SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Camille's point of view

"They rejected our ofter,"

Rebecca's words hung in the air between us, impossible, unthinkable. The folder in her hands contained the

formal response from Rodriguez Shipping, a single page declining our "generous proposal" with diplo "That's not

possible," | said, my voice too quiet even to my own ears. "They're broke. Desperate. Days from complete

collapse"

Mr. Rodriguez was quite firm." Rebecca set the folder on my desk, her expression professionally neutral despite

delivering news she knew would infuriate me. "Their lead negotiator said the family would rather Heat rose from

my chest to my throat, a burning tide of rage | hadn't felt since the night Stefan had handeddivorce papers

on our anniversary. Since the night Rose had smirked at my pain while pretending concern. Since the night I'd

walked away from the ruins of a life they'd systematically destroyed.

"Pride," | spat the word like poison. "Always his weakness. His father's too."

I moved to the window, needing space to contain the fury threatening to crack my carefully constructed

composure. Outside, spring rain fell on the Kane estate gardens, each drop hitting leaves and petals with

until now.

"The financial team has updated projections." Rebecca's voice remained steady, a reminder of the professional

facade | needed to maintain. "Rodriguez Shipping will default on their major loans tomorrow. Their "Then why

reject our offer?" | turned back to face her, struggling to understand "Thirty cents was insulting, yes, but it would

have given them operating capital. Tto reorganize. A chance to salvage something Rebecca consulted her

tablet. "Our analysts suggest it may be a negotiating tactic. Rejecting our first offer to push for better terms."

| shook my head, knowing Stefan better than any analyst ever could. "No. It's principle. Family pride. The

Rodriguez name."

Three generations of shipping legacy. The grandfather who'd started with a single vessel during the Depression,

The father who'd expanded globally during the shipping boom. And Stefan, who'd inherited it all Just as he'd

takenfor granted.

"What do they hope to gain?" | asked, more to

myself than Rebecca. "They must know they can't survive without selling something"

“Our intelligence suggests they may be consolidating their Northwestern operations." Rebecca scrolled through

her notes. "Moving liquid assets to their Seattle division before the banks seize everything else." A strategic

retreat. Smart, actually, Salvaging the one piece of the company structurally protected from the banks' reach.

The original

hub where Rodriguez Shipping had began three generations ago.

Starting over from nearly nothing

My fingers curled into fists, nails digging half-

masons intumy palms. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Stefan was supposed to surrender completely.

Was supposed to experience the total loss of everything he valued. Was supposed to feel the helple

"The banks move tomorrow?" | asked.

Rebecca nodded. "First thing in the morning Our sources say they'll foreclose on outstanding loans and seize all

collateralized assets"

"And the board meeting?"

"Emergency session scheduled for nine AM. Likely to accept the chairman's resignation and approve bankruptcy

protection filing"

I moved back to my desk, finger tapping against the polished mahogany as | thought. Stefan was slipping

through my fingers. Finding a way to survive when he should

be experiencing complete destruction. Holding onto a scrap of his family legacy when he should be losing

everything.

"Call Matthew Chen at First National," | instructed. "Tell han Kane Industries will purchase Rodriguez Shipping's

debt at eighty cents on the dollar. All of it, the secured loans, the operating lines, the equipment le Rebecca's

eyes widened slightly, the only indication of her surprise at this unexpected move. "That's over forty million

dollars in bad debt, Ms. Kane. The financial team hasn't analyzed..."

"I don't care what it costs,"l cut her off, voice sharp with determination. "If Stefan won't sell to us directly, we'll

own his debt instead. Every dollar he owes, every asset securing those loans, every piece of paper She made

quick notes on her tablet. "And after we acquire the debt?"

"We call it immediately. All of it. No extensions, no refinancing, no mercy." My voice sounded foreign to my own

ears, cold and hard in a way | barely recognized. "If he wants to save his precious Seattle operaRebecca

nodded, professional mask firmly in place despite what must have seemed like irrational business decisions.

Spending forty million to acquire bad debt made no financial sense, But this wasn't about fi was about justice.

About making Stefan feel the complete helplessness I'd experienced when he'd discardedlike yesterday's

trash.

