SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 36

Camille's point of view

There's a particular satisfaction in watching something fall apart from a distance, in witnessing the precise

moment when confidence shatters and

reality crashes down Victoria had taughtthat. "True power isn't in the destruction itself," she'd toldonce,

"but in knowing you orchestrated it while they never saw you coming." As | sat at the head of the under the

weight of their impending ruin.

| watched the numbers change on my tablet as Pacific Marline's stock price plummeted. Each drop represented

another piece of Stefan's empire crumbling. The company's board members sat across fromi "Your company

lost forty percent of its value in the last hour," | said, my voice carrying through the silent room. In fifteen

minutes, when the market fully reacts to the news about your accounting irregularities, tha Michael Chen, Pacific

Maritime's CEO, gripped his water glass so hard | thought it might shatter. "These accusations are baseless."

"Are they?" | slid a folder across the polished table. "Our audit team spent six months combing through your

records. Every questionable contract, every hidden payment, every secret deal with Rodriguez Shipp it's all

there."

The board members exchanged worried glances. They knew what this meant. Pacific Maritcontrolled Stefan's

most important shipping routes. Without them, his entire operation would collapse.

"Kane Industries is offering to buy your remaining shares at thirty dollars each," | continued.

"Generous, considering they'll be worth nothing by market close."

"You can't do this," Thomas Rodriguez, Stefan's uncle and Pacific Maritchairman, pushed back from the table.

"Rodriguez Shipping will fight-

"With what resources?" | cut him off. "The Rodriguez company is already overextended. Three banks have quietly

frozen there credit lines. And their upcoming wedding is draining what cash reserves remain.” My phone buzzed-

a message from our source inside Rodriguez Shipping: Stefan just got the news. Complete meltdown in his office.

Board calling emergency meeting.

| allowed myself a small smile. Let him rage. Let him feel powerless. Let him understand exactly what it meant to

watch everything slip through his fingers.

"You have thirty minutes to accept our offer," | told the board. "After that, these findings go to the SEC and every

major financial publication"

"This is extortion," Chen protested weakly.

"No, Mr. Chen. This is karma." | met his eyes steadily. "You chose to tie your company's future to Rodriguez

Shipping Now

you pay the price for that choice."

My phone lit up with updates from our trading desk. Pacific Maritime's stock In free fall. Investors dumping

shares in panic. The trap I'd spent months setting had snapped shut perfectly. The company's chief counsel

spoke up. "We need tto review."

"Twenty-eight minutes now," | interrupted. "Tick tock."

In my earpiece, Victoria's voice: "Well done. They're

crumbling exactly as predicted."

| kept my expression neutral as the board members whispered urgently among themselves. Six months of

planning had led to this moment. Every detail mapped out, every weakness exposed, every escape route

blocked.

My tablet chimed again, Rodriguez Shipping's stock starting to drop as news spread about Pacific Maritime's

troubles. The first domino falling exactly as planned.

"This will destroy him," Thomas Rodriguez said quietly. "My nephew... his whole future depends on these shipping

routes."

"Perhaps he should have thought about his future before making certain choices," | replied, letting ice coat my

words. "Actions have consequences, Mr. Rodriguez. Even for those who think themselves untouch Twenty

minutes later, they signed the papers. Kane Industries now owned controlling interest in Pacific Maritime.

Stefan's most crucial supply chain partner had fallen into enemy hands.

In my private bathroom afterward, I finally allowed my hands to shake. Not from fear or doubt, but from the pure

rush of power. I'd done it. Landed the first major blow in my campaign to systematically dismantle My phone

buzzed with a text from an unknown number: *Impressive show. But what happens when winning doesn't fill the

void? -

AP

Alexander Pierce. Of course he'd been watching. He seemed to see everything these days.

I ignored his message, focusing instead on the news alerts flooding my screen. Business publications already

running stories about Pacific Maritime's sudden takeover, Financial analysts speculating about wha Victoria

entered without knocking. "The board is pleased. Clean execution, minimal exposure, maximum damage.

"Stefan's company will lose forty percent of its shipping capacity overnight," | reported. "His stock is already

down twelve percent."

"And how do you feel?"

| considered the question carefully. "Powerful. In control." paused. "Empty."

"That passes," she said dismissively. "Focus on the next target. We move on Jensen Partners tomorrow-

their infrastructure supports another thirty percent of his operations."

But as she outlined the next phase of our plan, | found myself wondering about Pierce's question. What would

happen when I'd taken everything? When Stefan's empire lay in ruins and Rose's fashion dreams My reflection in

the bathroom mirror showed nothing of these doubts. Just the polished exterior of Camille Kane, Victoria's

perfect heir, methodically destroying her enemies.

| straightened my jacket and checked my lipstick. The afternoon would bring meetings with Pacific Maritime's

new management team. Orders to be given. Changes to be implemented. Each step carefully desig

| gathered my papers and headed for the next meeting. There was more work to be done. More pieces to

position. More

of Stefan's carefully built world to tear down.

Chapter 36

Tomorrow would bring new targets, new strategies, new vii

And it was only the beginning.