SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 136

Rose stared at the television screen, her eyes bright with a feverish glow as breaking news footage showed smoke billowing from Substation 12. The explosion had done exactly what she wanted, Chaos. Fear. "It's beautiful,” she whispered, running her fingertips over the screen as if caressing lover. "Look at them scramble."

Herod stood behind her, his face ashen as he watched emergency vehicles rushing to the scene. This wasn't what he

had signed up for. Sabotage was one thing. Corporate espionage, stock manipulation, those were the weapons of business warfare he understood. But this... this was terrorism.

"We've made our point," he said, his voice tight. "The market will respond. Kane Industries stock will plummet. We can..."

"Point?" Rose spun

around, her eyes wild. "We haven't even started." She crossed to the hotel room's small table where she'd spread out maps of the Phoenix Grid's infrastructure. The maps were covered in red circles, targets. Herod's stomach lurched. "Kane Industries? The building could have hundreds of people inside."

"And?" Rose tilted her head, genuine confusion crossing her features. "Since when did you develop a conscience? Victoría Kane destroyed your family. Your brother killed himself because of her." "This is different," Herod said, backing

away from the table. “Business is business. This is..." He gestured at the television where reporters were discussing the explosion. "This could kill people, Rose."

Rose's laugh was brittle, splitting the air like breaking glass. "Oh, Herod. My sweet, naive Herod." She stepped closer to him, reaching up to brush her fingers along his jawline. "Did you think this was ever just a watch it burn."

Herod pulled away, his hand going to the small cuts her nails had left. "You

promised we would destroy

her reputation, force Victoria to cut ties with her. You said nothing about mass casualties."

"Plans evolve," Rose said with a shrug. "Besides, I arranged the bombing without you, and look...." She pointed to the television, now showing footage

of a new explosion. "It worked perfectly."

Herod stared at her, truly seeing her for the first time. The woman he'd thought was a cunning partner with a justified grudge had disappeared. In her place stood someone unhinged, consumed by hatred. "You're insane," he whispered.

Rose smiled, the expression cold and empty. "No, I'm determined. There's a difference." She turned back to her maps. "Now, for the main control center, I need you to...."

"I'm not doing this," Herod interrupted, backing toward the door. "We're done, Rose. This partnership is over."

Rose went still, her back to him. When she spoke, her voice was soft, almost gentle. "You don't want to do that, Herod."

his

slowly, and the look in

“If you walk out that door, I'll tell the

How you provided the explosives. How you hacked into

said, but uncertainty

She reached for

have recordings." She held up the phone, showing him

files with timestamps. "I've always been

what if she wasn't bluffing? The evidence she claimed to have would send him to

asked, his voice hollow. "I

in this together.

her voice mocking. "Oh, we

expression hardened. "She took everything from me. Everything. And now I'm going to take everything from her."

mistake," Rose snapped. "It was supposed

Successfully unlocked!

"And now you're doing

supposed to go

needs to suffer. Victoria needs

1/4

Chapter 136

across Rose's face, regret, perhaps, or the ghost of genuine feeling. But

"You still are. But if you try to leave now, I'll bury

sank into a chair, the weight of his choices crushing him. How had he not seen this coming? He'd been so focused on his vendetta against Victoria Kane that he'd blinded himself to Rose's true nature. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice flat

with the

about mass murder," Herod

talking about justice,"

choice. I was angry for years, but this..." He gestured at the television, now showing the aftermath of both explosions. "This isn't

moment, she looked like the woman he'd thought he was falling for, passionate, determined, focused. Herod pulled his hands away. "No, Rose. They haven't. We still have choices. We can still walk away from

to what?" Rose demanded, her

crossed lines, Herod.

always a way

ourselves in. Explain that

laugh was bitter. "And you think they'll believe that? That they'll show mercy?" She stood, pacing the small

finish this.