SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 129

Herod stared at his computer screen, forehead creased with confusion. The data from Walsh's latest information

drop sat before him, schematics of the Phoenix Grid's western junction, maintenance logs, security protocols, power flow diagrams. Everything they would need to exploit the supposed vulnerability during the la It looked perfect. Too perfect.

He zoomed in on a section of the access codes, his suspicion growing with each passing second. He had spent decades in the technology sector before turning his attention to Victoria Kane. He knew systems "What's the matter?" Rose asked, entering his home office with a cup of coffee. Her movements were jagged, tense, like a loaded spring ready to snap. Her obsession with Camille's engagement had only worse "I'm not sure yet," Herod murmured, not looking up from the screen. He pulled up another file, comparing the two side by side. "Something about Walsh's information doesn't add up."

Rose set the coffee down harder than necessary, liquid sloshing over the rim. "What do you mean, doesn't add up? We paid him enough, it better be accurate."

"That's just it," Herod said, pointing to

a sequence of code. "It's too perfect. Look here, the vulnerability is exactly where we would want it to be. The access points are clearly marked. The security protocols have an obvious bypass method."

“And that's..... bad?” Rose's voice held a dangerous edge. Her patience had worn thin since learning of Camille's engagement.

Herod leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. "In my experience, real system vulnerabilities are

never this convenient. They're buried in complex code, hidden behind layers of security, difficult to identify without specialized knowledge."

He clicked through several more files, his unease growing stronger. "This looks like someone gift- wrapped a way into the Grid and handed it to us. That never happens by accident."

Rose's hand clenched

around the coffee mug. "Are you saying we've been played?"

"I'm saying it's possible." Herod opened an encrypted folder on his hard drive, pulling up older files, the original Grid schematics they had obtained months ago, before Walsh's employment. He began comparing Minutes passed in tense silence. Rose paced behind

him, her reflection visible in the window across from his desk. With each circuit of the room, her movements grew more agitated.

"There," Herod finally said, pointing

to the screen. "The power relay configuration in the original schematics doesn't match what Walsh provided. According to his information, there's a bypass circuit that could be overloaded during peak usage, cre He pulled up the original diagram. "But in the actual design, that bypass doesn't exist. It's been added to the files Walsh gave us."

The coffee mug shattered against the wall, making Herod flinch. Rose

stood with her arm still extended from the throw, her face contorted with rage.

"They know," she hissed. "They've been feeding us false information."

Herod nodded grimly. “Not just false information. Targeted misinformation. They identified Walsh as our inside man and used him to feed us exactly what they wanted us to see." He continued searching

through the files, looking for further evidence. "The question is when they figured it

out. How long have they been playing us?"

"Does it matter?" Rose snapped. "Our plan is ruined. If

to exploit this fake vulnerability during the launch ceremony, we'll

moved rapidly across the keyboard, running a

to detect hidden code, embedded tracking software, digital fingerprin anything that might reveal the true

Results appeared on screen. Herod's blood ran

in these files,"

moment we opened

had dropped to a

we've

began shutting down systems, disconnecting

"We need to move. This

1/3

Chapter 129

rigid with fury. "That bitch," she

still working to secure his systems. "Just since they identified Walsh. The question is

secure line to Walsh's phone. The call went straight

to him, or he's realized something's

her palms on his desk,

destruction. You promised me she would pay for everything she took from

one she'd worn when she'd learned of Camille's engagement. Rose was reaching her "We need to

"Like what?" Rose demanded.

remained silent for a moment, weighing options. Finally, he stood, moving to a wall safe concealed behind a painting. He entered the combination and retrieved

that controls the entire Grid," he explained. "Not just the junction points, but the central hub

ago, before Walsh, through

into his computer, careful to use

control systems during the launch ceremony. Not through the Grid itself, but through the venue's own infrastructure Rose moved closer, her fury temporarily

י

"The

headquarters. The building's original power systems have been integrated with the Grid as part

He

of the Kane building. "It wouldn't give us control of the Grid itself, but it would allow us

minor explosions from power surges." "Not enough," Rose said flatly. "I don't want to just embarrass Camille. I want to destroy her. Completely." Herod studied her

carefully. "Then we combine approaches.

disruption provides a distraction. In the

them, unspoken but clear. Rose's eyes lit

she whispered. "That's

felt a

he was suggesting. He had always meant to stop short of actual violence, to draw the line at

require precise timing," he cautioned. "And

risk," Rose replied. "I

unexpected network activity detected. Someone

to access our systems," he said, quickly initiating

moved

files. "We need to go. Now.