SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 203

Chapter 203

Alexander Pierce stood in his empty penthouse, staring at the financial news ticker scrolling across his wall-mounted screen. Kane Industries stock had not only recovered from its morning crash but was now trading higher than before Victoria's collapse. His carefully orchestrated attack had been completely neutralized in a matter of hours.

His hands trembled with rage as he gripped his phone, watching the numbers climb steadily upward. Months of planning. Months of gathering evidence, building his case, positioning himself for the perfect strike. All of it undone by a few phone calls from powerful men he'd never even considered.

The penthouse felt cavernous around him. Camille's belongings were gone, taken during his brief absence yesterday. Her books, her clothes, her coffee mug from the kitchen counter - every trace of their life together had been erased. The silence pressed against him like a physical weight.

His phone buzzed with an encrypted message: *Meeting tonight. Pier 47. 11 PM.*

Alexander's jaw clenched. The Guardian wanted to meet in person. That only happened when plans required major adjustments or when things had gone catastrophically wrong.

The hours crawled by with agonizing slowness. Alexander paced his apartment, replaying the morning's events over and over. He'd watched the stock price plummet during pre-market trading, felt the satisfaction of seeing Victoria's empire finally cracking under pressure. Then Richard Lewis and Senator Alvarez had appeared like avenging angels, systematically dismantling his attack with surgical precision.

Who was Senator Alvarez to Camille? Alexander had researched every aspect of her life, every relationship, every connection. The revelation that one of the most powerful men in Washington would personally intervene to save Kane Industries felt like discovering a hidden landmine in familiar territory.

By ten-thirty, Alexander was driving through the industrial district toward the waterfront. Pier 47 was abandoned at this hour, nothing but rusted shipping containers and broken streetlights. The kind of place where conversations happened that could never be traced or recorded.

He found the Guardian waiting in the shadows between two storage units, a figure in an expensive coat whose face remained hidden in darkness.

"You failed," the Guardian said without preamble.

"The Lewis family intervened. I had no way of predicting Senator Alvarez would get involved."

"You should have researched deeper. You should have known about every connection, every relationship, every potential threat."

Alexander's hands clenched into fists. "I spent months gathering intelligence on Victoria Kane and Camille. There was no indication that..."

"There was no indication because you were looking at the wrong targets." The Guardian's voice carried cold disappointment. "You focused on Victoria's business relationships and Camille's emotional vulnerabilities. You ignored the most dangerous threat of all."

"Which is?"

"Old money. Old power. The kind of influence that doesn't show up in corporate filings or social media profiles." The Guardian stepped closer, his face still obscured by shadow. "Richard Lewis comes from five generations of New England wealth. His family has been placing senators and judges for over a century. Senator Alvarez owes his entire political career to Lewis family support."

sick. "You knew about

I thought Victoria's crimes were severe enough that even the Lewis family wouldn't risk their reputation defending her." The Guardian's tone was bitter. "I underestimated

now? We've lost the element of surprise. They know someone is targeting

escalate to ensure justice is

sound of that. "What

pulled out a tablet and showed Alexander a series of financial documents. "The Lewis family's wealth comes from dozens of investments, holdings, and business partnerships. Real estate developments, technology companies, pharmaceutical research. As long as they can prop up Kane Industries

with each page. "You want to attack Camille's

who died in that factory explosion get the justice they deserve. I

Camille's family.

about it, Alexander. Victoria Kane covered up a factory accident that killed seventeen people. She destroyed your uncle's company and drove him to

Lewis family is protecting Kane Industries because they love Camille,

loyalty over justice for murder victims. They're helping a killer escape consequences because she happens to be their daughter's adoptive

don't know

gestured to the tablet again. "We expose Victoria's crimes publicly. We show the world, including the Lewis family, exactly what kind of woman they're protecting. When they see

"And if they don't? If they

complicit in covering up mass murder. Then they become legitimate targets in our

sent a chill down Alexander's spine. "What

wealth over generations. If they use that wealth to shield Victoria Kane

would destroy Camille too. Everything she

jet

Victoria over you. She chose the woman who killed your uncle over the man who loved her." The Guardian's voice turned persuasive. "She's already lost to you, Alexander. The question is whether she'll lose while Victoria faces justice, or whether she'll keep everything while seventeen families never get closure for

doubt.

not hurting her.

closer. "Those seventeen people who died in that factory had families, Alexander. They had children who grew up without parents. They had spouses who never got justice. Don't you think they deserve better

course they

Victoria Kane really is. If the Lewis family withdraws their support after learning about the cover- up, then Kane Industries falls naturally. If they choose to protect

the tablet. Every instinct told him this was wrong, that attacking Camille's family was crossing a line he couldn't uncross. But the Guardian's words echoed in his

evidence against Victoria," Alexander said slowly.

I've shown you the evidence of Victoria's bribery and intimidation. I've shown you the cover up that followed the factory explosion." The Guardian's voice was unwavering. "Seventeen people died because Victoria Kane chose profits

you believe attacking the Lewis family is the

denied. I believe that letting a killer escape consequences because she has powerful friends is