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 feel something,

studied her face. "What do you think you should

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

you can't be undone by a verdict," Alexander said quietly. "No matter how many times

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 the ashes, the sister who burned in

with Victoria, planning our revenge. Then with the prosecutors, building the

reached for her hand. "Maybe that's

feeling

consumes. Justice

Camille through the evening, through dinner at Alexander's penthouse where they spoke

*** **

suit, another car ride to the courthouse, another walk through the

wanted Rose to see her, to

out of place despite her circumstances. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders, and she had managed to apply makeup that made her look both

no time. After reviewing

make a

turning slightly so her profile was visible to the

The courtroom fell silent.

"convicted of crimes that were

rippled through the audience. Her lawyer closed his eyes briefly, as if pained. This

toward Camille, "has always had advantages I was denied. Born to privilege while I was rescued from foster care. Treated as the golden

Hamilton leaned forward. "Ms. Lewis, if this is an

explanation, Your Honor, not a justification. I accept the jury's verdict, but I reject the narrative that has been presented. I am

remorse, should have angered her. Instead, she felt a wave of something like pity. Rose truly believed her own lies. All these years, all these crimes, and she still saw herself

Ms. Lewis?" the judge asked, her tone making it clear

For the first time, Rose turned to face

that have cost multiple lives. Your statement only confirms what the evidence has shown, that you

turned back to face the

of this court that you be confined to the maximum security women's facility at Bedford Hills for a term of

again.

lead Rose away, she turned once more toward Camille. The hatred in her eyes burned

sentence. But something net

Róse couldn't understand why

Rose was gone, led through the side door to begin her half-century of confinement. The spectators rose, the buzz of conversation filling

okay?" Alexander asked

surprised to find it was true. "I

press line. Questions flew

directions.

you feel about the