SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Four weeks. Twenty-eight days without a sign of Rose. Not a text. Not a sighting. Not a whisper.

Camille stood at the window of her office at Kane Industries, watching the city below. Security guards still accompanied her everywhere. The FBI still checked in daily. Alexander's team still swept for bugs and bombs each morning.

But something had changed. The tight knot of fear in her stomach had loosened slightly. Not gone, she doubted it would ever truly disappear, but different now. More like an old injury that ached before rain than the sharp, consuming pain of a fresh wound.

She checked her watch. Three hours until they would drive to Victoria's lake house. The doctors had finally allowed Victoria to leave the hospital two weeks ago, but insisted she recover somewhere quiet, away from the stress of the city. The lake house, with its private security and peaceful surroundings, had been the perfect solution.

A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. Jason, Alexander's head of security, entered with his daily report.

"All clear, Ms. Kane," he said. "The route to the lake house has been secured. We'll have teams stationed at every checkpoint along the way."

"Thank you, Jason," Camille replied. "Any updates from the FBI?"

He shook his head. "Nothing new. They've followed leads in five states, but nothing concrete. Agent Chen believes Ms. Lewis may have left the country."

Camille nodded, unsurprised. The FBI had been saying similar things for weeks now. Rose had vanished, like smoke dissipating into air.

Part of Camille wanted to believe it-that Rose had run, given up, moved on. But the part that knew her sister best remained on guard. Rose never gave up. Never abandoned her plans. Never left a score unsettled.

"We'll maintain all security protocols," Jason continued, reading her thoughts. "Mr. Pierce has been very clear about that."

"Of course," Camille agreed. "Thank you."

After Jason left, Camille returned to her work. The Phoenix Foundation rebuilding efforts were moving ahead steadily. New offices had been secured. Staff rehired. Projects restarted. It felt good to create again, to build rather than merely survive.

The afternoon passed quickly. When Alexander arrived to pick her up, Camille was surprised to see him dressed casually-jeans and a light sweater instead of his usual suit.

"You look different," she said, smiling despite herself.

"Victoria's orders," he replied. "No business attire at the lake house. Apparently we both need to 'remember how to relax' before we 'turn into workaholics like her.""

Camille laughed, the sound still unfamiliar to her ears after weeks of tension. "Did she actually say that?"

"Word for word. Complete with dire threats if we disobey."

Camille gathered her things, including a small overnight bag. Victoria had insisted they stay the night, watch the sunrise over the lake, pretend for a few hours that their lives weren't forever altered by Rose's vendetta.

The drive north took nearly two hours. Security vehicles preceded and followed their car, a precaution that had become so routine Camille hardly noticed anymore. The city gave way to suburbs, then to rolling countryside, until finally they turned onto the private road leading to Victoria's lake house.

Nestled among pine trees, the house wasn't as grand as Camille had expected. Victoria Kane, known for her luxury penthouses and corner offices, had chosen something almost modest for her retreat. The two-story structure of wood and glass faced a small private lake, its deck extending out over the water.

perimeter, yet another stationed near the dock. Alexander

on the deck, seated in a comfortable chair with a blanket across her lap despite the warm evening. She was thinner than before her illness, her cheekbones more prominent, but her eyes were clear

approached. "I was beginning to think you'd

steps to the deck and bent to kiss Victoria's cheek. "Traffic was heavy

with a wave of her hand.

joined them, taking a seat across from Victoria.

"We agreed, no business talk tonight. That

in surrender. "Sorry.

them," Victoria instructed firmly. "For one night, we're going to pretend we're normal people enjoying a quiet evening at the lake. Is

at her lips. This was the Victoria she remembered, commanding, brooking no opposition, determined to bend

talk."

its surface glassy in the fading light. Birds called from the

deeply. "I can see why you love

success. Everyone expected me to

you," Alexander observed. "Understated but

"The water helps

painting the lake in shades of gold and orange. Camille felt something

delicious food, grilled fish, fresh vegetables, warm read. Battery-operated lanterns created pools of golden light around their table. If security personnel remained vigilant in the shadows, they were invisible enough to maintain the illusion of normalcy. Victoria ate slowly but steadily, another sign of her improving health. She asked questions about the Foundation, about Kane

next month," she mentioned between bites. "Three days a week, four hours a

seems ambitious," Alexander

didn't ask for your opinion on my recovery

Camille added. "The doctors said to

hours a day is slow," Victoria countered. "For

fourteen-hour days. Four hours would indeed feel like barely

to a fire pit near the lake's edge. Security had cleared the area earlier, ensuring it was safe. The flames cast dancing shadows across their faces as they sat in comfortable chairs arranged in a

long but pleasant silence. "About what comes

we weren't talking business tonight," Camille reminded her

life." Victoria's eyes reflected the firelight.

tensed slightly.

your wedding plans on hold. Understandably, given recent events.

wondering when you might

silent show of support. This topic hadn't been discussed between them for weeks, not since the bombing, not since Rose's threat,

Camille answered honestly. "It

is caught? When my cancer is in full

be another reason to wait, another fear to overcome, another crisis to

be safe," she said finally. "Both of you. A wedding would make us

pointed out. "Has been for months now. And yet, here we

question in both their eyes:

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