Ch. 41..45: SCORNED EX WIFE Chapter 41-45
Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Camille's point of view.
The Metropolitan Finance Summit filled the grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel, crystal chandeliers casting golden light over Manhattan's elite. I moved through
the crowd with practiced grace, my black Dior dress drawing appreciative glances. Every step, every gesture, every smile carefully calculated to project the image of Victoria Kane's perfect heir.
Inside, though, my mind raced with numbers and plans. Rodriguez Shipping's Asia division lay vulnerable after our last attack. Tonight's event offered perfect hunting grounds, worried investors ready to jump sh "Searching for your next victim, Ms. Kane?"
Alexander's voice behind me sent
an unexpected shiver down my spine. I hadn't heard him approach, unusual for someone trained by Victoria to always track potential threats. But Alexander Pierce had a way of slipping past my defenses. "Mr. Pierce." I turned, finding him closer than expected. "I didn't think finance summits were your preferred hunting ground."
"They aren't." His gray eyes held that knowing look that always made me feel exposed. "But I heard interesting rumors about Rodriguez Shipping's stock taking quite a tumble. Tragic."
His tone suggested he knew exactly how tragic it wasn't. I kept my expression neutral despite my racing heart." The market can be unpredictable."
"Can it?" He accepted two champagne glasses from a passing waiter, offering me one with elegant precision." Nothing about you seems unpredictable, Ms. Kane. Every move..." his eyes met mine over the rim The way he emphasized 'perfectly' sent warning signals through my mind. How much did he really know? About my plans? About my true identity? About everything?
"You seem very interested in my movements, Mr. Pierce."
"Alexander," he corrected softly. "And yes, I find you... fascinating."
Heat crept up my neck, and I silently cursed my body's betrayal. This wasn't part of Victoria's careful programming. She hadn't prepared me for the way Alexander Pierce could unsettle my walls with just a look, "Why fascinating?" I sipped my champagne, using the moment to steady myself.
His eyes never left mine. "Because beneath all this..." he gestured to my designer dress, my perfect makeup, my polished manner, "there's something real.
Something true. Something that hasn't forgotten how to feel."
My hand tightened on the delicate champagne stem. "You presume a lot about someone you barely know."
"Do I?" He stepped closer, his cologne teasing my senses. Tell me, when Rodriguez Shipping's stock crashed today, did it satisfy the hunger inside you? Or did it just make you hungrier?"
fce slid through my veins even as heat pooled in my stomach. He knew. Somehow he knew everything. But instead of fear, I felt... relief? Finally someone who saw through the mask, who understood the fire bu
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"No?" His smile widened slightly. "Then why is your pulse racing? I can see it..." his eyes dropped to my throat, right here."
I forced myself to step back, to remember my purpose. Victoria's training screamed at me to retreat, to maintain distance, to protect the mission. "You're very forward, Mr. Pierce."
"Alexander," he corrected again, following my retreat
with fluid step forward. "And you're very evasive, Camille. May I call you Camille?"
The way he said my name... like a caress... like a secret... made my skin tingle. No one said my name that way anymore. Not since I'd buried Camille Lewis and risen as Camille Kane. "If you must."
"I must." He glanced around the crowded
ballroom before leaning, close to whisper, "Just like I must warn you, revenge is a fire that burns both ways. Be careful you don't lose yourself in the flames."
Before I could respond, he disappeared into the crowd with the same silent grace he'd appeared. I stood frozen, champagne forgotten in my hand, his words echoing in my mind.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. I went through the motions, networking, gathering information, planting seeds for our next move against Stefan's company. But my mind kept returning to that moment w Later, in my private car heading home, I found myself smiling despite the seriousness of his warning. The way he'd teased me, challenged me, understood me... it awakened something I thought had died when My phone buzzed, a message from her confirming tomorrow's strategy meeting about Rodriguez Shipping's Asia division. I should have been focused on that, on the next phase of our plan, on the systematic de Instead, I kept hearing Alexander's voice: "Something real. Something true."
When had anyone last seen me that way? Not as Victoria's creation, not as Stefan's ex-
wife, not as Rose's forgotten sister, not as the Lewis forgotten heiress. Just... me.
My fingers touched my throat where he'd noticed my pulse racing. Even now, hours later, the memory of his gaze made my heart beat faster. The scent of his cologne lingered on my dress where he'd stood clos cedar and leather and something uniquely him.
