SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Victoria Kane stared at the medical report on her desk, the words blurring as her eyes filled with unwanted tears. The cancer had spread faster than expected. Six months, maybe less, was all the time she had

Her own reflection stared back at her, thinner now, her face pale and drawn from thetreatments that weren't working. The doctor had suggested stopping them, focusing instead on comfort measures. "Quality of needed time. Time to secure Camille's future. Time to make sure her daughter by choice would be protected when Victoria was gone.

Her assistant's voice came through the intercom. "Mrs. Lewis has arrived."

Victoria straightened her jacket, checked her reflection once more, and squared her shoulders. No one, not even Margaret Lewis, would see her weakness today.

"Send her in."

Margaret Lewis stepped into the office, hesitating just inside the doorway. The mother of the daughter Victoria had claimed as her own. Once, Victoria had hated this woman for her blindness, for choosing Rose "Thank you for coming," Victoria said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk.

Margaret sat, her hands fidgeting with her purse.

"Your message said it was about Camille."

"Yes." Victoria lowered herself into her chair, fighting not to show how much the simple movement pained her. "I need to speak with you about Camille's future."

“Her future?” Margaret's eyebrows rose. "I thought that was firmly in your hands."

"For now." Victoria pushed a small button on

her desk, and the office windows darkened, giving them complete privacy." But my time is limited."

"What do you mean?"

Victoria rarely showed her cards to anyone, but death had

a way of changing the rules. "I'm dying, Mrs. Lewis. Cancer. It's spread to my liver and bones."

Margaret's shock showed plainly on her face. "Does Camille know?"

"No." Victoria shook her head. "She thinks the surgery was successful. That I'm recovering."

"Why lie to her?"

"To protect her. She has enough to deal with right now. Rose is still out there, still dangerous." Victoria leaned forward. ". And Camille would put everything aside

to care for me if she knew the truth. Her work. Her relationship with Pierce. Her own healing. I can't allow that."

Margaret studied Victoria's face. "So why tell me? We've hardly been allies."

"Because I'm running out of time to secure what matters." Victoria's voice hardened. "And despite everything, you're still Camille's mother. She may need you when I'm gone."

The words seemed to hit Margaret like a physical blow. "You've been more of a mother to her this past year than I was for decades."

"That's not entirely true." Victoria's voice softened. "You raised her to be kind. To be strong in ways I never understood until

You gave her eighteen good

eyes. "And then I failed

not offering false comfort. "Yes. You chose wrong. Repeatedly. But now you have a

her head. "I'm not in the business of forgiveness. I'm here

her chair.

Rose. From opportunists who will see

see the best in people who don't deserve it." Victoria coughed, a harsh sound that left her

sounded offended by

Chapter 141

when Rose manipulated her. When Stefan

and you chose not to believe her." Victoria's

look away. "I've learned from

a convincing story, would you welcome her back? Would

them. Margaret's hands trembled slightly

them in her lap.

she said finally, her voice

my daughtered. No mother could forgive

studied her face, looking for deception. Finding none, she

And when she does, Camille will need people who see clearly.

promised. "Neither will Richard. We've read

who Rose really

to pass. When she opened them, Margaret was watching her with concern. "You need medical attention," Margaret said.

Victoria's voice was sharp. "I've seen every specialist

to be done." She took a shaky breath. "Which is why this conversation is so important. I've made legal arrangements for

provisions. But

She'll need family.

her," Margaret said softly. "We've been

Victoria cut her off. "I need your promise now. That you'll support Camille unconditionally. That you'll stand with her against Rose, against

promise. I should have made

Victoria nodded, some of

Pierce? What do

her," Margaret said. "And she loves him.

Victoria agreed.

good for her." She paused. "I've made my

"Others?"

Victoria smiled

focuses the mind wonderfully, Mrs. Lewis. I've spent decades building a fortress of grudges and vendettas. Now I

doesn't seem like your style,"

where possible. Resolution where necessary." She looked down at her desk, at the medical report she'd pushed aside. "I've

"Like who?"

"Like you. I

"No. We lost her

own blindness. You

I also wanted to punish you. To show

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