SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 106

Water closed over Camille's head. Cold. So cold it burned

her skin. She kicked toward the surface, arms flailing, lungs

screaming for air. But something held her

down, hands gripping her ankles, dragging her deeper into the darkness.

She looked down. Rose stared back at her, grinning, her hair floating around her

face like seaweed. Beside her, Herod Preston, his

eyes flat and lifeless as a shark's. They pulled

harder. The pressure in Camille's chest built to unbearable levels.

She opened her mouth to scream, but only bubbles escaped as water rushed in..

Camille jolted upright in bed, gasping. Her

nightgown stuck to her skin, soaked with sweat. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. Then the familiar outlines of her bedroom at the Kane mansion took shape in the darkness.

Just a dream. The same dream that had haunted her for months after Rose's betrayal. The one Victoria's training had eventually banished.

Until now.

Camille switched on the bedside lamp, chasing away the shadows. The digital

clock read 3:17 AM. She pushed back the tangled sheets and

moved to the window, pressing her forehead against the cool glass. Below, the estate's gardens

stretched out, security lights casting strange patterns across the manicured lawns. Beyond the gates, Manhattan glittered in the distance.

This was the third night in a row the nightmare had returned. Each time more

vivid. Each time harder to shake off.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Alexander's text: *Awake?*

How did he always know? Camille typed back: *Bad dream again.*

Three dots appeared immediately. *Coming over. Kitchen. Hot chocolate.*

A small smile touched her lips

despite the lingering dread from the nightmare. Alexander

had developed an almost supernatural sense for when she couldn't sleep. Since their visit to his childhood home, since

that first real kiss their connection had deepened into something that sometimes

frightened her with its intensity.

Camille pulled on a silk robe and padded barefoot down the mansion's

grand staircase. The

house was silent except for the occasional creak of settling wood and the

soft footsteps of security guards patrolling outside.

In the kitchen, she switched on a single light and filled the kettle. Alexander would

arrive in exactly twelve minutes. He always did, no matter

what time she texted. One of the many mysteries about him she

hadn't solved yet.

As she reached for mugs in the cabinet, a movement in the garden caught her eye.

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Camille froze, staring out the window. Nothing but shifting shadows from the trees.

Yet something felt... wrong. The hairs on her arms stood up.

She moved away from

the window, suddenly aware of how exposed she was in the

lit kitchen. Victoria's training kicked in automatically. Assess the threat. Minimize vulnerability. Create advantage.

The kettle began to whistle. Camille switched it off and backed toward the pantry.

as her fingers found the light switch, the kitchen door swung open.

Just

"Security sweep is clear."

Camille

stood in the doorway, his expression shifting from alert to

happened?" He crossed to her in

something in the garden. Just shadows."

look convinced. He

the window, scanning the grounds with practiced eyes. "Security has been doubled since

resuming her preparation of hot

hesitated, then joined her at the

something. She

until the Grid corrections were complete

The nightmare's lingering dread intensified.

taking the mug she

buying Kane

companies. Just over five

"A takeover

"Unlikely

purchased ten percent myself." Alexander held her gaze. “But it suggests

the Grid."

felt too small,

hands around her

the same day Victoria discovered

about it, but somehow

as superstition, as most would

misses. Victoria's been tenser. Security

across from

pressed against the

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Chapter 106

about the

mug. "I'm drowning. Rose is pulling me

with her."

from before. There's this sense

of time."

Alexander

The contact anchored her, driving

more you should

engineering team found another layer of

sophisticated than

And installed by someone with higher security clearance than

"Who?"

suspects Martin Greene. Her head of

Camille like a physical

executive who had been

years. Who had helped train Camille

of Kane Industries

possible," she whispered. "He's

"Fifteen years of apparent

mug away, no

Greene is working with

we have a serious security breach. He knows everything, security protocols, the Grid designs,

She paused, a new

"Even details about me. About

darkened. "Victoria has

If he's communicating with Herod or Rose, we'll

Camille stood, suddenly unable to sit

more aggressively.

Greene to

we wait, they're planning something

her nightmare's urgency transferring to her

"The Grid sabotage. The stock purchases.

connected, but we're

at

The garden lights

and move with a life

layerwe haven't uncovered

so

at the window. "What are you

about Rose," Camille said. "She's

careful. Methodical. Her

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Chapter 106

family took years of patient planning.

shook her head. "Victoria says he's been

that don't put

"Victoria's releasing false information

Alexander said. "A press release about a major partnership between Kane Industries and Pierce Enterprises.

to make Herod react."

himself," Camille nodded. "Smart. But I'm not

the refrigerator, pulling

milk in a pan, her

stock purchases," she said

leaned against the counter

according to

with Herod," Camille noted.

"Yes. Which suggests...."

Camille finished. "Herod found Rose. He

of

as he followed