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.

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

change. Camille stood at the podium, her smile composed as she began

thank you to the

the television belonged to Camille, but not the Camille she knew. This woman was poised, authoritative, commanding. Her words measured and precise as she outlined her vision

Rose hissed, too quietly for anyone to hear. "Playing dress-up in

false. The woman on screen wasn't playing at anything. This was real. While Rose had rotted

her voice strong and clear. "Not just

then at

didn't answer, her eyes

important," the woman persisted, nodding toward

snapped, the words burning her throat. "A fake. A placeholder. Victoria

in her

me alone," Rose snarled, and something in her face made

television, Camille continued fielding questions from the press. Someone asked about her background, about her seemingly

are wondering who I am," Camille acknowledged. "Where I came from. That

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

forced her face into blankness, years of practice making it second nature, but inside, acid burned through her

Lewis," the guard called from across the room. "Everything all right

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

returned to his conversation with another staff member. Rose's attention snapped back to the screen where Camille

realigning certain holdings," Camille was saying. "Details will be released

The hospital gown gaped at her neck, revealing collar bones that had grown sharp during her weeks in

assets, the ones Kane Industries had acquired during Camille's revenge campaign against

Stefan. She had always been weak that way,

Rose. Rose never

direction, about Victoria's health, about Camille's own background. With each smooth, articulate answer,

at her," she said to no one. "So

fooling anyone. She radiated authentic authority, answering each question with thoughtful precision. Not a trace remained of the naïve, trusting woman Rose had so easily manipulated.

Rose had failed

came from a reporter in the back row, his

many observers have noted your meteoric rise. Just three years ago, you were unknown in business circles. How do you respond to allegations that your connection to Victoria Kane is... personal rather than professional?" Rose leaned forward, suddenly hungry for

voice remained

only brokenness. She taught

into fists

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

Rose. All she

quiet confidence of a woman who

triumphed.

this position," Camille stated firmly. "I earned it. And I

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

Camille Kane," Victoria announced, and the room

in applause.

ward, Rose stared at the screen as Camille and Victoria stood