbeat, standing beside Victoria, Camille flashed back to twenty three

her face. Somewhere in that sea of humanity, Camille knew, Rose might be watching. Waiting for "Thank you all for coming today," Camille

her. "The Phoenix Grid represents more than sustainable energy. It embodies

presence a silent anchor. Beside him sat the mayor, the governor, and

titans who had invested

burns completely, reduced to ashes, yet rises again, not just restored, but made stronger by the very fire tha Her eyes swept across the crowd, making brief contact with individuals,

this project to fruition. There were those

stock manipulation, the media attacks, the sabotage

we didn't just survive those challenges, we transformed

to strengthen our designs, to build something better than we

Camille paused, letting her

of movement, a woman with dark glasses slipping behind a construction vehicle. Her heart jumped. Rose? She forced herself to continue, refusing to show any reaction. "The

itself. Clean energy, intelligently distributed, with backup systems that ensure no neighborhood experiences

her speech continued for several minutes, detailing the Grid's

for

becoming more personal. "But today, I want to speak not just about energy transformation, but about personal

stilled, sensing the

you have experienced moments when everything you counted on vanished. When the life

to crumble beneath

forward slightly, his eyes never leaving her

moments, the ones that burn us down

they're terrifying. They're painful." Camille's voice softened. "But they also offer us rare gifts. The chance to rebuild. To rise from our own ashes as

They don't undo the past. But they allow us to use that past, all

Chapter 99

parts especially, as fuel for

as Camille Kane, Victoria's carefully crafted heir. She was speaking as herself, the

transformation isn't just possible. It's inevitable, if we have the coura Applause erupted, scattered at first, then building to a thunderous wave. Victoria, standing to the side, nodded once, a gesture of approval that meant more

now," Camille said when the applause subsided, "I'd like to invite Alexander

developing the revolutionary solar technology that

the stage in a few graceful strides. Standing beside Camille, he seemed to belong

future," Alexander said into the microphone, his deep voice carrying across the crowd. "But it also represents what happens when visionaries come together.

created something neither could have

and something in his gaze sent heat rushing to

partnerships are simply meant to

the double meaning clear to anyone watching. A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd as cameras clicked frantically, capturing

the tension. "And now, for the official

of the stage. Victoria, Camille, and Alexander descended the steps together, moving to the prepared patch of earth marked with

cameras flashed and the crowd applauded. Alexander's shoulder pressed briefly

photos, congratulations from politicians and business leaders. Through it all, Camille maintained her professional demeanor, though

Camille found herself alone with Alexander near the edge of the

magnificent," he said quietly. "Your speech about transformation, it wasn't just words