SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 183

The evening glow bathed Victoria Kane's sprawling estate in golden light as lanterns illuminated the gardens for the rehearsal dinner. Three months had passed since the trial, and life had settled into a new rhythm for Camille. Tomorrow, she would marry Alexander Pierce and truly begin the next chapter of

her story.

From the edge of the stone terrace, Camille watched the unlikely gathering with quiet wonder, her birth parents chatting with Victoria, Kane Industries executives mingling with Pierce Enterprises innovators. The worlds that had once been separate now blended because of the love between her and Alexander.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Alexander's voice was warm against her ear as his arms encircled her waist.

Camille leaned back against his chest, savoring his strength. "Just taking it all in. Two years ago, I was plotting revenge in Victoria's study. Now..."

"Now you're running Kane Industries and about to become Mrs. Pierce." He kissed her temple, his lips lingering against her skin. "How quickly life changes."

She turned to face him, searching his eyes. "Any second thoughts about tomorrow?"

"About marrying you? Never." His smile reached his eyes, though something flickered behind them, a shadow so brief Camille didn't register its meaning.

Victoria approached them, moving with more strength than she'd shown in weeks. The experimental cancer treatment was working, her latest scans showed another reduction in tumor size. "There you two are. The photographer wants pictures by the fountain before we lose the light."

Camille squeezed Alexander's hand. "We'll be right there."

As Victoria walked away, Alexander's phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen. A muscle in his jaw tightened, almost imperceptibly.

"Everything okay?" Camille asked casually.

Alexander slid the phone back into his pocket, his smile returning naturally. "Just a supplier issue at Pierce Enterprises. Nothing that can't wait until after the honeymoon." He kissed her hand. "Come on, let's not keep the photographer waiting."

toasts with genuine emotion. Yet twice, Camille noticed him check his phone discreetly. Each time, a shadow passed across his face before he returned to the celebration, his smile never

never leaving her face as Victoria's voice carried across the garden. "When I found Camille, I thought I was saving her. In truth, she saved me." Victoria raised her glass. "To

himself. "I need to make a

returned twenty minutes later, she noticed nothing unusual beyond a certain tension in his

asked

taken care of." He kissed her cheek. "Nothing for you to worry

and dancing. If Alexander seemed occasionally distracted, no one noticed but

*** ****

moonlit gardens. Victoria had insisted they spend the night before

both her hands in his. "I need you to know something, Camille." His voice had a serious edge that made her look up. "No matter what happens, no matter what we learn about each

by his intensity. "Where is

something deeper. "The past year has taught me that family, whether born or chosen

"Alexander..."

we begin our life together. That's

** ****

and retired to the guest wing, Alexander slipped out of the house. The drive to Red Hook took forty minutes, giving him time to wrestle with the anonymous message that had arrived during dinner:

a massive block of concrete and steel. Unit 237. The key had been attached to the

boxes of evidence surrounded him. Financial statements. Photographs. News clippings. All bearing

newspaper headline screamed: MEDITERIAN ENTERPRISES DECLARES BANKRUPTCY, FOUNDER COMMITS

The truth unfolded before him in merciless detail, how Victoria Kane had systematically destroyed MEDITERIAN Enterprises because of her ruthless business practices. How his uncle, who had taken him in when his parents disowned him, had lost everything because

had become

unveiling a truth that could tear them apart on the eve of their happiness. Someone clearly wanted to destroy what he and Camille had

burned, illuminate the