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

be there, of

already spoke with Margaret last week," Victoria confirmed. "She's offered to handle the floral arrangements.

impressed by how Victoria had already set things in motion,

her parents continued to work together. Their cordial relationship had been

declared. "My assistant will coordinate with yours

"Yes, Victoria?" he answered.

enjoy this. She works too hard." The line clicked

"Physician, heal

the binder and leaned back in her chair. "She's really throwing

not be close, but it's nice they can work together on something important to

"The Lewis name carries weight in its own circles,

a different sphere of influence," Alexander finished. "Old

among Boston's elite 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 spoke volumes

of Tragedy." Below it stretched a photo of Camille and Alexander at last week's charity gala, her phoenix pendant

the metaphor, aren't they?"

midway through the

Camille read aloud:

"Sources close

remarkable story of family restoration. The couple was spotted dining with Victoria Kane last

seems an apt metaphor for this union, a relationship forged in fire, emerging stronger and

at least they noticed the effort

a good dynasty story," Alexander said. "The combination of your family's old money

and my parents," Camille said.

Alexander pointed out.

this. The

shifted

begun as speculation about a business. merger or Victoria's succession plan had evolved into something the public found irresistible, a love story emerging from tragedy, two powerful individuals joining

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

you think the media attention will ever die down?" she

shook his head. "Not completely. We're too visible now. But we

is our narrative?" Camille asked, genuinely curious about how

answering. "That real strength isn't about revenge or power for its own sake. It's about building something meaningful from

do since

with that story,"

visit the lakeside property this weekend. Before Victoria persuades us

calendar. "And perhaps we should call your parents. See if they

be another small step in strengthening the bonds

look at a potential wedding

us?"

this morning about the engagement party. She mentioned

surprised that

evolved to include regular communication about matters concerning Camille, though she knew they weren't