SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

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

my fingerprints were on components. My DNA

asked. "Where were

knew about them. I provided money.

you didn't plant

no relief, no absolution. "But I didn't stop her either. That makes me guilty too." Agent Chen made notes on a small pad. "Mr. Preston, do you have any proof of what you're telling us Herod had been waiting for this

Successfully unlocked!

when I called

glances again. "No

scene," Morgan

his eyes, thinking. The recorder had been in his jacket pocket when Rose shot him. If the FBI didn't have it,

Chapter 146

said. "Inside pocket. Or maybe it fell out

your clothing, Mr. Preston, Chen said. "There was

over Herod. 'She

Before

face remained impassive. "That's convenient for your

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. I'm guilty

out.

course they didn't believe him. Why would they? Rose

well, making sure all trails led

A

hotel," he said suddenly.

eyebrow.

Herod's words came faster now, urgent. "But she had to leave at some point. There would be a gap in the security footage. A period when

returned."

was writing rapidly now. "We can

hotel's security cameras."

doors. Fire exits. Rose is smart, she would find a way out that wouldn't

first time, Morgan looked genuinely interested.

carefully. What other evidence might Rose have missed? What other trail

sometimes she used her regular phone.

look into it," Morgan

their continued skepticism. He needed something more concrete, something they couldn't

the memory surfacing through

storage unit?" Chen

"In Queens. Under the

Miller. Unit 217 at Secure Storage on Vernon Boulevard." The details came

there. Equipment. Maybe plans. She thought I didn't know about it, but I followed her once, saw her using a

too. "You're sure about this? Unit 217, Secure Storage, Vernon

more. Check her connection to Anton Bessonov. Russian

the explosives through him."