SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 171

The hospital waiting room smelled of bleach and coffee gone cold. Camille sat rigid in an uncomfortable plastic chair, staring at the double doors where they'd rushed Stefan an hour ago. Blood stained her clothes, his blood. She hadn't changed, couldn't bring herself to leave, even when a kind nurse had offered scrubs.

"He'll pull through," Alexander said, his fingers laced with hers. "Stefan's tough."

Camille nodded without speaking. The image of Stefan leaping in front of her, taking the bullet meant for her chest, played on endless loop in her mind. His body jerking backward. The surprised look in his eyes. The spreading red stain on his shirt.

"Why did he do it?" she whispered. "After everything..."

Alexander squeezed her hand. "He wanted to make things right. In the only way he could."

Thunder rattled the windows. The storm that had masked their approach to the cabin now battered the hospital, as if nature itself shared their turmoil. Camille shivered, suddenly aware of her damp clothes and hair.

"Here," Alexander said, draping his dry jacket over her shoulders. The warmth of it, the faint scent of his cologne, steadied her somehow.

"What did you say to Rose?" she asked. "When they pulled her from the water?"

Alexander's jaw tightened. "I told her that no matter what happened with Stefan, she would spend the rest of her life paying for what she'd done. That no judge would show mercy once they saw what she did to you. To the people at the gala. That her story was over."

Camille had never heard such coldness in his voice, not even during their confrontation with Herod Preston months ago. It should have frightened her, but instead she felt oddly comforted by his ferocity.

"Miss Kane?" A doctor appeared, still wearing his surgical cap. Camille and Alexander jumped to their feet. "You're listed as Mr. Rodriguez's emergency contact."

"Yes," Alexander said. "This is Camille Kane, his..." He hesitated.

"Former wife," Camille finished for him. "How is he?"

The doctor looked between them. "The surgery is ongoing. The bullet missed his heart but damaged major blood vessels. He's lost a lot of blood. We're doing everything we can, but I need to be honest, it's going to be touch and go."

Camille swayed, the room tilting beneath her feet. Alexander's arm went around her waist, holding her upright.

"Is there anyone else we should contact?" the doctor asked. "Family?"

"His parents are in Madrid," Alexander said. "I've tried reaching them, but..."

A commotion at the waiting room entrance cut him off. Margaret and Richard Lewis burst through the doors, rain-soaked and worried.

"Camille!" her mother cried, rushing forward. She stopped short, taking in her daughter's bloody clothes and bruised face. "Oh my God, baby..."

Richard stood behind his wife, his face pale with concern. "We came as soon as Alexander called. Is Stefan...?"

"Still in surgery," Camille said, her voice cracking. "He took a bullet for me."

Margaret's eyes filled with tears. Without hesitation, she pulled Camille into an embrace. Unlike the awkward, tentative hugs of their recent meetings, this one felt real, a mother's genuine concern for her child.

get back. I'll

back through the double doors, leaving the family in

on Camille's shoulder. The simple question broke something inside her.

breaths. "I

said. "You've been through hell. Cry

a paper cup of water, his presence steady and calm beside her. The storm continued its assault

charges for everything, the

"I

The nurse at the desk tapped at her computer. A television mounted in the corner played muted news

scratchy voice broke the stillness. "I see I'm

frail from cancer treatments, but her eyes

Camille breathed, rushing to her side.

to do," Victoria snapped, though without real anger. She

immediately moved to make room. "Victoria, please

a long way from their first icy meeting months ago. The tentative respect they'd established had clearly deepened during Camille's

settling into the offered chair with

"The bullet damaged major blood

Camille's bloodstained clothes. "And you, child? Are

Camille said.

grip surprisingly strong despite her

for everyone, the small act of kindness filling the awkward silence. Camille noticed how her father treated Victoria

you for coming," Camille said to her parents. "I

missed too many moments when you needed

circle. "Stefan's parents are trying to get a flight from Madrid. I've

through the doors, carrying a clipboard. "Family

voices answered

taken aback. "The doctor asked me to

damage, but he's critical. The next twenty-four

Alexander's arm slipped around her

see

the nurse replied. "He'll be in recovery for several hours,

It might be morning before visitors

strange gathering fell silent once more. Outside, the storm began

"Sit down,

obeyed, sinking into the chair beside Victoria. For the first time, she truly looked at the older woman, noting the new lines of pain around her mouth, the thinness of her

"You need to rest." Victoria's lip curled. "I'll rest when I'm

how grateful we

her hand dismissively, but Camille caught the subtle softening around her eyes. The two families had formed an unlikely alliance during Camille's abduction, their shared concern bridging years of misunderstanding. "We brought something for you," Margaret said, handing Camille a small paper bag. "We found it when we

eight years old, standing proudly on the dock at Cedar Lake, fishing rod in hand. Her father's arm was

girl," Margaret whispered.

desperate sobs of earlier, but something gentler. Sorrow for what was