SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 233

The gardens at Victoria's estate bloomed with late spring flowers as guests gathered under white silk tents for an occasion that felt both familiar and entirely new. Six months had passed since James Whitfield's arrest, six months of healing and rebuilding and learning to trust in love again.

Camille stood in the estate's master bedroom, looking at herself in the antique mirror as Victoria helped her adjust the simple cream-colored dress she had chosen for the ceremony. This wasn't the elaborate wedding gown she had worn for her first marriage to Alexander - this dress was elegant but understated, chosen for comfort rather than spectacle.

"Are you nervous?" Victoria asked, fastening the pearl necklace that had belonged to her own mother around Camille's neck.

"Not nervous," Camille replied, touching the pearls gently. "Excited. Ready. This feels different from the first time."

"Different how?"

Camille turned to face Victoria, seeing her adoptive mother looking healthy and strong for the first time since her cancer diagnosis. The months of recovery had been good for both of them, allowing them to rebuild their relationship on foundations of truth rather than the secrets that had almost destroyed them.

"The first time I married Alexander, I was marrying the man I thought he was. Today I'm marrying the man I know he is - flaws and mistakes and all." Camille's voice carried a certainty that hadn't been there during her first wedding. "I'm marrying someone who has hurt me and disappointed me, but who has also fought for us when it mattered most."

Victoria smiled, remembering her own second chance at love after her husband's death. "That's what real love looks like. Not the fairy tale version where everything is perfect, but the grown-up version where you choose each other despite knowing exactly who you're choosing."

A soft knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Alexander's voice came through the wood, warm with affection and anticipation.

"Camille? I know it's bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony, but I have something for you."

Camille opened the door to find Alexander standing in the hallway, handsome in his dark suit but somehow more relaxed than she had ever seen him. He held a small wrapped box in his hands.

"What is this?" Camille asked, accepting the gift.

"Something I should have given you the first time we got married, instead of surveillance equipment and hidden agendas." Alexander's voice carried both regret for the past and hope for the future.

Camille unwrapped the box to reveal a delicate bracelet made of intertwined silver and gold bands. The craftsmanship was exquisite, but it was the engraving on the inside that made her breath catch: "To new beginnings and honest love - A."

"Alexander, it's beautiful."

"I had it made by the same jeweler who created your engagement ring. But this time, there are no hidden meanings or secret purposes. It's just a gift from your husband to his wife, given with complete honesty about who I am and what I'm promising you."

Camille felt tears starting as Alexander fastened the bracelet around her wrist. The weight of it felt perfect, substantial enough to remind her of his presence but delicate enough to wear every day.

promising me?" she

promising you that I will choose our marriage over everything else, every day, for the rest of my life. I'm promising you complete honesty, even when the truth is difficult or painful. I'm promising you that I will never let anyone

the couple who

are you promising him?" Victoria

into Alexander's eyes, seeing the man who had been manipulated into betraying her, who had nearly lost her to

that I will fight for our marriage instead of running

always wanted but had been too consumed by grief and manipulation to recognize - unconditional love from someone who saw his

guests are starting to arrive, and I

or pretending their first marriage hadn't been poisoned by lies. It was about acknowledging what they had

front row, their faces showing pride and relief that their daughter had found happiness again. Senator Alvarez had flown in from Washington to witness the ceremony, his presence a

the bride and officiant for the ceremony. As the head of the family that had been rebuilt through choice rather than blood, Victoria had asked to be the one to speak the words

race with joy. He stood with his

been working with Stefan to help plan this ceremony, their own relationship deepening through months

reached the arch, Alexander took her hands and looked into her eyes

really means," Victoria began, Ker voice carrying clearly across the garden. "Alexander and Camille have faced betrayal, manipulation, and the kind of challenges that destroy many relationships. But they have chosen to use

both of them with the pride of a mother watching her children

perfect. It's about finding someone worth fighting for, someone worth forgiving, someone worth choosing

as he spoke his renewed vows. "Camille, I vow to you that I will never again let anyone manipulate me into hurting you. I vow to choose our love over any need for revenge or any outside pressure. I vow to be the husband you deserve, not just the husband I thought I was." Camille's voice was steady and clear as she responded. "Alexander, I vow to you that I will trust in your love even when my past experiences make trust difficult. I vow to fight for our marriage instead of protecting myself with distance. I vow to love you not just in spite of your mistakes, but because of how you've grown

commitment to each other, Alexander and Camille

the tenderness of those who understood how

reception that

laughter and the kind of easy

the sun began to set over the estate

table and approached the small stage where a string quartet had been playing

said, his voice carrying a

her conversation

need to say."

at the crowd with the expression of someone about to take the biggest risk of his

months ago, I thought I understood what love meant. I

dramatic

yourself worthy of someone's affection." Stefan's eyes found Hannah in the crowd, and his voice grew stronger. "But watching Alexander and Camille rebuild their marriage taught me that real love is

beginning to race as she realized what Stefan was about