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.

1/6

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

Alexander's voice. He stood in the doorway, his expression shifting from alert to concerned

crossed to her in three

something in the garden. Just shadows." Camille tried to smile. "The nightmares have me

look

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

asked, resuming her preparation of hot chocolate. "What aren't you two

hesitated, then joined her at

something. She

to wait until the Grid corrections were complete before telling

what?" The nightmare's lingering

nodded, taking the mug

buying Kane Industries

shell companies. Just over five percent so

"A takeover

"Unlikely

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

the Grid."

kitchen suddenly felt too small, too exposed. Camille

around her mug,

nightmares started the same day Victoria discovered

it, but somehow I... sensed

didn't dismiss this as superstition, as most would

picks up cues your conscious mind misses. Victoria's been tenser. Security protocols changed.

moved to the breakfast nook, sitting across from each other in the

pressed against the windows like a

26

Chapter 106

about the

her mug. "I'm drowning. Rose is pulling me down. But

her." She

There's this

of time."

Alexander

table, taking her hand. The contact anchored her,

you should know," he said.

found another layer of sabotage in the

sophisticated than

And installed by someone with higher security

"Who?"

Greene. Her

name hit Camille like a physical

executive who had been at Victoria's

helped train Camille when

of Kane

she whispered. "He's been

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

mug away, no longer interested in its

Greene is working with

He knows everything, security protocols, the Grid designs,

paused, a new

"Even details about me. About who

expression darkened. "Victoria

he's communicating with Herod or

Camille stood, suddenly unable to sit

move more aggressively. Find

wait. Use Greene to lead us to

we wait, they're planning something we haven't

her nightmare's urgency transferring to her

"The Grid sabotage. The stock purchases.

all connected, but we're missing

stopped abruptly at

darkness. The garden lights

and

layerwe haven't

everything we've discovered so

at the window. "What

thinking about Rose," Camille said.

careful. Methodical. Her

316

Chapter 106

family took years of patient

She shook her head. "Victoria

that don't put all

"Victoria's releasing false information

major

to make Herod react."

Camille nodded. "Smart.

refrigerator, pulling out milk

milk in a pan,

stock purchases," she said suddenly.

leaned against the counter beside her.

ago, according to

Herod," Camille noted. "Before

"Yes. Which suggests...."

didn't find Herod," Camille finished. "Herod found Rose.

of her connection to

eyes narrowed as he followed her

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255