SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 215

Chapter 215

The Metropolitan Children's Hospital charity gala buzzed with the quiet energy of New York's elite gathering for a worthy cause. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over designer gowns and expensive suits while waiters moved silently through the crowd carrying silver trays of champagne and canapés.

Camille stood beside the auction display table, examining the donated items while trying to focus on anything other than the constant ache in her chest. She wore a simple black dress that made her look elegant but understated, as if she was trying to disappear into the background of her own life.

Stefan and Hannah stood nearby, their conversation about the hospital's new cardiac wing punctuated by small gestures that revealed their growing connection. Hannah's hand briefly touched Stefan's arm when she laughed at something he said. Stefan's eyes lingered on her face when she wasn't looking. The ease between them was obvious to anyone paying attention.

"They look happy together," Camille said quietly, nodding toward Stefan and Hannah.

Victoria, who had insisted on attending despite her recent hospitalization, followed Camille's gaze. "They do. Stefan deserves someone who sees his better qualities."

"We all deserve that," Camille replied, her voice carrying the weight of recent heartbreak.

The crowd shifted around them as more guests arrived for the evening's program. Camille was reading the description of a donated vacation package when she felt someone approach from behind. She turned and found herself face to face with Alexander.

He looked terrible. His usually perfect appearance was replaced by rumpled clothes that hung loose on his frame. Dark circles under his eyes spoke of sleepless nights, and his hair showed days without proper care. But it was his expression that caught Camille's attention - raw vulnerability mixed with desperate hope.

"Camille," Alexander said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Could I... could I speak with you for a moment?"

Victoria stepped protectively closer to Camille, her eyes cold as they fixed on Alexander. "I don't think that's appropriate."

"Please," Alexander said, looking directly at Victoria. "I know I have no right to ask. But there are things I need to say. Things that might change how you understand this situation."

Stefan and Hannah had noticed Alexander's presence and moved closer, forming a protective circle around Camille and Victoria. Stefan's jaw was still slightly bruised from Alexander's punch, a visible reminder of their last encounter.

"Alexander," Stefan said carefully, "this isn't the place for..."

"I know," Alexander interrupted, his voice cracking slightly. "I know this isn't the place, and I know I don't deserve your time. But I've discovered things that make me question everything I thought I knew."

Hannah looked between Stefan and Alexander, her engineering mind analyzing the situation with scientific precision. "What kind of things?"

Alexander looked around at the four people surrounding him - the wife he had betrayed, the woman he had tried to destroy, the man he had attacked, and the engineer whose loyalty he had underestimated. Each face showed varying degrees of suspicion and pain.

"The evidence I was given about Victoria," Alexander said slowly, "it doesn't match what I'm finding when I investigate independently. Someone has been lying to me, manipulating the facts to make Victoria look guilty of crimes I'm not sure she committed."

The words hung in the air like smoke from an extinguished candle. Victoria's expression remained carefully neutral, but Camille could see surprise flickering in her eyes.

"You're saying you were wrong about Victoria?" Camille asked, her voice barely steady.

"I'm saying I might have been wrong about some things. The situation appears more complex than I understood." Alexander's hands shook as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "This is an apology I wrote. For Stefan."

He held the paper toward Stefan, who made no move to take it.

"I don't need your written apology," Stefan said quietly. "But I'll listen if you have something real to say."

to crack. "I hit you because I thought you were trying to win Camille back. I was jealous and paranoid and I completely

Hannah exchanged a quick glance, their relationship no longer a secret they needed to

what I expected to see instead of what was actually there," Alexander continued. "And I reacted like a man who had already lost

lost everything because of your own choices," Camille said, her voice carrying both pain

completely on those two words. "I know I destroyed our marriage. I know I violated your privacy and used your love as

face, looking for signs of deception or manipulation. "If you know all

want to admit that my contact - the person who gave me information about your supposed crimes - becomes evasive when I ask for verification." Alexander looked directly at Victoria. "I want to say that I might have been manipulated into believing you were a killer when you might actually

them, but their small group felt isolated in a bubble of tense conversation. Other guests moved

Hannah asked.

of anything anymore," Alexander admitted. "For months, I believed I was seeking justice for my uncle and seventeen innocent people who died in a factory explosion. Now I'm finding evidence that suggests someone else might have

slightly. "Someone else

shares in Meridian Technologies six months before

very still at the mention of James Whitfield's

James Whitfield was involved

think James Whitfield knew more about the safety problems than he admitted. I think he might have influenced my uncle's understanding of events. And I think the person who has been feeding me evidence against Victoria

at their faces, seeing

quietly. "I'm not asking for another chance with our marriage, Camille. I know I destroyed that beyond repair. I'm asking for

"Why should we trust

has been manipulating me to attack you, then they're still out there. They're still planning to hurt all of you. And they might escalate to more dangerous

wordless through their shared glance.

inconsistencies did you

ovel.n

seriously "The digital timestamps on documents

independently, not because of outside

contact's explanations for

can't explain why you would leave so

silent for a moment, processing Alexander's

auction was beginning in the main ballroom, and

should sit down," Camille said finally. "If we're

privacy."

led them to a

the venue, where several

high-backed chairs had been

around a small table. they settled into the seating,

the idea of sitting as an equal among people

Alexander," Stefan said. "If we're going to talk about this, we're going

the chair might

to understand something," he said, looking directly at

you, when I told you I loved you, that wasn't part of any plan. Those feelings were

revenge was more important," Camille