SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 106

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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Chapter 106

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

the doorway, his expression shifting from alert to

happened?" He crossed to her in three quick

thought I saw something in the garden. Just shadows." Camille tried

look convinced.

eyes. "Security

preparation of hot

hesitated, then joined her

something. She

to wait until the Grid corrections were complete

nightmare's lingering dread intensified.

nodded, taking the mug she

buying

Just over five percent so

stilled. "A

"Unlikely

myself." Alexander held her gaze. “But it

the Grid."

felt too small,

hands around her

nightmares started the same day

didn't know about it, but somehow I...

didn't dismiss this as superstition, as

up cues your conscious mind misses.

sitting across from

the night pressed against the

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Chapter 106

me about the nightmare,"

drowning.

with her." She looked up.

There's this sense of...

of time."

Alexander

her hand. The contact anchored her,

should know," he said.

engineering team found another layer of

sophisticated than

And installed by someone with higher security clearance than

"Who?"

Greene. Her head

a physical blow.

executive who had been

Who had helped train Camille

of

possible," she whispered. "He's been with her

Sophia died," Alexander finished. "Fifteen years of apparent loyalty. Which makes the betrayal all

her mug away, no longer interested in its comfort.

Greene is working with

security breach. He knows everything, security

about..." She paused, a new

blood. "Even details about me. About who I

expression darkened. "Victoria has

communicating with

be too late." Camille stood, suddenly unable to sit

to move more aggressively.

to wait. Use Greene

wait, they're planning something we

kitchen, her nightmare's urgency

Grid sabotage. The stock

but we're missing the

abruptly at the window,

The garden

to shift and move with a life of

layerwe haven't uncovered

we've discovered so far is just

her at the

about Rose," Camille

careful. Methodical. Her

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Chapter 106

family took

She shook her head. "Victoria says he's

like that

"Victoria's releasing false information

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

to make Herod react."

Camille nodded. "Smart.

pulling out

the milk in a pan, her

stock purchases," she said suddenly.

against the counter beside her.

according to Victoria's

with Herod," Camille

"Yes. Which suggests...."

find Herod," Camille finished.

of her connection

eyes narrowed as he followed her logic. "So

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