SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 137

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

beginning of her transformation. Camille touched it, feeling its weight,

fix this," she whispered, the

"Everything

closer, his hands gentle on her

broken. The Grid worked. The safety systems worked. We're still

"But the public perception..."

who you are, Camille. You've survived worse

The woman who had worn it when Victoria first gave it to

"I'm ready," she said.

steps measured, her back straight. Dozens of reporters shouted questions, their voices blending into a wall "Good morning," she began, her voice

These were not system failures. These were deliberate attacks designed to destroy what

meeting the gaze of several reporters

"They failed."

the air. A reporter from the Wall Street Journal broke

claim they failed when

question. "Because destruction

only goal. Whoever did this wanted

showing a real- time map of the city's power grid. 'As you can see,

reporter raised

week? Could those vulnerabilities have

the fabricated safety concerns Rose and

concerns were based on falsified documents, as we demonstrated

intended effect. The Phoenix Grid was designed with multiple

"What about

shouted a man from the back. "Will

small smile. "The Phoenix Grid was named for a reason. The mythical phoenix bums and is reborn stronger. By this afternoon, our repair teams will have restored the damaged section: to eighty percent capacity. By

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

Grid isn't just infrastructure, it's a new way

parts, but the whole

answer, Camille felt the mood in the room shifting. The initial skepticism gave way to something else, a grudging respect, even admiration. She answered When she sensed the moment was right, she played her final

my last question, I want to share something

to show the Kane Industries building. "As of four a.m. this morning, this building. our headquarters is running entirely on Phoenix Grid power. Not backup generators. N A

sitting under,

hands. "We're not just talking about our confidence in this technology. We're

The press conference ended

a barrage of camera flashes. As Camille walked from the podium, she caught sight of Victoria standing in the back

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