SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Morning sunlight cut through Bodriguez Shipping headquarters, harsh and unforgiving. The building felt like a

tomb, employees moving like ghosts, their futures evaporating with each passing hour. Stefan stood The

grandfather clock, a family heirloom, ticked mercilessly in the silence. Each sound a heartbeat closer to the end

Two floors below, Camille Kane sat watching security feeds, her pulse quickening as she found him. Stefan,

standing alone, shoulders unnaturally straight despite everything crumbling around him. That damne His phone

lit up: Eduardo Rodriguez calling again. Four desperate calls already this morning. Overnight, the family estate's

mortgage had been sold. Seattle accounts mysteriously frozen. Last— minute financing arrangements collapsed

without explanation

A cold smile spread across Camille's face, savage satisfaction coursing through her. No escape routes. No last-

minute rescues. Just methodical, absolute destruction.

Maria appeared in Stefan's doorway, eyes swollen and red-

rimmed. Fifteen years of loyalty, about to end in unemployment.

"Mr. Chen from First National Bank is asking to see you," she said, voice breaking "He says it's urgent."

Stefan nodded. "Send him to the small conference room."

After she left, he straightened his tie with trembling fingers he couldn't quite control. What would his grandfather

think? The man who started with one small cargo boat during America's darkest economic times- what would he

say about the grandson who lost everything?

Matthew Chen's normally friendly face was now a mask of professional detachment. The handshake between

them felt foreign, distant.

"I wanted to

speak with you privately," Chen said, pity flickering in his eyes. "Before the official notifications."

Stefan's laugh held only pain. "To soften the blow? Letgave you the trouble. | know the banks are calling in

the loans."

"It's worse." Chen's voice dropped. "The loans weren't foreclosed by banks. They were purchased outright. All of

them. By Kane Industries."

The nhit Stefan like a physical blow, driving the air from his lungs. "That's impossible."

"They found a loophole in your financing agreements." Chen slid a document across the table. "As of this

morning, every dollar Rodriguez Shipping owes is owned by Kane Industries."

Stefan stared at the elegant cursive signature swimming before his eyes. Not Victoria Kane's signature. Her

daughter's. Camille Kane.

"The family estate?" he asked, voice barely audible.

“Also purchased. I'm sorry, Stefan. This isn't standard practice anymore. This is..." Chen hesitated, "personal."

In her hidden room, Camille leaned closer to the screen, pulse hammering in her ears as she watched color drain

from Stefan's face. This was the moment she'd dreamed of for so long. The realization dawning "Victoria Kane?"

Stefan asked, confusion etched in the lines of his face. "Why would she target my family?"

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Chen shook his head. "All | know is they said it was precisely the point to be unnecessarily destructive."

After Chen left, Stefan sat alone, nausea rising in his throat. His phone buzzed

again with his father's name. This the answered

"They've taken the house." Eduardo's voice cracked

with argquish Stefan had never heard before. "Our home. Five generations. They want us out in thirty days."

"I know."Stefan closed his eyes, chest so tight he could barely breathe. "Kane Industries

bought all our debt. Every penny"

"But why? Victoria Kane never showed interest in shipping

"I don't know," Stefan whispered, "but this feels personal, not just business."

Two floors below, Camille watched Eduardo on screen-the once-

powerful patriarch suddenly looking old and broken. Something unexpected twisted in her chest. Eduardo had

always been kind to her during her marriage to Stefan. Had defended her when Stefan's mother ma She pushed

the feeling away, anger rising to drown it out. Eduardo had raised the man who discarded her so easily. Had

taught

Stefan that Rodriguez men always got what they wanted, consequences be damned.

At five minutes to mine, Stefan entered the boardroom where the remaining executives waited, faces etched

with fear, anger, and resignation.

"lI won't waste twith false hope," Stefan began, voice steady despite the storm raging inside. "Kane

Industries has acquired all outstanding Rodriguez Shipping debt and intends to call in these loans immedia

"That's not possible," Thomas Wagner protested, the oldest board member.

"Then we file for bankruptcy protection," Elena Vasquez suggested.

"They've blocked that avenue too." Stefan's voice remained clinically detached while his world disintegrated.

They've already filed injunctions preventing bankruptcy protection."

In her hidden room, Camille watched their faces as understanding dawned. Not just business failure-

absolute. destruction. She had expected triumph in this moment, had nurtured this fantasy through sleepless

nights. But the hollow feeling in her chest refused to fill with the joy she'd anticipated.

A knock interrupted. Three people entered, led by Rebecca Porter, Camille's assistant.

