SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 142

The morning news blared from the small TV in their latest hideout, a run-

down motel on the outskirts of the city. Herod sat on the edge of the bed, watching his own face flash across the screen. The reporter's voice filled the cramped room.

"Federal authorities have issued an arrest warrant

for Herod Preston, naming him as the primary suspect in the Phoenix Grid bombings. Officials cite overwhelming evidence found in Preston's apartmen including detailed plans and materials matching those use Rose emerged from the bathroom, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. "Turn that off, she snapped. "We already know what they're saying."

Herod didn't move. His eyes

remained fixed on the screen as the reporter continued.

"Sources close to the investigation reveal Preston had a long-

standing grudge against Victoria Kane, whose company developed the Phoenix Grid. If convicted, Preston faces terrorism charges that could carry multiple life sentences without possibility of parole."

Life in prison. The words echoed in Herod's mind. A lifetime behind bars for borbs that were

never meant to kill. A future destroyed for a plan that wasn't even his.

"I said turn it off!" Rose grabbed the remote and shut off the TV. "Why are you torturing yourself with this garbage?"

Herod looked at her,

really looked at her. The woman he thought he loved. The woman who had set him up to take the fall for everything.

"My father's old lawyer called," he said quietly.

Rose froze. "What? When?"

"This morning. While you were in the shower." Herod rubbed his hands over his face. "He saw the news. He talked about dishonoring my family's memory."

"You didn't tell him where we are, did you?" Rose's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"No." Herod stood, walking to the grimy window to

look out at the parking lot. "He reminded me of what Charles would think. How disappointed he would be in what I've become."

Rose laughed, the sound harsh in the

small room. "Your brother killed himself because of Victoria Kane. He'd understand revenge better than anyone."

"No." Herod turned to face her. "We both

know that's not true. I told you what Charles was like when we first talked about working together. He was gentle. Kind. When Victoria destroyed our family business, he couldn't bear the shame, the failure. But "Then he was weak," Rose said coldly.

"He was better than me. Better than both of us." His voice shook with emotion. "He wouldn't have planted bombs. He wouldn't have risked innocent lives." Rose watched him with calculating eyes. "What's gotten into

a moral crisis?"

Herod

about Charles. About what he would think. About how I've dishonored everything he stood

been so blind? "You never cared about avenging my family, did you?" he asked quietly. "You only cared "We wanted the same thing," Rose insisted, sitting beside him. "Revenge against the Kanes. Justice for what they did to us.". "No," Herod shook his head.

Successfully unlocked! you. Listening to you. The way you talk about Camille isn't normal. It's obsessive. You don't just want to destroy her,

sense now," Herod

her husband. Why you tried to take her parents. Why you

was never about hurting her, it was about replacing

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Chapter 142

face contorted with

Will you try to take her place with Victoria too? Become the daughter

slapped him, the sound cracking through the

up to take the fall for everything. I know you left evidence in my apartment. I know you made sure you had alibis

to be together after this was over, Herod said quietly. I was always going to be the scapegoat.

what you believe, then we have nothing left to discuss," Rose said coldly, turning

watched her pack, a strange calm settling over him. "The lawyer

didn't look up. "I don't care what your dead

"He said it's

steady. "I've been living with anger for

her bag closed. "We need to leave. Now," She glanced at her watch. "I have a contact meeting us at the bus station in an hour. He'll get us new IDs, enough to cross the

stupid." Rose grabbed his arm. "If you stay, they'll catch you. You'll

deserve." Herod pulled his arm away. "For the bombs. For working with you. For betraying everything

threw his jacket at him. "Get

the jacket but didn't put it on. "Why did you do it, Rose? Why

to take all the

expression hardened. "I

you besides a useful tool?" Something flickered in Rose's eyes, hesitation, perhaps, or calculation. Then her

late." The performance was flawless, the concerned lover, the devoted partner. If he hadn't

tightened

pulled his hand away and stood. "I'm done

flashed across her face. "If you

them everything. I'll

that what you're afraid of?" Herod asked. "That I'll tell them the truth? That the bombings were your idea? That

the grudge against Victoria Kane. You're the one with

"What mistake?" Rose demanded.

The fake journals, the blueprints, it was too much. Too perfect. It looks

face paled

I?" Herod walked

A small digital recorder. "I've been recording our conversations, Rose. For days now. Ever since I suspected you were

it out of reach. "It's too late. I've already made copies. Sent them to people who