SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Pain came first. A deep, burning ache in his chest that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. Then sounds filtered in, the steady beep of machines, the squeak of rubber- soled shoes on linoleum, hushed voices just beyond his reach

Herod Preston opened his eyes

The hospital room swam into focus slowly White ceiling Blue curtains Clear tubes running into his arms. And a man in a dark suit sitting beside his bed, watching him with tired eyes.

"Mr. Preston," the man said, leaning forward. Im Special Agent Morgan with the FBI. Can you hear me?"

Herod tried to speak, but his throat

felt like sandpaper. A nurse appeared, holding a small cup of water with a straw. He sipped, the cool liquid both painful and soothing as it went down.

"Yes," he managed finally, his voice a raspy whisper. "I hear you."

Agent Morgan nodded to someone Herod couldn't see. A woman stepped into view, also in a dark suit. 'Agent Chen," she introduced herself. "You've been unconscious for four days, Mr. Preston, Do you remem The memories hit him like a physical blow. The motel room. The phone call to the FBI. Rose's face when she realized what he was doing. The sound of gunshots. The burning pain in his chest. "Rose," he said. "Rose shot me."

The agents exchanged glances. "Rose Lewis," Agent Morgan confirmed. "We've been looking for her, but she's disappeared." Herod closed his eyes briefly, gathering his strength. Each word cost him, but he needed to speak. Needed to finally tell the

truth.

"She was behind everything," he said, each word careful and deliberate. "The bombings. The sabotage. All of it."

Agent Chen pulled out a recorder. "Mr. Preston, would you be willing to make

an official statement? You have the right to have an attorney present."

"No attorney," Herod said. "I want to talk now. Before....." He didn't finish the thought. Before Rose could silence him permanently. Before he lost his courage.

Agent Morgan turned on the recorder, stating the date, time, and those present. Then he nodded to Herod. "Tell us what happened, from the beginning."

Herod took another sip of water, organizing his thoughts. The beginning. Where was the beginning? With his family's downfall at Victoria Kane's hands? With his first meeting with Rose? With the moment he rea "I met Rose Lewis six months ago," he started. "She knew about my hatred for Victoria Kane. She used that. Encouraged it. Made me believe we were partners with the same goal, revenge against the Kanes." "And were you?" Agent Chen asked. "Partners?"

Herod gave a small, bitter laugh that turned into

a wince of pain. "No. I was a tool. A convenient scapegoat with resources she needed."

"Resources for what?" Morgan pressed.

"Money. Connections. A name that gave her access to places she couldn't go on

her own." Herod's voice grew stronger as he spoke, as if the words themselves

were giving him energy. "Rose planned everything. The attacks on the Phoenix Grid. The sabotage attempts. The bombings."

Chen leaned forward. "Are you saying Rose Lewis planted the bombs herself?”

met her eyes. "She had training-I never

sure my fingerprints were on components. My DNA at the scenes. All while establishing alibis

Morgan asked. "Where were you

"I knew about them. I provided money. Equipment. I helped her plan

plant

Chen made notes on a small

Successfully unlocked!

when I called you.

exchanged glances again.

Morgan

his eyes, thinking. The recorder had been in his jacket pocket when Rose

Chapter 146

the jacket I was wearing," he said. "Inside pocket. Or maybe it

been through your clothing, Mr. Preston,

washed over Herod. 'She took

Before you

"That's convenient for

Herod insisted, frustration making his heart rate spike. The machines beside him beeped faster "Rose Lewis planned and executed the bombings. I knew about them but didn't stop her.

your word against hers, Chen pointed out. And you have a strong motive to

of despair. Of course they didn't believe him. Why would

trails led back to him

remembered something. A small detail that might

he said suddenly.

raised an eyebrow.

both bombings. Made sure she was visible, surrounded by witnesses." Herod's words came faster now, urgent. "But she had to leave

returned."

rapidly now. "We can

hotel's security cameras."

"Service doors. Fire exits. Rose

Morgan looked genuinely interested.

might Rose have missed? What other trail might

sometimes she used her regular phone. Check the tower data on the nights of the bombings. It might show

into it,"

needed something more

memory surfacing through the fog of

storage unit?"

"In Queens. Under the

217 at Secure Storage on Vernon Boulevard." The

She thought I didn't know about it, but I followed her once, saw her using a key with the

was taking notes too. "You're sure about this? Unit 217, Secure

her connection to Anton Bessonov. Russian businessman with ties to organized

the explosives through him."

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