SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 176

The common room of Bellevue's psychiatric ward smelled of disinfectant and despair. Rose Lewis sat alone in the corner, her back straight despite the shapeless hospital gown that hung from her once-elegant frame. The other inmates gave her space, something in her eyes warned them away, even here among the damaged and dangerous.

"Television time," a guard announced, switching on the small set mounted high on the wall.

Rose barely glanced up until the words "Kane Industries" caught her attention. Her head snapped toward the screen, body suddenly rigid.

"We're live at Kane Industries headquarters," the reporter said, "where Victoria Kane is about to make what sources call a 'game-changing announcement' regarding the future of her company."

Rose leaned forward, hands gripping the plastic arms of her chair. For weeks, she'd been cut off from news of the outside world, part of her treatment, the doctors said. Part of her punishment, she knew.

The camera panned across a packed press conference. Journalists clutched recorders and notebooks, their faces eager for the story about to break. Behind them, Kane Industries executives stood in a neat row, their expressions carefully neutral.

And then Victoria Kane appeared at the podium.

Rose's breath caught. Even through the grainy television image, Victoria's presence commanded attention. Her silver hair gleamed under the lights, her slim figure wrapped in an impeccable white suit that made her look more like an avenging angel than a cancer patient.

"For thirty-five years," Victoria's voice rang clear through the television speakers, "I have guided this company from a small investment firm to a global power. Today, that chapter ends."

An inmate shuffled past, blocking Rose's view momentarily. She hissed, a sound so feral the woman hurried away without comment.

"My doctors inform me that my cancer has responded remarkably well to treatment," Victoria continued. "I have been given the gift of time I did not expect. And I intend to use it."

Rose's fingers dug into the chair arms. She had celebrated when news of Victoria's cancer leaked to the press months ago. Had smiled at the thought of the formidable woman reduced to weakness, to dependency. To ending.

Now that victory, like all her others, was being ripped away.

"Effective immediately, I am stepping down as Chief Executive Officer of Kane Industries."

Murmurs rippled through the hospital common room as other patients tuned in to the broadcast. Someone whispered about stock prices. Someone else bet on who would take over. Rose heard none of it, her focus absolute, her entire body tensed like a predator about to strike.

On screen, Victoria raised her hand, commanding silence from the press corps with that simple gesture.

"The board has approved my successor. Someone who understands not just the business of Kane Industries, but its soul. Someone who has faced destruction and chosen to build instead."

Rose's heartbeat quickened. A terrible suspicion formed in her mind.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the new CEO of Kane Industries... Camille Kane."

The world stopped.

Rose didn't breathe, didn't blink, didn't move as the camera shifted and her sister, her victim, her obsession, her prey, walked into frame.

Camille approached the podium with measured steps, her navy suit perfect against her skin, her hair pulled back in a simple knot. Confidence radiated from her, the assurance of a woman who knew exactly where she belonged.

Nothing like the broken, devastated creature who had signed divorce papers from Stefan three years ago. Nothing like the sister Rose had tried to destroy.

her voice a thread of sound in the suddenly too-loud

Camille stood at the podium,

thank you to the board for their

the Camille she knew. This woman was poised, authoritative, commanding. Her words measured and precise as

her," Rose hissed, too quietly for anyone to hear.

as the words left her lips, Rose knew they were false. The woman on screen wasn't playing at anything. This was real. While Rose had rotted in hospital rooms and

Camille was saying, her voice strong and clear. "Not just assets and revenues, but lives and livelihoods. The responsibility is enormous, and

at Rose's white- knuckled grip on her chair. "You okay

didn't answer, her eyes never

important," the woman persisted, nodding toward Camille.

nobody," Rose snapped, the words burning her throat. "A fake. A placeholder.

screen, then at Rose, taking in her hollow cheeks and

and something in

Someone asked about her background, about her seemingly sudden appearance in business

of you are wondering who I am," Camille acknowledged. "Where I came from. That story is longer

the screen, loud enough that heads turned throughout the common room. "Tell them who you really are! Tell them

brow furrowed. Rose forced her face into blankness, years of practice making

guard called from across the

Rose answered, her voice honey-sweet. "Just caught up

with another staff member. Rose's attention snapped back to the screen where Camille was answering a question about her plans for the

realigning certain holdings,"

sat forward, suddenly alert. The hospital gown gaped at her neck, revealing collar bones that had grown sharp during her weeks in custody. "Realigning holdings," she repeated, eyes narrowed. "What does

Shipping assets, the ones Kane Industries had acquired during Camille's revenge campaign against Stefan. Was she giving them back

twist with fresh fury. Of course Camille would forgive Stefan. She had always been

Rose. Rose never forgave. Never

health, about Camille's own background. With each smooth, articulate answer, Rose's rage grew hotter, brighter, consuming

to no one. "So polished. So perfect.

a trace

Rose had failed to

a reporter in the back

respond to allegations that your connection to Victoria Kane is... personal rather than professional?" Rose leaned forward, suddenly hungry for Camille's discomfort.

Camille's voice remained

when others saw only brokenness. She taught me to transform pain into power. So yes, our connection

curled into fists as Camille

proven ability. My record at Kane Industries speaks for itself. The Phoenix

meant nothing to Rose. All she heard was

saw was the quiet confidence of a woman who had not just survived,

triumphed.

it. And I intend to prove that every day

a hand on Camille's shoulder, a public gesture of support never before seen from the

and gentlemen, Camille Kane," Victoria

in applause.

Camille and Victoria stood together, the older woman's hand on the younger's shoulder. The