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.

thread of sound in the suddenly too-loud room. "No, no,

at the podium,

you, Victoria. And thank you

she knew. This woman was poised, authoritative, commanding. Her words

too quietly for anyone to

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

of what Kane Industries represents," Camille was saying, her voice strong and clear. "Not just assets and revenues, but lives and livelihoods. The responsibility is

older woman shuffling by paused, looking at the screen then at Rose's white- knuckled grip on her chair. "You okay

didn't answer, her eyes never

important," the woman persisted,

words burning her throat. "A fake. A placeholder. Victoria

taking in her hollow cheeks and burning eyes. Recognition

snarled, and something in her

continued fielding questions from the press. Someone asked about her

wondering who I am," Camille acknowledged. "Where I came

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

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

called from across the room. "Everything all

honey-sweet. "Just caught up in the

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

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

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.

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

course Camille would forgive Stefan. She had always been weak that

Rose. Rose never forgave. Never

about the company's direction, about Victoria's health, about Camille's own background. With each smooth, articulate answer, Rose's rage grew hotter, brighter,

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

answering each question with thoughtful precision. Not a trace remained of the naïve, trusting woman Rose had so

Rose had failed

question came from a reporter in the back row,

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 Camille's discomfort. This was it, the question that would expose the fraud, that would

voice remained

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

curled into

mistake.... I stand here today not because of sentiment, but because of proven ability. My record at Kane Industries speaks for itself. The Phoenix Grid. The Green Harbor

All she

the quiet confidence of a woman who

triumphed.

didn't inherit this position," Camille stated firmly. "I earned it. And I

public gesture of support never before seen from the notoriously cold

Camille Kane," Victoria

in applause.

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