SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 157

Alexander Pierce stood in the hospital corridor outside Victoria's room, cell phone pressed to his ear as he absorbed the news.

"You're certain it's her?" he asked the FBI agent on the other end of the line.

"One hundred percent," came the reply. "Clear facial match in multiple video segments. We're preparing to release the footage to the media within the hour."

"I want to see it first," Alexander insisted. "Send it to my secure email immediately."

After ending the call, Alexander leaned against the wall, the weight of the news settling on his shoulders. They had suspected Rose from the beginning, of course. Known in their hearts who was responsible. But confirmation brought its own burden, the question of how to tell Camille.

She had barely left Victoria's bedside in the five days since the bombing. The unexpected hopeful news about Victoria's treatment options had lifted some of the darkness from Camille's spirits, but she remained fragile, caught between relief that Victoria might have years rather than months and fury at Rose for accelerating her illness with the bombing.

Now Alexander held proof of Rose's guilt in his hands. Not conjecture or suspicion, but undeniable visual evidence.

He checked his phone as the email arrived, opening the video files and watching them in grim silence. There was Rose, her movements calm and deliberate as she placed the bombs that would kill six people. No hesitation. No sign of conflict. Just cold, calculated destruction.

Alexander closed the files, his decision made. Camille needed to know before she saw it on the news. She deserved that much.

He knocked softly on Victoria's door before entering. Camille sat beside the bed as always, but Victoria was awake today, her color somewhat improved from yesterday. They both looked up as he entered.

"What is it?" Camille asked immediately, reading his expression. "Something's wrong."

Alexander moved to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "The FBI has identified the bomber from security footage," he said quietly. "It's Rose. They have clear images of her placing the devices throughout the hotel."

Camille's face remained perfectly still, but Alexander felt the slight tremble that ran through her body at his words.

"Show me," she said.

"Camille..." Victoria began, concern in her voice.

"I need to see it," Camille insisted. "Show me the footage."

Alexander hesitated, then handed her his phone with the video cued up. Camille took it, her hand steady despite the storm he knew must be raging inside her. Victoria motioned for Alexander to help her sit up higher so she could see the screen as well.

Together they watched as Rose moved through the hotel, planting the bombs that would devastate their lives. Camille's expression hardened with each passing second, while Victoria's remained carefully neutral, the perfect mask she had perfected over decades in business.

When the video ended, Camille handed the phone back to Alexander, her movements controlled. Too controlled.

"They're issuing a nationwide manhunt," Alexander continued. "Her face will be on every news channel within the hour. The FBI wanted us to know first."

Victoria reached for Camille's hand. "Now everyone will know the truth."

to hear her. "Six people dead," she said, her voice distant. "Six people who came to support my foundation. Who believed

isn't your fault," Alexander said

is," Camille replied, an edge of steel entering her voice.

Camille's hand. "Remember

evident in her eyes, the promise to choose creation over destruction battling with the

that doesn't mean I can't

yes," Victoria agreed.

stepped out into the hallway to take

he returned minutes later, his

"What now?" Camille asked.

released her photo to the media," Alexander reported. "And they've found something else, a rental car registered

"She's running," Victoria said.

Alexander hesitated. "A notebook. It contained detailed plans of Kane Industries headquarters. Floor plans. Security

went perfectly still. "She was planning

Alexander confirmed. "The FBI believes the hotel bombing was just

increased slightly. "Is there any indication of where she

yet. But the FBI is following every

stood abruptly. "I need some

"Camille..." Victoria began.

her. "Just to the

to follow her, but

go," she said quietly. "She needs space to

expression finally

me," Victoria said. "The promise to choose life

with proof of what Rose did. With the knowledge that Rose was planning even more

Wants her focused on destruction rather than creation. If Camille gives in

logic, but he understood Camille's conflict all too well. "What can I

Not who she was when Rose first hurt her. The woman she's become is stronger than her anger. She just needs to

** ** **

the hospital garden, Camille sat on a stone bench, face turned up to the afternoon sun. The images from the security footage played on loop in her mind, Rose moving through the hotel, planting death with the same casual confidence she'd once used to steal Camille's husband, her family, her sense

Camille built. Always Rose, turning

see Rose's face filling the screen, a still

BOMBER."

details of the attack. The death toll. The injured. A brief biography of Rose Lewis, adopted sister of Camille Kane, with mentions of her "apparent vendetta" against

for so long, her sister's betrayal, her husband's infidelity, her own transformation from victim to

she had taken just weeks ago: the Phoenix Foundation's logo, freshly painted on the wall of their new office. A symbol of rebirth. Of rising

mind: "Promise me you'll live for creation, not

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