Dangerous, Victoria's voice whispered in my mind. He's a distraction. A complication. Remember why we started this. Remember what they did to you.
But for the first time since Victoria saved me, since I buried my old self and became her heir, I wondered if complications might be exactly what I needed. If maybe, just maybe, there was more to life than reveng My phone buzzed again. Alexander this time: *Next time you plan to crash a stock, warn me. I do so enjoy watching you work."
I caught myself smiling again, and this time I didn't try to stop it. Something warm
unfurled in my chest, not the cold satisfaction of revenge, but something softer. Something that felt dangerously like hope.
Tomorrow would bring more battles, more strategies, more steps toward destroying those who had destroyed me. But tonight... tonight I let myself remember how it felt to be seen. Really seen.
My phone lit up with one final message from Alexander: *Sweet dreams, little warrior. Try not to topple any empires before breakfast."
This time, my laugh surprised even me.
Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Rose stared
at Stefan, the wedding invitation sample still clutched in her hand. The gold- embossed lettering seemed to mock her now.
"What do you mean, postponed?" Her voice came out too high, too tight.
Stefan loosened his tie, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. "Just what I said. We need to push the wedding back. Until things stabilize with the company.
"Push it back? Push it back?" The invitation crumpled in her grip. "We've sent save-
the-dates to three hundred people. The venue is booked. The deposit is paid!"
"I know." Stefan moved to the bar, pouring himself a drink without offering her one. "My father made it a condition of his help with the company. No distractions. Full focus on saving what's left."
Rose watched him toss back expensive scotch like it was water. The careful control she'd maintained all these years
began to slip."Your father doesn't control our lives."
"He controls the board. He controls the family shares. Right now, he's the only thing standing between me and complete professional ruin." Stefan poured another drink. It's just a few months. Once I save the c
"If you save the company," Rose corrected, her voice laced with venom. "Let's be honest, Stefan. Your business is sinking, and you have no idea who's behind it."
He flinched as if she'd slapped him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"I'm being realistic." She advanced on him, the crushed invitation still in her hand. "We've planned this wedding for a year. A year!
Everyone who matters in New York will be there. This is our moment, Stefan. Our time!"
"Our time?" He turned to face her, something hardening in his expression. "My company is crashing. My family legacy is at risk. And you're worried about a party?"
"A party?" The words came out as a strangled laugh. "Is that what you think this is? Just a party?" "Rose"
She hurled the crumpled invitation at his head. It bounced harmlessly off his shoulder, but the action broke something loose inside her. All the careful planning, the years of manipulation, the patient waiting, all th "Do you have any idea
what I've done for this wedding? For is?" She grabbed a crystal vase from the side table, feeling its weight in her hands. "The people I've cultivated. The connections I've built. All to ensure our place in society!"
The vase shattered against the wall inches from his head, water and flowers exploding across imported wallpaper. Stefan stared at her, shock replacing exhaustion. "Jesus, Rase! What's wrong with you?" "What's wrong with me?" She seized a framed photo of them, ripping it from the wall. "What's wrong with you? First you let someone destroy your company piece by piece, and now you're letting your father dict The frame joined the vase, glass flying across the room.
"Stop it!" Stefan grabbed for her arms, but she twisted away, snatching a bottle from the bar.
"After everything I did to have you," she hissed, "after everything, I sacrificed...."
"What you sacrificed?" Stefan stepped back, something like suspicion dawning in his eyes. "What exactly did you. sacrifice, Rose?"
The question hung between them, dangerous, unanswerable. For a moment, she froze, bottle raised mid-
swing. Then the rage took over again. The bottle smashed against the marble fireplace, alcohol spraying across family photos, across the custom rug they'd chosen together, across his perfect white shirt.
"I waited for you!" The words tore from her throat. "While you played husband to my pathetic sister! While you built your little life with her! I waited!"
Each accusation accompanied another act of destruction. A crystal paperweight through the television screen. A chair overturned, Books swept from shelves.
Stefan backed away, watching her rampage with growing horror, "Rose, you need to calm down. This isn't about Camille..."
"Everything is about Camille!" she screamed, the name like poison on her tongue. "Poor, sweet Camille who everyone loved. Camille who got everything handed to her while I had to fight for every scrap!"
