SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 198

Victoria's hands shook as she stared at the financial reports spread across her desk. Not from the cancer treatments, those were going better than expected. No, these tremors came from something far worse: the growing certainty that the man sleeping beside her daughter every night might be her greatest enemy.

The attacks on Kane Industries had started three weeks after Camille's wedding. Subtle at first, a few negative stories in financial blogs, some anonymous tips to reporters about safety concerns. Then the stock manipulation, the server outages, the leaked internal documents. Someone with intimate knowledge of their systems was bleeding them slowly, methodically.

Someone close enough to know their vulnerabilities.

Victoria picked up her phone with unsteady fingers.

"Stefan Rodriguez."

"Stefan, it's Victoria Kane. I need to see you. Today."

A pause. "Is Camille.."

"Camille is fine. But I need your help with something that could destroy her if I'm right."

Two hours later, Stefan sat across from Victoria in her private conference room. The guilt he'd carried since betraying Camille had changed him, made him quieter, more thoughtful. More willing to do whatever it took to protect the woman he'd failed so completely.

"You suspect Alexander," Stefan said. It wasn't a question.

they started right after the wedding.

Technologies. It collapsed fifteen years ago after a series of

documents. "Richard Pierce. The founder who died by

was barely a whisper. "If Alexander blames

revenge on you." Stefan's face went pale. "Jesus, Victoria. The engagement, the wedding, everything, it could all be an elaborate

the air like poison. Victoria thought of Camille's radiant smile on her wedding day, the way she'd looked at Alexander like he'd hung the stars. The idea that it might all be built on lies made her

you to investigate him,"

business contacts. Find out everything about Alexander Pierce's background. Any connection to Meridian Technologies, any evidence he's targeting

me? You have

off. And because..." Victoria met his eyes. "Because you understand betrayal from the inside. If Alexander is using Camille's love against her, I need someone who knows how that

had crumbled when she realized the scope of his betrayal. The possibility that she might be living through something

Camille? She has a right to

voice was firm despite the

suspicion alone could destroy her marriage. If I'm right, we need irrefutable proof before we shatter her world

folder in his hands. "How

Stefan looked up, his expression grim. "I'll find it. Not for you. For her. To protect her from going through

floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see the city Camille was learning to love, the

*Having lunch with Alexander. He's being so supportive about the company troubles.