SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 218

The Kane Industries conference room felt suffocating as Hannah's computer displayed the final pieces of information that would change everything they thought they knew. For hours, they had been tracing digital footprints, following money trails, and uncovering layers of deception that stretched back twenty years.

Now, the truth stared back at them from multiple screens, devastating in its clarity.

"James Smith," Hannah said quietly, reading from her laptop. "Born James Thomas Smith. Changed his legal name to James Whitfield in 2006 two years after his father Thomas Smith died in federal prison."

Alexander stared at the screen showing his uncle's business partner's real identity. The man he had known only as the Guardian, the person who had fed him lies for months, had been hiding behind a false name from the beginning.

"Thomas Smith Construction," Stefan read from another document. "Convicted of federal fraud, bribery, and safety violations. The company was systematically cheating municipal contracts by using substandard materials and exploiting immigrant workers."

Victoria sat back in her chair, pieces of a twenty-year-old puzzle finally clicking into place. "I remember Thomas Smith. Richard and I were competing against his company for the hospital contract when we discovered his illegal practices."

"You reported him to the authorities," Camille said, understanding beginning to dawn.

"We had to. Workers were being injured on his construction sites because he was using defective concrete and steel. Families were being cheated out of their life savings through inflated contracts." Victoria's voice carried the weight of old memories. "When we found evidence of his crimes, we turned it over to federal investigators."

Alexander's hands shook as he processed what he was hearing. "James Whitfield is Thomas Smith's son. The Guardian is the son of a criminal who was legitimately convicted for fraud."

Hannah pulled up more records, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "Thomas Smith died in prison in 2004. Killed by other inmates after they discovered he had been stealing money from a children's hospital construction fund."

The silence in the room was deafening as everyone absorbed the implications. Alexander felt like the ground was shifting beneath his feet, everything he had believed crumbling into dust.

"James wasn't seeking justice," Alexander whispered. "He was seeking revenge for his father's criminal empire being destroyed."

Stefan leaned forward, studying the financial records Hannah had uncovered. "Look at this timeline. James started planning his revenge campaign almost immediately after his father's death. He spent years building resources, creating false identities, gathering information on Victoria and Richard."

"And waiting for the perfect weapon," Camille added, looking at Alexander with a mixture of pity and understanding.

Alexander stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. The sound echoed in the quiet room like a gunshot. "My uncle. What really happened to my uncle?"

face grew pale as she pulled up another set of documents. "According to the coroner's report, Richard Pierce died by suicide. But look at these medical records from his final

witness statements that painted a very different picture

Richard false information for months," Hannah continued. "Convincing him that Victoria was responsible for Meridian Technologies' problems. But when Richard started questioning the narrative, when he wanted to go to the

happen," Stefan finished grimly.

felt rage building in his chest like molten lava. "The toxicology report. What does it

to Richard," Hannah said quietly. "Enough to incapacitate someone

"James drugged Richard and staged his death to look like suicide.

blows. His uncle hadn't died by suicide, overwhelmed by guilt and despair. Richard Pierce had been murdered by the man

of guilt over the factory explosion. I destroyed my marriage, nearly killed Victoria with stress, betrayed everyone I should have protected... all based

around him. Despite everything he had done to her, despite the

softly,

have questioned everything. I should have investigated independently before acting on James's information." Alexander's hands clenched into fists. "I should have honored my uncle's memory by seeking truth instead

pain and growing fury in his expression. "What

before. This wasn't the jealous anger that had driven him

was something colder

me into destroying innocent people," Alexander said, his voice deadly quiet. "I'm thinking that he spent fifteen years planning this campaign of revenge, turning me into his

looked up from her computer analysis, concern evident in her voice. "Alexander, the communication patterns show James has been escalating his plans. The failed media attack,

said, surprising everyone with the venom in his voice.

with growing alarm. "Alexander, you can't take justice into your own hands. We need to

him. He murdered my uncle and made it

exactly why we need to handle this legally," Camille said firmly. "We have evidence now. We can prove James's crimes and get

seeing the concern in her eyes, the fear that he was about

destroy our marriage. He turned my love for you into a tool for his revenge. He made me betray everything I should have protected." Alexander's voice cracked with emotion. "How can I just hand him over to lawyers and hope the system

you from him. James Whitfield has spent twenty years choosing revenge over justice, manipulation over truth. Don't become the same kind of person

feeding him lies for months. The factory explosion, the financial

alert. She looked at the screen and her

- something big is