SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 197

Camille's hands shook as she scrolled through her tablet, reading the headlines that had appeared overnight like a nightmare made real. The morning coffee in her cup had gone cold an hour ago, forgotten as crisis after crisis demanded her attention.

"SAFETY CONCERNS PLAGUE KANE INDUSTRIES' PHOENIX GRID PROJECT"

"ANONYMOUS SOURCES REVEAL CORNER-CUTTING IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE"

"IS KANE INDUSTRIES HIDING DANGEROUS FLAWS IN THEIR EXPANSION PLANS?"

Each headline was a dagger to the heart, each article more damaging than the last. Someone was feeding the financial press a steady stream of poison, and Kane Industries was dying from a thousand cuts.

Alexander entered their bedroom carrying fresh coffee, his face carefully arranged in an expression of concern and support. "Any updates from the crisis management team?"

Camille looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes. She hadn't slept in thirty-six hours, and exhaustion was written across every line of her face. "It's getting worse. Three more articles went live in the past hour."

She handed him the tablet, watching as he read the latest attack. The Financial Times had published a piece titled "Kane Industries: Built on Questionable Foundations?" that cited unnamed internal sources claiming safety protocols had been ignored during Phoenix Grid construction.

"Anonymous sources," Alexander said, shaking his head with what appeared to be disgust. "Cowards hiding behind reporters while they destroy your reputation."

"The stock opened down another four points," Camille said, her voice barely above a whisper. "At this rate, we'll lose twenty percent of our value by the end of the week."

Alexander sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for her hand. Her fingers were ice cold, trembling with stress and caffeine and fear. "We'll get through this. Kane Industries is stronger than these attacks."

"Is it?" Camille's voice cracked. "Alex, what if they're right? What if there really are safety issues we missed?"

The doubt in her voice was like acid eating away at Alexander's chest. He had started this campaign to destroy Victoria Kane, but watching it tear apart the woman he loved was agony beyond anything he had imagined.

"You know better than that," he said softly. "You've personally overseen every aspect of the Phoenix Grid. Your safety standards exceed federal requirements."

"Then why won't these stories stop?" Camille pulled her hand away, standing abruptly to pace across their bedroom. "Someone is feeding reporters information about our internal processes. Details that only employees would know."

Alexander's pulse quickened. "Have you considered the possibility of corporate espionage? Competitors trying to steal market share?"

face him. "She thinks someone with intimate knowledge of Kane Industries

blows. Victoria's suspicions were growing stronger, more focused. How long before

do?" he asked,

anyone who might have motive to damage the company." Camille's eyes were haunted. "She's turning

would eventually uncover his digital footprints, his connections to "Guardian," his late-night visits

closet. "The board meeting starts in an hour,

When she emerged wearing a sharp navy suit, she

calls," Alexander offered. "Pierce Enterprises has relationships with several financial journalists.

with gratitude.

from her restless night. "Anything for you. We're partners in

each other's companies. Partners didn't orchestrate campaigns of character assassination against their spouse's family. Partners didn't wake up each morning

office and opened his secure laptop. Three new messages from "Guardian" waited in his encrypted folder, each containing

clean energy sector. The second contained financial records showing unusual payments to private investigators shortly before Richard Pierce's suicide. The third was the most damaging - a recording of Victoria's voice from a board meeting, describing the need

before he destroys us."

death suddenly feeling immediate and raw again. Victoria Kane had ordered his uncle's destruction with the casual brutality of a general commanding an execution. These weren't business decisions - they were acts of deliberate cruelty designed to break a

all files. Preparing next phase of

minutes: *Safety documentation ready for release tomorrow. This will be the killing blow. Kane Industries won't survive allegations of covering

Alexander closed the laptop,

reputation completely. The Phoenix Grid expansion would be canceled. Bittions in investor confidence would evaporate. Victoria Kane's empire would crumble exactly as she had crumbled his

be destroyed in the

as a successful CEO - all of it would burn in the fire Alexander

started.

to

to save her company. She was fielding angry calls from investors, crafting press releases to counter negative

major investors. Stock down six percent

stared at the message, her trust and gratitude cutting through him like knives. She believed he was supporting her. She had no idea he was

get through this together.* Another lie to add to the pile. Another betrayal disguised as love. Alexander's secure phone rang.

familiar voice. "Financial blogs, industry publications, even mainstream news outlets. By tomorrow morning, Kane Industries

evidence?" Alexander