"She's gone, Rose." Stefan's voice held an edge she'd never heard before. "She's dead. And you're destroying our home over a postponed wedding."
Rose froze, breathing hard, surrounded by the wreckage of their perfect apartment. Something in his tone cut through her rage. Something knowing. Questioning.
"She's dead," Rose agreed, sudden caution threading through her anger.
"And I'm your future. Not your father's company. Not your family legacy. Me."
She advanced on him again, broken glass crunching under her designer heels. "I've invested too much in us to postpone now. Too much time. Too much planning. Too many sacrifices." Stefan stood his ground, studying her with
new eyes. "What exactly did you do, Rose? When Camille disappeared?"
The question struck like lightning, unexpected and searing. Had he suspected all along? Had he seen through her careful manipulations?
Rose forced
her breathing to steady, her mind racing through the implications. "What are you asking me, Stefan?" "Nothing." He looked away, the moment breaking, "Nothing Just.. this isn't the Rose I know." She laughed, the sound brittle and sharp. "Maybe you never knew me at all."
Silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of something expensive dripping onto the ruined carpet. Rose surveyed the destruction she'd caused, feeling no regret. Let him see this side of her. Let him "The wedding is postponed," Stefan said finally, his voice fat. "My father gave me one month to save the company. After that, we can
discuss dates again."
"One month." Rose smoothed her skirt, stepping over broken glass toward him. "And if you fail? If the company crashes completely?" "Then we start over." He met her eyes. "Together. If that's still what you want."
The question hung between them, unexpected and revealing.
"Of course e it's what I want." She reached for his face, cupping his cheek with one hand. "We're meant to be together, Stefan. We always were."
He caught her wrist, holding it just tight enough to be uncomfortable. "Then you'll wait. One month."
Something in his grip, in his eyes, warned her not to push forther. The Stefan she'd manipulated so easily seemed suddenly absent, replaced by someone harder, Someone watchful.
"Fine." She twisted her wrist free. "One month. But when is is over, nothing stops our wedding. Not your father. Not your company. Nothing."
"Agreed." He moved past her toward the door. "I'll stay at the family estate tonight. Give you time to calm down.
Rose watched him leave, not trusting herself to speak again When the door closed behind him, she surveyed the destroyed apartment, broken glass glittering like diamonds across every surface.
Her phone buzzed, another message from the wedding plater asking about flower arrangements. With a scream of pure frustration, she hurled it against the wall, watching it shatter like everything else in her pe
One month. She could wait one month. She'd waited years to have Stefan, played a long, patient game. What was one more month?
But as she stood amid the wreckage of their home, a new fear crept through her rage. The way Stefan had looked at her. The questions about Camille. The sudden hardening In his manner.
For the first time since Camille's "accident," Rose wondered if her carefully constructed world might be built on shifting sand.
Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Camille's point of view
The Metropolitan Museum sparkled like a jewel box, transformed for the annual Children's Hospital Benefit. Diamonds caught light from a thousand candles, champagne flowed in crystal flutes, and the wealthy
I moved through the crowd in a midnight blue gown, Victoria's careful training evident in every step. My hair swept up in an elegant twist, my makeup flawless, my smile measured and controlled. Camille Kane, How different from the last charity gala I'd attended as Camille Lewis. Then, I'd stood in Rose's shadow, wearing a dress she'd "allowed" me to borrow, watching society ladies air- kiss her cheeks while barely glancing my way.
"Ms. Kane." The hospital director approached, practically glowing with anticipation. "Your mother's donationl will fund our new pediatric wing. We're beyond grateful."
I nodded, accepting her gratitude with the perfect blend
of humility and confidence Victoria had taught me. Industries believes in investing in the future. These children deserve our best efforts."
"Kane"
Absolutely! Would you say a few words during the presentation? Having the Kane heir speak would mean so
much"
"Of course." I scanned the room, noting potential business connections, rivals, useful allies.
Victoria's voice whispering in my head: Always map the battlefield before engaging
Then I saw them.
Stefan and Rose stood near the bar, him uncomfortable in his tuxedo, her resplendent in red silk that probably cost more than most people's monthly salary. They hadn't noticed me yet, too busy arguing in fierc whispers behind plastic smiles.
