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.

thought you might need this," he

at the beginning of her transformation. Camille touched it, feeling its weight, the smooth metal cool against

can't fix this," she

throat. "Everything we

stepped closer, his hands gentle on her shoulders. "You're not fixing

The safety systems worked.

"But the public perception..."

who you are, Camille. You've survived worse than

it when Victoria first gave it to her had

"I'm ready," she said.

press room buzzed with tension. Camera flashes exploded 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 were attacked in what authorities are

terrorism. I want to be clear: these were not accidents. These were not system failures. These were deliberate attacks

room, meeting the gaze

"They failed."

simple statement hung in the air. A reporter from the Wall Street Journal broke

Kane, how can you claim they failed when

question. "Because destruction was

goal. Whoever did this wanted to prove the

showing a real- time map of the city's power grid. 'As you can see, power remains stable across all five boroughs. Hospital systems, emergency services, public transportation- all operating

raised her

raised last week? Could those vulnerabilities

safety concerns Rose and Herod had planted. She pushed it down,

based on falsified documents, as we demonstrated

attacks from having their intended effect. The Phoenix Grid was designed with multiple layers of protection precisely

"What about

cost of repairs?" shouted a man from the

reborn stronger. By this afternoon, our repair teams will have restored the damaged section: to eighty percent capacity. By

leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping so the reporters had to lean in to hear her. "Whoever attacked us clearly

a new way of thinking

down parts, but the whole

skepticism gave way to something else, a grudging respect, even admiration. She answered When she sensed the moment was right, she played

question, I want to share something with you." She nodded to Hannah, who tapped

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 murmur

you're sitting under, the microphones

night." Camille spread her hands. "We're not just talking about our confidence in this

The press conference ended

from the podium, she caught sight of Victoria standing in the back of the room,