SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 72

Camille's point of view

| stood in Victoria's office, staring at the meticulously crafted guest list on the desk between us. Names neatly

typed in three columns, people whose lives would forever change in exactly two weeks' time. Rose.

"Are you certain about this?" Victoria asked, her voice carrying none of its usual commanding certainty. "Once

we take this step, there's no going back."

I traced my finger down the list, stopping

at Richard and Margaret Lewis. The parents who had raised me, then forgottenwhen Rose's manipulation

had proven more compelling than their love.

"I'm certain," | said, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "It's tfor everyone to know the truth."

After two years of careful planning, of strategic destruction of watching from the shadows as Rose's empire

crumbled piece by methodical piece, the moment had arrived for the final revelation. Camille Lewis wa Victoria

studied me, her sharp eyes missing nothing. "And your motivation? Is this

about justice, or is it personal satisfaction?"

The question hung between us, more significant than it might seem. For

two years, Victoria had guided my transformation from broken victim to powerful avenger with one consistent

warning: emotion clouds judgment. Strategic revenge required cold calculation, not heated passion. "Both," |

admitted, honesty winning over performance for perhaps the first tsince my rebirth. "I want justice. But |

also want to see their faces when they realize what's happened. Who's been behind their des Something like

approval flickered in Victoria's eyes. "At least you're honest about it. That's progress."

| moved to the windows overlooking Manhattan's skyline. Somewhere in that sprawling city, Rose was hiding in

her penthouse, her fashion empire destroyed, her reputation in tatters, her fiancé gone, her godfat "Alexander

thinks | should reconsider," | said, still facing the window.

Victoria's reflection appeared

beside mine in the glass. "Does he now? And what are his reasons?"

"He believes revealing myself will give Rose power she currently doesn't have. Knowledge of who's been

orchestrating her downfall." | turned to face Victoria. "He thinks it's smarter to let her suffer without ever "And

what do you think?"

| considered the question carefully. Alexander's concern wasn't groundless. Rose was dangerous, manipulative,

ruthless. Giving her information was giving her a weapon. But something inneeded this final her, unveiled,

and claim responsibility for her destruction.

"I think svictories need to be witnessed to be complete" | said finally. "Struths need to be spoken aloud.

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Chapter 72

Victoria nodded, moving back to her desk to review the event plans. “Then we'll proceed. The Phoenix Gala, two

weeks from tonight at the Kane mansion. Ostensibly to announce your appointment as president of our new Tech

division."

"And actually to reveal that Camille Lewis has returned from the dead," | finished, a shiver running through me

despite my resolve.

Victoria's hand paused over the

papers. "There's another factor to consider. Once your true identity is revealed, there will be questions.

Investigations. Legal complications. The narrative we created about your ‘drowning’ will undergo intense

scrutiny."

I'd thought about this, of course. The police would want statements. Lawyers would raise questions about

identity fraud, about insurance claims processed after my “death," about the legality of assuming a new identity.

"I'm prepared for that," | said, more confidently than | felt. "The truth about Rose hiring someone to runoff

the road will redirect most of the attention. And you have enough legal influence to handle the rest." Victoria's

slight smile acknowledged the truth of this. With her resources and connections, any legal complications would

ultimately be managed, if not eliminated entirely.

"Then there's only one question remaining," she said, fixingwith her penetrating gaze. "After the reveal.

After the satisfaction of seeing their faces. After justice is served. What then?"

The question hit harder than | expected. For two years, every thought, every action, every decision had been

filtered through the lens of revenge. | had becCamille Kane for the sole purpose of destroying F "I don't

know," | admitted, the vulnerable truth surprising us both.

Victoria rose, moving to stand directly before me. "Two years ago, | found you in that parking garage. Beaten.

Bleeding. Those men Rose had hired to 'teach you a lesson had nearly killed you."

I nodded, remembering that night with painful clarity. The brutal attack that Rose had arranged after I'd

confronted her about Stefan. Victoria appearing like savenging angel, her driver scattering my attacke "I

offered you a choice," Victoria continued. "Disappear into anonymity and lick your wounds, or rise transformed

and claim justice."

"I chose transformation," | said softly. "I chose

strength over victimhood. Strategy over emotion."

"We created the drowning story together," Victoria reminded me. "A way to explain your disappearance while

giving us tfor your recovery, for the surgeries, for your training. No one ever questioned it because no one

was truly looking for you."

The painful truth hung between us. No search parties. No desperate appeals from my parents. No reward offered

for information. Just a tasteful memorial service and life continuing for everyone who should have cared that |

was gone.

"The drowning story served its purpose,” | said, pushing away the hurt that still lingered beneath my carefully

constructed exterior. "And now the truth will serve an even greater one." Victoria touched my shoulder briefly, a

rare physical gesture from a woman who typically maintained careful distance. "Don't lose your strength now

that victory is within reach."

"lI won't," | promised, drawing myself straighter. “But | need to

figure out who Camille Kane becomes after revenge is complete."

Chapter 72

Victoria returned to the guest list, studying the names with calculating eyes. "Each person on this list will react

differently to your revelation. Rose with fury and denial. Stefan with shock and guilt. The business c¢ "And my

parents?" | asked, the question slipping out before | could stop it.

Victoria's expression hardened slightly. "They forfeited any right to your consideration when they accepted your

death so easily. When they didn't question the convenient story. When they embraced Rose as the She was right,

of course. Among all the betrayals, my parents’ easy acceptance of my disappearance had cut perhaps the

deepest. Their grief had been real but brief, their focus quickly returning to Rose's achi "They'll be there," | said,

studying the guest list again. "Front row seats to understand exactly what their choices cost."

Victoria nodded approvingly. "The event planning team needs final approval on the stage design. I've scheduled

them for three o'clock."

"Perfect. | want everything exactly right." | moved toward the door, then paused. "Victoria? Thank you. For

findingthat night. For offeringa choice when | had none."

Something almost soft flickered across her typically impassive features. "We all deserve the chance to write our

own endings, Camille. Even if that means first tearing apart someone else's carefully constructed I left her office

with renewed determination, the guest list for the Phoenix Gala burning in my mind like a promise. Two weeks.

Two weeks until masks fell away. Until truth emerged from carefully crafted lies. Unt The elevator carried me

down to the design department, where samples of invitation designs awaited my approval. | studied each option,

finally selecting a sleek black card with a single gold phoenix rising from "Perfect," | told the waiting designer.

"Send these out immediately. Priority delivery to everyone on the approved list."

As the designer hurried away to execute my instructions, | allowed myself a rare, genuine smile. In two weeks,

society's elite would gather, expecting another lavish Kane industry announcement. Instead, they w Rose would

understand at last who had systematically destroyed everything she valued. Stefan would finally face the

consequences of his betrayal. And the world would learn that sometimes, the dead don't stay buried.

Sometimes, they rise from ashes, transformed into something more powerful than anyone could have imagined.

The Phoenix Gala wouldn't just be a revelation. It would be my declaration of existence. My reclaiming of a life

that others had tried to erase. And

perhaps, though | wasn't ready to admit it even to myself, the first step toward discovering who | might become

when revenge no longer defined my every thought and action. Two weeks. The countdown had begun.