The sight of them still hit like a physical blow. After everything I'd done to destroy their businesses, after the chaos I'd engineered in their lives, they still looked... intact. Together. Rose's hand still possessively g Something ugly twisted in my chest. Not jealousy, I'd moved beyond wanting Stefan back. Something darker. More primitive. The need to see them truly suffer. To watch them crumble completely. My opportunity arrived sooner than expected
"Ms. Kane!" Rose's voice, pitched to carry just the right distance. "What a pleasure to see you again!"
I turned slowly, slipping on the mask of polite interest I'd perfected for such moments. "Ms. Lewis. Mr. Rodriguez. Good evening."
They moved toward me with the desperate eagerness of drowning people spotting a lifeboat. Rose's smile too bright, Stefan's handshake too firm.
ve been hoping to run into you," Rose
gushed, positioning herself closer than social etiquette allowed. "Your charity work is so inspiring."
"Thank you " I sipped my champagne, letting silence stretch uncomfortably, Victoria's first lesson in power dynamics: Make them work for your attention. Stefan cleared his throat. “Ms. Kane, I wanted to apologize I seemed distracted when we met at the gallery opening Business concerns, you understand."
"Of course." I studied him with cool detachment. "I've heard Rodriguez Shipping is facing... challenges." His face tightened. "Temporary setbacks. Nothing we can't overcome with the right partnerships."
Rose jumped in smoothly. "Which is actually something we hoped to discuss. Your mother mentioned Kane Industries might be looking for shipping partners in the Asian markets?"
Their desperation was palpable, hanging in the air betweenus like cheap perfume. It took everything I had not to smile at the beautiful irony. Here they stood, begging for hep from the very woman they'd destroy
"Kane Industries is always exploring new opportunities," replied, noncommittal. "Though we have very strict criteria for potential partners."
"Rodriguez Shipping has an impeccable reputation," Stefan insisted, leaning forward, eyes
intense. The same eyes that had once looked into mine with false promises of forever. "Three generations of excellence."
"Three generations," I mused. "Such a shame to see that legacy threatened."
He flinched as if I'd struck him. "The company will recover With the right support."
"And your fashion line, Ms. Lewis?" I turned to Rose. "I understand you're also seeking investors?"
Her perfect smile faltered slightly. "Word travels fast in New York. Yes, we're in expansion talks with several interested parties."
“How Interesting” I took another sip of champagne. "Given the recent quality issues reported in fashion blogs.” “Malicious rumors.” Her voice hardened even as her smile remained fixed. “Competitors trying to d "Competitors can be so... ruthless." I let my gaze drift over her shoulder, dismissive. "The business world is unforgiving that way."
Rose's hand tightened on Stefan's arm, her knuckles whitening. "Ms. Kane, perhaps we could meet privately? Discuss how Kane Industries and our businesses might benefit each other?"
The sheer audacity nearly made me laugh. After everything they'd done to me, they expected me to help them? To save them?
"I'm afraid my schedule is quite full," I said, my tone cooling several degrees. "But you're welcome to submit proposals through our investment division."
"We've tried." Stefan's composure slipped, revealing the desperation beneath. "Your people won't return our calls. If you could just put in a word..."
"A word?" I raised an eyebrow. "From me?"
"Your influence with Victoria Kane is well-
known," Rose pressed, stepping closer. The
scent of her perfume, the same one she'd worn when comforting me after Stefan became distance during our marriage, made my stomach turn. "Just a small recommendation. An introduction."
I studied them both, savoring the moment. The great Rose Lewis and Stefan Rodriguez, reduced to begging for scraps of attention. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine telling them everything. Removing But the time wasn't right. The game wasn't finished.
"I'll consider it," I said finally. "Though I should warn you, my mother values loyalty above all else. She has little patience for those who... discard their commitments when convenient."
Stefan's face paled slightly. Did he hear the accusation beneath my words? Did some part of him sense who was really standing before him?
"We
understand," Rose said quickly. "Loyalty is everything to us as well. Family values are the foundation of both our businesses."
The hypocrisy burned like acid. Family values? From the woman who had systematically destroyed her sister's life? Who had likely arranged her "accident" when convenient?
"How fortunate for you both." I glanced past them, signaling; the conversation's end. "If you'll excuse me, the hospital director is waiting."
"Of course." Rose reached for my hand, squeezing it with false warmth. "Thank you for considering our request. It means everything to us."