"Mr. Rodriguez,"

Rebecca said coolly. "I'm here to deliver formal notification of loan acquisition and immediate demand for

payment in full.!

"The loans total $157 million dollars," Rebecca continued. "Payment is required within 72 hours or Kane

Industries will begin asset liquidation.”

"That's more than double our current valuation," Wagner whispered, the color draining from his face.

"Additionally, as the new holder of your family estate mortgage, Kane Industries is exercising

its right to call that loan as well."

The estate. Five generations of Rodriguez history. The final twist of the knife.

"Why?" The question escaped Stefan, raw and desperate. "Why is Kane Industries doing this? We're not

competitors"

"Ms. Kane anticipated your request." Rebecca removed an envelope, "She askedto deliver this personally.

For your eyes only"

Stefan took the envelope, his nwritten in elegant handwriting that stirred something in his memory. The

paper felt heavy, like a tombstone in his hands.

After the Kane representatives left, silence descended. The board members looked to Stefan with devastation in

their eyes

"This meeting is adjourned," Stefan

said quietly. “HR will prepare separation packages. Legal will handle the wind

down procedures" His voice caught. "It has been an honor working with each of

you."

One by one they filed out, sstopping to shake his hand, others too overwhelmed to manage more than a

nod When the last had gone, Stefan remained alone in the boardroom where generations of Rodrig Camille

watched him on her screen, her heart thundering against her ribs. This was the moment she'd planned so

meticulously. The message that would begin to unravel the mystery for him. That would start hi Stefan opened

the envelope with trembling fingers, removing a single sheet of heavy cream paper. The message was brief:

*Sdebts can't be measured in dollars and cents.

Slosses can't be repaid with anything but complete surrender.

Ask yourself what you took that was beyond price."

Confusion gave way to dread, a cold sweat breaking across his forehead. Not a business communication. A

personal one. This wasn't just acquisition. This was targeted revenge.

But for what? Against whom?

His phone buzzed with a news alert: "KANE

INDUSTRIES ACQUIRES RODRIGUEZ SHIPPING ASSETS IN HOSTILE TAKEOVER.

The accompanying photo showed Camille Kane touring properties. Something about her profile, about the way

she tilted her head slightly, sent an electric shock of recognition through him. A memory trying to s He stared at

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her image, the elegant woman with the sharp cheekbones and confident stance. Something about her eyes...

Camille watched his face, saw the moment confusion began shifting toward suspicion. Not full understanding

yet, the surgical changes to her appearance prevented that. But the first seeds of recognition. Of qu Her phone

vibrated with Victoria's text: *Is it done?*

"Yes, she replied, hands shaking, slightly. "Complete financial ruin. He just received my note."

Victoria's response: Perfect. The first phase of justice is complete. *

Camille returned her attention to the screen where Stefan sat alone, head

in his hands, the carefully maintained facade finally cracking. The sight should have filled her with joy. Should

have satisfied the hunger for justice that had defined her existence since the night Stefan had hand papers on

their anniversary.

Instead, watching him break apart in private brought a hollow ache to her chest. This man had destroyed her

without reinorse, Had discarded luer for her sister. He deserved this pain. This loss. So why did victory taste so

bitter?

Stefan suddenly looked up, gaze sweeping the room, pausing at the security camera. For a moment, it felt as

though he was looking directly at her.

"Victoria Kane," he whispered, voice raw with confusion "What did we do to you?"

Vet something in his expression suggested that deep in his mind, something was stirring. Not understanding, not

yet. But the faintest echo of recognition, burled too deep for him to grasp. Camille switched off the tablet, hands

unsteady. Her phone buzzed.... Alexander this time.

"The phoenix strikes, but finds the fire burns both ways. When you're ready to discuss what comes after revenge,

I'll be waiting"

How did he always

know exactly what she was feeling, when no one else could see beneath her carefully constructed facade?

Camille gathered her things, preparing to slip away unseen, Victoria would be waiting, eager to hear every detail

of Stefan's suffering

But something had changed inside her. Sshift she hadn't anticipated.

Stefan Rodriguez was broken. His company destroyed. His family legacy erased.

Complete victory.

So why did she feel so empty?

As she moved toward the door, Camille caught her reflection, the perfect exterior of Camille Kane, Victoria's heir,

avenger.

But beneath that polished surface, something of Camille Lewis remained. Something that whispered

uncomfortable questions about what cnext. About who she would be when revenge no longer defined h Yet

as she slipped from the building, his

confused question echoed in her mind, haunting her moment of triumph with unexpected doubt.