SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 137

Camille stared at the wall of screens in Kane Industries' crisis management room. Each one showed a different news channel, all broadcasting the same images: smoke pouring

from the damaged substations, firefighters battling flames, and worried faces of New York citizens wondering if their power would fail next. Three hours had passed since the second explosion. The sun would rise soon, bringing with it questions they needed answers for.

"The press is gathering downstairs," Hannah said, placing a tablet in front of Camille. 'Over forty reporters. All major networks."

Camille nodded, her eyes never leaving the screens. The headline crawling across the bottom of Channel 7's broadcast made her stomach clench: "PHOENIX GRID FAILURE? KANE INDUSTRIES FACES QUESTIONS AFTER TWIN EXPLOSIONS

"Stock futures are dropping." Alexander added quietly from behind her. "Down twelve percent already."

Victoria, still pale from her recent surgery but standing straight-

backed and defiant, turned to Camille. "You need to address them. Now. Before the market opens."

Camille felt the weight of all eyes in the room. The engineering team. The security personnel. Victoria. Alexander. All waiting for her to fix this nightmare.

"What do we know for certain?" Camille asked, her voice steadier than she felt.

Hannah stepped forward. "The Grid didn't fail. Our safety systems worked exactly as designed. Despite two major attacks, ninety-

three percent of the network remains operational."

"And the power supply?"

"Stable.

We've rerouted through secondary pathways. No service disruptions to critical infrastructure."

Camille stood, smoothing her blouse with trembling hands. "I need five minutes to prepare. Then I'll speak to them."

In the small bathroom off the crisis room, Camille splashed cold water.on her face and stared at her reflection. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Her skin looked pale under the harsh fluorescent light. Fear gnaw "You can do this," she whispered to herself. "You've faced worse than reporters."

But had she? Facing Rose's betrayal, Stefan's cruelty-

those were personal wounds. This was different. The Phoenix Grid wasn't just a business project. It represented everything she'd become since Victoria had rescued her. It was her rebirth, her transformation fro And now Rose was trying to destroy that too.

A soft knock interrupted

her thoughts. Alexander stood in the doorway, his tie loose, his face tired but determined.

need this," he said, handing her

pendant, the one Victoria had given her at the beginning of her transformation. Camille touched it, feeling its weight, the smooth metal

can't fix this," she whispered, the admission tearing

"Everything we

closer, his hands gentle on her shoulders. "You're

The Grid worked. The safety systems worked.

"But the public perception..."

who you are, Camille. You've survived

pendant around her neck, drawing strength from its familiar weight. The woman who had worn it when Victoria first gave it to her had been

"I'm ready," she said.

as Camille walked to the podium, her steps measured, her back straight. Dozens of reporters shouted questions, their voices blending into a wall "Good morning," she began, her voice clear and unwavering. "Last night, Kane Industries' Phoenix Grid substations

to be clear: these were not accidents. These were not system failures. These were

meeting the gaze of several

"They failed."

simple statement hung in the air. A reporter from

claim they failed when two substations are

question. "Because destruction

this wanted to

of reliable, safe power for New York was empty" She gestured to the large screen behind her, which flickered to life showing a real- time map of the city's power grid. 'As you can see, power remains stable

reporter raised her

last week? Could those vulnerabilities

rage at the mention of the fabricated safety concerns Rose and Herod had planted. She pushed it down, keeping her expression

concerns were based on falsified documents, as we demonstrated at

systems that prevented these attacks from having their intended effect. The Phoenix Grid was designed with multiple layers

"What about

the back. "Will Kane Industries

stronger. By this afternoon, our repair teams

dropping so the reporters had to lean in to hear her. "Whoever attacked us clearly

just infrastructure, it's a new way of thinking about power. Distributed,

You can knock down parts, but the

The initial skepticism gave way

want to share something with you." She nodded to

building. our headquarters is running entirely on Phoenix Grid power. Not

sitting under, the

system that was attacked last night." Camille spread her hands. "We're not just talking about our confidence in this technology. We're demons Industries does. We don't just tell you that something works, we

The press conference ended

she caught sight of Victoria standing in the back of the