SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 222

Camille sat in the small café near Kane Industries, stirring her coffee without drinking it. The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting warm patterns on the wooden tables where other customers read newspapers and checked their phones. Everything looked normal, peaceful even, but Camille felt like she was sitting in the eye of a storm that could explode into violence at any moment.

Alexander walked through the café door, and Camille's heart did something complicated in her chest. He looked tired, older than his years, but there was something different about his posture. The desperate edge that had consumed him for months was gone, replaced by a quieter sadness that somehow felt more honest.

"Thank you for meeting me," Alexander said, sliding into the chair across from her. "I wasn't sure you would come."

"I almost didn't," Camille admitted. "But we need to talk about what happens next."

Alexander nodded, understanding that she wasn't just talking about James Whitfield's threats or the security concerns that kept them all looking over their shoulders. She was talking about them - about whether anything could be salvaged from the wreckage of their marriage.

"How did the meeting with James go?" Camille asked.

"He's still out there. Still planning something." Alexander's jaw tightened with frustration. "I offered him a chance to surrender, to confess to Richard's murder and end this peacefully. He didn't take it."

Camille felt fear crawl up her spine. "So he's going to escalate."

"Probably. Victoria's security team is monitoring all his known locations, but James has had fifteen years to plan for this scenario. He won't be easy to find or stop."

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment, both thinking about the danger that lurked somewhere in the city. James Whitfield had murdered Richard Pierce and manipulated Alexander for months. There was no reason to believe he would show mercy to anyone who stood in his way now.

"Alexander," Camille said quietly, "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday. About wanting to make things right."

Alexander looked up from his untouched coffee cup, hope and fear warring in his expression. "And?"

"I meant what I said about forgiving you. I understand that you were manipulated, that James used your grief against you in ways you couldn't have anticipated." Camille chose her words carefully, knowing they carried the weight of both their futures. "But forgiveness doesn't automatically fix what was broken."

"I know," Alexander said. "I know our marriage might be over. I know I violated your trust in ways that might be impossible to repair."

Camille studied his face, seeing genuine acceptance of responsibility rather than the desperate bargaining she had expected. This wasn't the Alexander who had surveilled her conversations or attacked Stefan in jealous rage. This was someone who had been forced to confront the worst parts of himself and was trying to become better.

be saved," Camille said honestly. "But I think... I think maybe we can try. Maybe we can learn to trust each

his heart leap with unexpected hope.

But Alexander, I still love you." Camille's voice broke slightly on the

tears burning his eyes. "I love you too, Camille. I never stopped loving you,

reached across the table and took his hand properly this

table and touched his hand briefly. The contact was warm,

to learn how to trust you again. And you need time to prove that

I need you

"What?"

looked into her eyes, seeing the woman he had fallen in love

in my life. I know I didn't show it these past months, I know I chose revenge over our marriage, but you are

the raw honesty in his voice. "I love you too, Alexander. That's why this hurt so much. That's why I'm willing to try to rebuild what

on a real honeymoon. One where I'm not planning revenge or carrying secrets or

falling as she heard the love and commitment in his voice. "I would

the decision to fight for their marriage, to rebuild their love on a foundation of truth

I need to tell you," Alexander said. "About James, about what

for

an innocent man." Alexander's voice was thoughtful, analytical. "I his mind, he's the hero of this story, fighting to correct a

doesn't excuse murder," Camille

an elaborate campaign of revenge. James isn't just evil - he's broken. He's someone who never learned how to process grief in a healthy way." Camille studied Alexander's expression, seeing compassion mixed with determination. "You

for the man he might have been if he had made different choices twenty years ago. I feel sorry for someone who carried his pain atone for so long that it poisoned everything else in his life." Alexander met her eyes. "But I also understand that feeling sorry for James doesn't mean I can let him

people you care about," Camille

even Stefan and Hannah. You're all innocent in this, and James wants to

who have been dead for

you

to stop him. Not for revenge, not to satisfy my own anger, but to protect the people who don't deserve to pay for crimes they didn't commit." Camille saw something in Alexander's expression that reminded her of the man she had married - determined, protective, willing to sacrifice for others. But there was a maturity there now, a thoughtfulness that had

to help,"

shook his head immediately. "Camille, no. James has already targeted you once through me. I won't let you put