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

the sunlight, where hundreds of faces turned toward them. Camera flashes popped

unintelligible noise. On the stage, Victoria stood at the podium, commanding attention with her mere presence despite her recent

gentlemen," Victoria's voice rang out over

It also represents the culmination of a vision, a vision carried forward by

Chapter 99

standing beside Victoria, Camille flashed back to twenty three months ago, broken, bleeding in a parking garage,

the microphone. The crowd hushed. Hundreds of eyes fixed on her face. Somewhere in that sea of humanity, Camille

more than sustainable energy. It

watched her, his presence a silent anchor. Beside him

titans who had

Camille continued. "In mythology, the phoenix burns completely, reduced to ashes, yet rises again, not just restored, but made stronger by the very fire tha Her

know that Kane Industries faced challenges bringing this project to fruition. There were those who said it couldn't be done. Those who

through the crowd. Everyone remembered the stock manipulation, the media attacks, the sabotage attempts that had made

phoenix, we didn't just survive those

to build something

Camille paused, letting her

sink in. In the distance, beyond the crowd, she caught sight of a flash of movement, a woman with dark glasses slipping behind a construction vehicle. Her heart jumped. Rose? She forced herself to continue, refusing

with backup systems that ensure no neighborhood experiences blackouts while

for several minutes, detailing the Grid's innovations.

poise, though her senses remained hyperalert for any sign of Rose

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

crowd stilled, sensing

everything you counted on

to crumble beneath

row, Alexander leaned forward slightly, his eyes never

the ones that burn us

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 something stronger, wiser, more resilient than Her hand reached up to touch the phoenix

the past. But they

Chapter 99

fuel for something new. Something

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

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

when the applause subsided, "I'd like to

that powers the Grid, to

strides. Standing beside Camille, he seemed to

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

created something

and something in his gaze sent heat rushing

are simply meant

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

stepped forward, breaking the tension. "And now, for

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

flashed and the crowd applauded. Alexander's shoulder pressed briefly against Camille's, a touch that “Ladies and

Through it all, Camille maintained her professional demeanor, though her eyes

as the event wound down, Camille found herself alone with

words for you, was it?" Camille shook her head. "No.