I allowed the contact, though every cell in my body screamed to pull away. "I'm sure it does."
As I moved through the crowd, their eyes followed me. I felt their desperate hope, their growing fear. I had become what they never expected, someone with power over them. Someone who could save or destr Victoria waited near the stage, regal in black Chanel. "Productive conversation?" she asked, having observed the entire exchange.
"Very." I accepted another glass of champagne from a passing
waiter. "They're desperate. The Asian shipping routes collapse hit them harder than we anticipated."
"Good" Satisfaction glinted in Victoria's eyes. "And your fashion line attack?"
"Rose is panicking. Trying to hide it, but she's losing clients. The quality control rumors we spread are gaining traction."
"Excellent." Victoria's smile held all the warmth of a predator spotting prey. "And your... personal reaction?" The question caught me off guard. Victoria rarely concerned herself with emotions, focusing instead o "They don't recognize me," I said carefully. "Even up close. Even with time to study my face."
"Of course they don't. Dr. Torres' work was impeccable." Victoria watched me closely. "But that wasn't what I asked."
I met her gaze directly. "It felt powerful. Seeing them beg for help from the woman they tried to destroy." She nodded, apparently satisfied. "Remember that feeling.'s why we're doing this. Why all the preparation
But as I followed her toward the stage for the evening's presentations, I wondered if power alone was what I'd felt. Beneath the satisfaction, something else lurked. Something that had stirred when Stefan's eye Not regret, exactly. Not compassion. But a shadow of the woman I'd once been. The woman who had loved without reservation. Who had believed in second chances.
That woman was gone, I reminded myself. Transformed by betrayal and Victoria's careful guidance into someone stronger. Someone who would never again be victim to their manipulations.
As I took the podium to speak about Kane Industries' commitment to
helping children, I spotted them watching. from the crowd. Rose's calculating gaze. Stefan's desperate hope.
Neither of them would sleep well tonight, wondering if Camille
Kane would throw them a lifeline or let them drown
The thought brought a genuine smile to my face as I began my speech.
Chapter 44
Camille's point of view
The private investigation office smelled of coffee and secrets. I sat across from Martin Wells, retired NYPD detective turned high-
end investigator, watching him spreid photos across his desk like playing cards.
"Four affairs during her time in London," he said, tapping grainy Image of Rose entering a hotel with a man who wasn't Stefan. "Two with married executives. One with a British lord. One with her fashion mentor
Something cold settled in my stomach as I picked up the photo, Rose, laughing, hand tucked possessively into the arm of a silver-
haired man twenty years her senior. The timestamp showed a date just three weeks after I'd married Stefan
"You're certain these are authentic?" I kept my voice steady, professional. Victoria had taught me never to show emotion
during business dealings, even when the business was revenge.
Wells nodded, sliding more photos toward me. “Verified by three different sources. Ms Lewis was... busy during her fashion apprenticeship.”
And these men? They'll confirm the relationships if approached?"
"Two already have." Wells handed me a flash drive. "Recorded statements. Nothing explicitly naming her, but enough detail to make identification obvious. The British lord refused comment, but his ex- wife was quite forthcoming about why their marriage ended."
I studied another photo, Rose leaving a London apartment at dawn, still wearing evening clothes from the night before. The man in the doorway behind her was recognizable as Jonathan Hayes, whose wife ha "Mrs. Hayes fired her a week after this was taken," Wells commented. "Publicly claimed it was due to 'creative differences.' Privately told friends it was for sleeping with her husband."
The revelation shouldn't have surprised me. Rose had always taken what she wanted, regardless of who got hurt. Yet seeing actual evidence of her betrayals while I had remained loyal to Stefan sent a wave of
Wells
grimaced. "Harder to prove, but multiple sources confirm Rose borrowed' design
concepts from other. apprentices. Three designs she claimed as her own match sketches that mysteriously disappeared from colleagues.
workstations."
The pattern was so familiar it made my chest ache. Rose had been doing this her entire life, stealing others' work, others' relationships, others' chances. Only now did I see how systematic it had been. "And her time after London? The gap year before she returned to New York?"
