SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 179

The silver wedding binder sat open on Camille's desk, pages filled with fabric samples and venue photos. After months of courtrooms and business takeovers, the sight of something so normal, so hopeful, felt almost strange. Camille ran her fingers over a scrap of ivory silk, allowing herself a small smile.

"Penny for your thoughts," Alexander said, entering her office with two coffee cups in hand.

"Just thinking how different this feels now." She accepted the coffee, breathing in its rich aroma. "Before Rose's trial, planning felt... impossible. Like tempting fate."

Alexander settled into the chair across from her desk. "And now?"

"Now it feels real." She turned a page in the binder to reveal a lakeside estate. "What do you think of this one?"

"Beautiful," he said, studying the photograph. "But what really matters is if you like

it."

Camille considered the image, gardens sloping down to a private lake, mountains in the background, a grand house with wraparound porches. Nothing like the ultra-modern Manhattan venues she'd initially considered.

"I do," she admitted. "It reminds me of Cedar Lake. The good memories, before Rose."

The phone on her desk buzzed. Her assistant's voice came through the speaker. "Ms. Kane, your mother Victoria is on line one."

Camille glanced at Alexander, who raised an eyebrow. Victoria rarely called during business hours, adhering strictly to the boundaries she'd established since stepping down.

"Put her through," Camille said, pressing the speaker button.

"Camille," Victoria's voice filled the room, its usual crispness softened by the hint

of a smile. "I've made a decision that isn't up for debate."

Alexander smothered a laugh. Some things never changed.

"Hello to you too, Victoria," Camille replied. "What non-debatable decision have you made now?"

"I'm hosting your engagement party. Two weeks from Saturday at my home." Camille and Alexander exchanged glances. Though Victoria's cancer treatment was going well, she tired easily. Hosting a major social event would tax her strength.

"Victoria, that's not necessary...."

"It absolutely is," Victoria cut in. "You two have been engaged for months while dealing with Rose's trial and my treatment. It's time to celebrate properly."

Camille twisted her engagement ring, the diamond catching the morning light. The phoenix design Alexander had commissioned glinted gold and platinum around her finger – a symbol of her transformation, her rise from ashes.

"Are you sure you're up to it?" she asked gently.

Victoria's sigh crackled through the speaker. "Camille, I may have cancer, but I'm not an invalid. My doctors say I'm responding exceptionally well to treatment. Besides," her voice softened further, "I want to do this for you. For both of you." The unexpected tenderness in Victoria's voice made Camille's throat tighten. This was the woman who had rebuilt her from broken pieces, who had taught her strength but never softness. Now, in her illness, Victoria was changing too.

"Alright," Camille conceded. "But a small gathering."

too quickly, making it clear

parents will be there,

"She's offered to handle the floral arrangements. Your

raised his eyebrows, impressed by how Victoria had already set

said, pleasantly surprised at how smoothly Victoria and her parents continued to work together. Their cordial relationship had been one of

Victoria declared. "My assistant will coordinate with yours for the remaining details.

"Yes, Victoria?" he answered.

she actually takes time to enjoy this. She works too hard." The line clicked dead

"Physician, heal

the binder and leaned back in her

your parents cooperating," Alexander remarked. "Their relationship may not be close, but it's

admitted. "The Lewis name carries weight in its

of influence," Alexander finished. "Old money

and maintained their place in the Social Register, Victoria's self-made empire represented a different kind of authority altogether. Both commanded respect, but in vastly different ways. That they could maintain a cordial relationship despite these differences

Tragedy."

metaphor, aren't they?"

to a paragraph midway through the article. "This part

Camille read aloud:

"Sources close

her parents, Richard and Margaret Lewis of the New York Lewises, bringing ful circle the remarkable story of family restoration. The couple was spotted dining with Victoria Kane last

their joint ventures, seems an apt metaphor for this union, a relationship forged in

paper down. "Well, at least they noticed the effort everyone's

"The combination of your family's old money heritage and our corporate

parents," Camille said. "Their relationship may be strictly cordial, but they've been remarkably civil since

best for you," Alexander pointed out. "That's common ground no matter their

this. The

shifted how

plan had evolved into something the public found irresistible, a love story emerging

phoenix motif that had started with Camille's pendant, then appeared in their engagement ring design and later in their joint business ventures, had captured the public's imagination. Where Victoria had once taught Camille to use symbols to intimidate, now those same symbols served a different purpose, inspiring hope

attention

visible now. But we can control the

narrative?" Camille asked, genuinely

about revenge or power for its own sake. It's about

force. Wasn't that exactly what she'd been trying to do since Rose's conviction? What she hoped to continue

live with that story,"

new purpose. "Let's visit the lakeside property this weekend. Before Victoria persuades

should call your parents. See if they

phone. The invitation would be another small step in

to look at a potential wedding venue this weekend.

us?"

to, darling. Actually, Victoria called this morning about the engagement

wasn't surprised that Victoria had

cordial relationship had evolved to include regular communication about matters