"There's one more thing," | added. "The Rodriguez family estate. The banks don't hold that mortgage, Sterling

Trust does. | want it too."

This tRebecca couldn't completely hide her shock. "The family home? Ms. Kane, that's not a business asset.

That's their private residence."

"I know exactly what it is." Three years I'd lived in that mansion as Stefan's wife. Three years of trying to please

his family, of attempting to belong in spaces where | was merely tolerated. Three years of memori "May Task

why

The estate has no strategic value to Kane Industries."

The question deserved a business answer, a rational explanation. Something that would make sense in

tomorrow's executive briefing when Victoria questioned this decision

Instead, | gave the truth. "Because it will hurt him more than losing the company. Because the Rodriguez estate

represents five generations of family history. Because it's the one thing Stefan believes can never be taken from

him

Understanding dawned in Rebecca's eyes, not judgment, not concern, just recognition of the personal

motivation. driving these business decisions Victoria had trained her well to accept without questioning. "I'll

make the calls immediately," she said, moving toward the door.

Once Rebecca had gone, | moved to the hidden wall safe beland my office artwork. Inside, nestled beside

the diamond necklace Alexander had given the, lay a small photo album, one of the few possessions I'd kept

from my lite as Camille Lewis. | removed it carefully, opening to the last pages.

My wedding to Stefan.in an ivory gown his mother had selected because "white would wash out your

complexion, dear." Him handsin his tuxedo, the smile that had once seemed genuine now revealed

Rose stood besidein the photos, maid of honor in a dress carefully chosen to outshine the bride. Her arm

around my waist, her smile perfect, her eyes already calculating how to take what wasn't hers. | slammed the

album shut, returning it to the safe

before the memories could weaken my resolve. This wasn't about pain anymore, wasn't about heartbreak or

betrayal. This was about justice. About consequences for actions carelessly taken. About making Ste anniversary.

My phone buzzed with a text from Victoria: Heard about the Rodriguez rejection. Your next steps?

*

| replied quickly. Acquiring all debt through bank purchases. Foreclosing immediately. Taking the family estate

as well.

Her response cinstantly, approval evident even in text form: *Excellent. Total control rather than partial

acquisition. More thorough destruction.

| set the phone down, strangely unsettled

by her enthusiasm. Once, her approval had been everything | sought. Her strategic guidance the foundation of

my reborn existence. Her careful mentoring the framework for my transformation from victim to ave But

recently, something had shifted. Ssmall, persistent voice questioning whether Victoria's vision of justice

through complete destruction was truly what | wanted. Whether becoming as cold and calculating Alexander's

words floated back to me: "The phoenix rises not just from ashes, but toward something greater."

| pushed the thought away. Now wasn't the tfor doubt. For questioning the path I'd followed for sixteen

months. Stefan had rejected the lifeline I'd offered, insulting though it had been. Had chosen family pri My phone

buzzed again, Alexander, not accepting my assistant's message as final.

*The phoenix makes her choice. Today revenge, perhaps tomorrow something more. When you're ready to

discuss possibilities beyond Victoria's script, I'll be waiting message,

| started to delete the then stopped, rereading his words. How did he always seem to know my thoughts? To

understand the conflict beneath my carefully maintained exterior?

More importantly, how did he know about Victoria's "Script? About her careful orchestration of my revenge?

About the

plan we'd developed together over sixteen months of meticulous preparation?

The questions added to my unease, to the growing sense that Alexander Pierce knew far more

aboutthan should be possible. That he somehow saw beyond the surgical alterations and behavioral training

to the woman beneath.

To the woman | sometimes feared no longer existed.

Tomorrow would bring the next phase of Stefan's destruction. The irrevocable foreclosure on his family's shipping

empire. The beginning of the end for the Rodriguek legacy.

But somewhere beneath my fury at his rejection, beneath my determination to make him suffer as | had

suffered, a small voice whispered uncomfortable questions.

What happens after revenge is complete? Who will you be when hatred no longer defines your purpose? What

rises from ashes when the fire finally burns out? Questions | pushed aside, focusing instead on the justice

tomorrow would bring. On the satisfaction of watching Stefan finally understand what it meant to lose everything

that mattered.

On the moment when he would finally pay the debt he owed for destroying Camille Lewis without a second

thought.