SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 178

The courtroom sat hushed as Judge Hamilton entered. The wooden benches creaked with the movement of those rising to their feet. Camille felt Alexander's hand tighten around hers as they stood. The past eight weeks of trial had led to this moment.

"Be seated," the judge commanded, her voice filling the high-ceilinged room.

Camille lowered herself to the bench, her back straight, her face carefully blank. She had chosen to sit in the second row today, not wanting to be directly in Rose's line of sight.

Rose sat at the defense table in a simple navy dress, her hair pulled back in a modest style that made her look younger, more vulnerable. A calculated choice, Camille knew. Everything about Rose was calculated.

"The jury has reached a verdict," Judge Hamilton announced. "Bring in the defendant."

Rose stood as the bailiff approached. Even with her wrists shackled, she moved

with grace, her chin lifted. Not once during the proceedings had she shown fear or remorse. Not even when the evidence mounted day after day, witness after witness. Not even when her own words, recorded during her kidnapping of Camille, were played back to the stunned courtroom.

The jury filed in, twelve ordinary people who had listened to the extraordinary tale

of jealousy and hatred that had consumed Rose Lewis's life. None of them looked

at Rose as they took their seats. A bad sign for the defense, Camille thought distantly.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked.

The foreman stood, a middle-aged man with tired eyes. "We have, Your Honor."

"On the first count, attempted murder in the first degree, how do you find?"

"We find the defendant guilty."

A soft murmur rippled through the courtroom. Camille didn't move, didn't blink. Rose's back stiffened, the only sign she had heard.

"On the second count, kidnapping, how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the third count, conspiracy to commit domestic terrorism..."

The list continued. Twenty-seven charges in all. Twenty-seven times the word "guilty" echoed through the courtroom. With each pronouncement, Camille expected to feel something, relief, satisfaction, closure. Instead, a strange emptiness spread through her chest, as if she were watching a scene from someone else's life.

Rose never turned around, never glanced back at the half-sister whose life she had tried to destroy. She stood perfectly still, like a statue carved from ice, as the verdict sealed her fate.

Judge Hamilton scheduled the sentencing for the following morning, and the bailiffs led Rose away. Only then, at the doorway, did Rose pause and look back. Her eyes found Camille's with unerring precision. No words were exchanged, but the message in Rose's gaze was clear: This changes nothing.

The courtroom emptied slowly. Reporters rushed out to file their stories. Lawyers gathered their papers. Alexander guided Camille through the crowd, shielding her from questions shouted by journalists.

the car, she finally spoke. "I should

her face. "What do you

know. Relief? Joy? Something other than..." She gestured helplessly at her

to you can't be undone by a verdict," Alexander said

flashed outside, capturing the moment for tomorrow's headlines. Another chapter in the story the public couldn't get enough of the sister who rose from

so long waiting for this," Camille said. "First with Victoria, planning our revenge. Then with the prosecutors, building the

her hand. "Maybe that's

is feeling nothing

consumes. Justice just

where they spoke of other things, through

*** **

another car ride to the courthouse,

sat in the front row. She wanted Rose to see her, to know she wasn't

didn't look out of place despite her circumstances. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders, and she had managed to apply makeup that

time. After reviewing the jury's findings, she

have the right to make a statement to the court. Do you wish

profile was visible to the

The courtroom fell silent.

you today," Rose began, her voice clear and steady, "convicted of crimes

eyes briefly, as if pained. This was clearly not the statement he had

had advantages I was denied. Born to privilege while I was rescued from foster care. Treated

leaned forward. "Ms. Lewis, if this is an attempt to justify

the jury's verdict, but I reject the narrative that has been presented. I am not a monster. I

Instead, she felt a wave of something like pity.

asked, her tone making it

Rose turned to face Camille directly.

lives. Your statement only confirms what the evidence has shown, that you represent a continued danger to society and

to face the bench, her expression

is the sentence of this court that you be confined to the maximum security women's facility at Bedford Hills for a term of not less than fifty years without the possibility of

struck again. "Court is

the bailiffs approached to lead Rose away, she turned once more toward Camille. The hatred in her eyes burned as bright as ever, undimmed by

sentence. But something net

if Róse couldn't understand why Camille wasn't gloating, wasn't

side door to begin her half-century of confinement. The spectators rose, the buzz of conversation filling the suddenly smaller-seeming room. Reporters rushed to file

you okay?" Alexander asked

nodded, surprised to find

the inevitable press line. Questions flew at them

directions.

do you