SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 133

Rose hurled the empty bottle against the wall. It shattered into tiny pieces, much like their plans. On the television, news channels couldn't stop talking about the Phoenix Grid's successful launch. Camille's face

complete.

"Turn it off!" she screamed, her voice raw from hours of

rage.

Herod stood by the window of their shabby motel room, his back to her. They had been forced to hide here after abandoning his penthouse. His finger pressed the remote button, silencing Camille's voice mid- sentence about "transformation" and rising from the ashes."

"All of it," Herod said, his voice hollow with defeat. "All

my planning, all my resources, all the time spent cultivating Walsh as our inside

man, wasted."

"We knew they discovered Walsh," Rose paced the

worn carpet, her movements sharp and erratic. "But how did

they block the signal jammer too? That was supposed to be foolproof!"

Herod turned to face her. His expensive suit looked out of place against the peeling wallpaper. The

room smelled of old cigarettes and cheap cleaning products.

"Their systems had protections I've never seen

before," he said, frustration evident in the tightness of his jaw. "Everything I've

built since approaching you with this plan, gone in an instant."

Rose twisted the

cap off a new bottle with such force it cut into her palm. She didn't seem to notice the small line of blood.

"She's always one step ahead now," she

muttered, taking a long drink. "My sister. The great Camille Kane, Phoenix rising from the ashes."

Her mocking tone

couldn't hide the raw jealousy beneath. She turned to the mirror, barely recognizing herself. Her carefully maintained appearance had crumbled over the past days. Dark roots showed in her hair. Her eyes looked wild, rimmed with smeared makeup.

"We're finished," Herod said quietly. "Kane Industries stock

is soaring. The Grid is operational. Every plan we had has failed."

Rose spun toward him, bottle clutched in her white-

knuckled hand. "Finished? FINISHED? We haven't even started!"

"Rose..."

"No!" She moved closer, her face inches from his. "We didn't fail because

of Walsh or better security. We failed because we weren't willing to go far enough."

Herod studied her, seeing something dangerous in her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

“I

mean we've been playing by their rules." Rose's voice dropped to an intense whisper. " Trying to sabotage their precious Grid through codes and software. Trying to damage their reputation. It's too subtle." "There's nothing subtle about what we've tried," Herod argued.

"We never targeted the actual infrastructure.

stepped back. "You're talking

control hub. The primary junction boxes. The

but

not sabotage anymore,

laughed, the sound brittle and sharp. "Such

it direct action."

moved to the small table where his laptop sat. He closed it deliberately. "When I first approached you about working together,

is exactly what we've been working toward all along!" Rose

over the sides. "Don't

you're shocked now. Don't act like you haven't thought

a difference between thinking and doing," Herod

your brother killed himself, didn't you imagine making her suffer? Physically suffer?" Herod turned away, unable to deny it. In

even.

is operational now," he said instead. "Security will

again, her body pressing against his

been neutralized. They won't expect a physical

around his waist.

launch,

its

turned to public

picture

pride crushed.

finally avenged.

would we even do it?" he asked, already hating himself for considering

smile widened. She moved to her

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Chapter 133

rotations.

this all along,"

been considering all options," Rose corrected, spreading the papers on the bed. The main control hub has the weakest physical

could be hurt," Herod

didn't even blink. "Casualties are

"This isn't war."

flashed. "You came

you because Camille stole

familiar. "We've tried it your way, Herod. The careful, calculated approach. And we've failed every time." Her lips

The humiliation of today's

and

hid in this pathetic motel made

he asked, already knowing

Rose

her voice. "While they're still congratulating themselves.

guard is down."

She pulled him

papers spread across it. “I've

walked

a growing unease. This wasn't the Rose he had first approached month's ago,

burned with something

after?" he asked when she

her plan. "If we do this, there's no

money.

question slipped out before

with an expression he couldn't quite read.

sure she was capable

need, certainly.

she said, her hand cupping his face.

understand what we've done,

her words. They had

Their mutual hatred of

that went beyond