SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 140

Herod's phone rang at 3:17 AM. The cheap motel room was dark except for the blue light of his burner phone cutting through the blackness. He squinted at the screen. Unknown number. His finger hovered ove

"Hello?"

"They found everything." The voice on the

other end was hushed, stressed, Derek Martinez, his contact at the FBI. "Your business card in the wreckage. Your

fingerprints on the detonator parts. Plans for the bombings in your apartment." Herod sat up, suddenly wide awake. "What plans? I never kept anything in the apartment."

"Well, someone did. Blueprints of the substations. Notebooks with blast calculations. A journal talking about your hatred for Victoria Kane."

"That's impossible. I never wrote any journal." Herod's mouth went dry. "What else?"

"Your emails. Detailing everything. The FBI has enough to lock you away forever." Martinez paused. "I'm risking everything telling you this. My career, my freedom."

"I appreciate it." Herod's mind raced. "Any mention of Rose Lewis in the evidence?"

"Nothing. Not a trace." Martinez's voice dropped even lower. "Look, I can't help you anymore. They're searching for you everywhere. Airports, train stations, the works. I need to disappear from your life now."

The line went dead before Herod could respond.

He sat motionless in the darkness, the truth settling over him like a heavy blanket. Rose had set him up. Completely. Thoroughly. She'd planted evidence while he was out. Created a fake journal. Fabricated em And made sure none of it pointed to her.

Herod got up and flicked on the light. The motel

room was small and dirty, nothing like the luxury he was used to. Rose had insisted they move here two days ago, claiming they needed to stay hidden.

Now he understood why.

She'd wanted him in this dump, away from his resources, while she set her trap. And he'd walked right into it, blind and willing.

The bathroom door opened. Steam escaped as Rose emerged, wrapped in a thin

towel, her hair wet from the shower. She smiled when she saw him, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"You're up early," she said, toweling her hair. "Couldn't sleep?"

"I just got a call from Martinez." Herod watched her face, looking for any reaction. "The FBI found evidence in my apartment. Evidence I never put there."

Rose's expression didn't change. "What kind of evidence?"

"Plans for the bombings. A journal. Emails detailing everything."

"Someone must have broken in," she said, turning away to look for her clothes. "Planted

that stuff to frame you."

voice deadly quiet, "Martinez said your name doesn't appear anywhere

stilled for just a moment before continuing to sort through her clothes. "Lucky for me, I

Herod stood up. "Planning. Careful,

turned to face him, her mask finally slipping.

spreading through Herod's body.

are you suggesting?" she

me up." The words hung in the air between them. "You arranged for evidence that points only to me. You made sure you had alibis for both bombings. You've been planning to make me

him like a scientist might observe a lab specimen. "And if I did? What would you do about it?"

caught him off guard. He had expected

even tears. Not this calm

he said. "Tell them everything.

laughed,

against the mountain of evidence showing you

A desperate attempt to shift blame from a guilty

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Chapter 140

and they both knew it. He had nothing to prove her involvement, while she had carefully built a case that would bury

were in this together. I thought..." He couldn't finish the sentence. It sounded

thought I loved you?" Rose dropped her towel and began dressing, unconcerned with her nakedness. "Poor Herod. Always wanting

part of him had believed their connection was real. The nights they'd spent planning, talking, making love,

you everything," he said. "Money. Resources. I helped you go after Camille. Why

Rose pulled

faced him. "Because someone needs to take the blame, and it was never going to be me. I've spent my life being careful, covering my tracks. Did you really think I'd risk everything now?" "So what happens next?" Herod asked, feeling hollow.

bed, crossing her

made him wary. "What kind of

main control center. One final blow to bring down Camille and

touching her eyes. "You're already facing life in prison for the first two bombings.

at her, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You want me to keep helping you,

we started." Rose stood and moved toward him, placing her hand on his chest. "To

made his skin crawl.

of him still craved her

"And afterward?" he asked.

you escape. Get you out of the

he found himself considering it, weighing his options. The FBI was closing in. His

he knew it

he have to lose by playing along with her

me to trust you," he said. "After

fingers moved to his face,

what

you no longer need

"Everyone leaves eventually, Herod.

with me, the ride is exciting

her face, looking for any sign of genuine feeling, any crack in her perfect

nothing but