SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

The hospital room was too quiet. Only the steady beep of monitors and the whisper of the oxygen machine broke the silence. Camille sat beside Victoria's bed, her hand gently holding the older woman's fragile fingers. Three days had passed since the bombing. Three days of watching Victoria struggle, hour by hour.

The doctors had explained it in simple terms at first: Victoria's body, already fighting cancer, couldn't handle the additional strain of smoke inhalation and shock. Her lungs were struggling. Her heart was weakening. Each breath seemed to cost her more than the last.

Camille leaned forward, studying Victoria's pale face. The woman who had always seemed invincible now looked small against the white hospital sheets. The tubes and wires connected to her body only emphasized her fragility.

"You need to eat something," Alexander said softly from the doorway. He carried a paper bag that smelled of soup and bread.

Camille shook her head without looking up. "I'm not hungry."

Alexander moved to her side, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You haven't left this room in thirty-six hours. You need food. Rest."

"I can't leave her," Camille whispered, her voice catching. "What if she wakes up and I'm not here? What if she..."

She couldn't finish the sentence. Couldn't speak the fear that had haunted her for three days.

Alexander pulled a chair beside her and sat down. "The doctors are doing everything they can."

"Is it enough?" Camille asked, her eyes never leaving Victoria's face. "The last update wasn't promising."

Alexander didn't argue. There was no point pretending things weren't serious.

Camille looked down at Victoria's hand in hers, the skin thin, blue veins visible beneath the surface. This hand had pulled her from darkness. Had shown her how to rebuild her life. Had taught her strength when she believed herself broken beyond repair.

"I can't lose her," Camille said, her voice barely audible. "Not like this. Not because of Rose."

"This isn't your fault," Alexander said firmly.

"Isn't it? Rose targeted the gala because of me. She planted those bombs to destroy what I had built." Camille's free hand curled into a fist. "If Victoria dies because of that..."

"She would tell you not to think that way."

Camille knew he was right. Victoria would never allow such self-pity. Would never permit Camille to shoulder blame that wasn't hers. But knowing that didn't ease the crushing weight in her chest.

The monitors beeped, slightly faster than before. Victoria's eyelids fluttered but didn't open.

"Should I call the nurse?" Alexander asked, already half-rising from his chair. Camille shook her head. "It happens sometimes. They said it's normal."

Foundation's triumphant launch had become a story

thoughts. Dr. Patel entered, followed by another

Sharma, our oncology

news. Alexander's hand found

than grim. "We've detected

it?" Camille asked, her throat tight with

our more detailed imaging shows the disease is primarily still

stared at her, trying to process what this meant. "So... it's

treatment, a

"How significantly?" Alexander asked.

we've seen patients survive for years rather than months. The smoke inhalation complications are our immediate concern, but once those are

unexpected she hardly recognized it. "Years? She

treatment and careful

weeks. Years. Time for conversations. For

return with more details after Victoria woke, Camille turned to Alexander, tears filling

she could have..." Alexander pulled her into a tight embrace. "I heard. It's good news, Camille. The best we

of cautious hope. She had been preparing herself for imminent

measure.

Victoria's eyes were open, watching them with a clarity that had

to her side.

nodded slightly, her gaze steady despite the obvious effort it took to remain alert. "I heard... the doctors," she whispered, her voice raspy from the breathing tube that had been removed

going to get better treatment," Camille

of hers. "There's a chance, a

gently. The ghost of a smile touched her

sob of relief

stronger than yesterday. "Good," she said simply.

Already thinking about Kane Industries, about business,

Victoria continued, her eyes holding Camille's with surprising intensity. "Work like...

placing a hand on Camille's shoulder. "She will," he promised Victoria. "I'll make sure

slightly, acknowledging his vow. "The bombing," she said,

viewing the footage from the hotel and are looking for Rose, It's just a matter

to Camille. "What will you do... when

for recovery. But now, with the possibility of years rather than days stretched before

don't know," she admitted. "Part of me wants justice. Part of me wants..." "Revenge," Victoria finished for her. No judgment in the word, just understanding. "Yes," Camille acknowledged. "But I also want to move forward. To rebuild what she destroyed.