Wells hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "That's where things get... complicated. She claimed to be studying in Paris, but we can only place her there for three months. After that, she surfaces in Monaco," He slid across several photos that made my breath catch. Rose, barely recognizable with platinum blonde hair, hanging on the arm of an older man whose face had been splashed across enough tabloids to be "Anton Bessonov. Russian businessman with questionable connections. Under investigation in three countries for money laundering"
Chapter 44
I stared at my sister's face in the photo. The calculating look in her eyes. The practiced
smile. The careful positioning to ensure her best angle was captured.
"How long?"
"Six months. She lived on his yacht. Traveled with him to seven countries. Then disappeared from his life just as news of the international investigation broke."
Another photo showed Rose back in Paris, hair returned to its natural color, shopping at exclusive boutiques. The timestamp indicated just two weeks before she'd returned to New York, before she'd reconnecte Before my life had begun unraveling.
"Financial records?" I asked, my mouth dry.
Wells nodded, pulling out bank statements. "Substantial deposits during the Bessonov period. Moved through three different shell companies before landing in her main account. Classic laundering pattern.” I sat back, letting this new information settle. Rose, my perfect, polished sister, had been a kept woman for a suspected criminal. Had potentially helped launder money, Had certainly been unfaithful to Stefan be "We've compiled everything into a comprehensive dossier, Wells handed me a thick envelope. "Photos, statements, financial records, timeline. Everything, verified by multiple sources."
I nodded, clutching the envelope that held my sister's secret
life. "The second payment will be transferred today. Thank you for your discretion."
"Ms. Kane." Wells hesitated as I
stood to leave. "Forgive me for asking, but why dig into Rose Lewis's past? What does Kane Industries gain from this information?"
For a moment, I considered telling him the truth. That I wasn't just Camille Kane, Victoria's heir. That the woman in those photos had stolen my husband, possibly arranged my "death," certainly destroyed my life Instead, I gave him the practiced smile I'd perfected over the past year. "Due diligence, Mr. Wells. We investigate all potential business partners thoroughly."
Outside in my waiting car, I finally allowed myself to process what I'd learned. The envelope sat heavy on my lap, filled with evidence of Rose's true nature. All those years I'd believed myself lacking
compared to her. All those times I'd wondered why people chose her, preferred her, loved her more.
Now I understood. Rose hadn't been better, she'd simply been willing to do things I never would. Lie. Cheat. Steal. Betray. Sleep her way to opportunity.
My phone buzzed Victoria checking on my progress.
"Evidence collected? Her message was typically direct.
"Yes. More than expected. I replied, fingers hovering over the keys before adding: She's worse than we thought.
Victoria's response came immediately: "Perfect. Phase two begins tomorrow. Release the first photo to that fashion blogger who hates her."
I stared at the message, something uncomfortable stirring beneath my satisfaction. This was what I wanted, Wasn't it? To expose Rose's lies? To destroy her reputation just as she'd destroyed mine?
Yet part of me wondered what it said about me that I was now using the same tactics Rose had always employed. Manipulation Secrets. Revenge
Was I becoming just like her in my quest to destroy her?
The car stopped at a red light, and I caught my reflection in the window. The face looking back was still strange to me sometimes, sharper cheekbones, more defined jawline, eyes harder than they'd once been. But whose revenge, really? Hers or mine? And when it was over, who would I be?
The light changed, and the car moved forward, leaving these questions answered. I opened the envelope again, spreading the photos across my lap. Rose's secret life. Rose's hidden scandals. Rose's true natu By this time tomorrow, the first domino would fall. The perfect
image she'd constructed would begin to crack. The world would start to see what I'd always suspected beneath her polished exterior.
I should have felt only satisfaction. Instead, a strange mix of emotions churned inside me, vindication, yes, but also sadness for the sister I'd once thought I had. The family I'd believed in. The love I'd trusted.
All lies.
My phone buzzed again, not Victoria this time, but Alexander.
Hunting tonight?* His message asked, our code for discussing my revenge plans.
1 hesitated before replying: *Found the prey's weakness. Preparing the first strike.*
His response made me pause: *Remember who you are beneath the hunter's clothes.*
Who was I beneath this new identity? Beneath the surgical alterations, the designer clothes, the careful training? Was anything left of the woman who had loved so openly, trusted so completely?
I gathered the photos, returning them to the envelope. Tomorrow they would become weapons in my war against Rose. Tonight, they were just reminders of how thoroughly I'd been deceived. By my sister. By my husband. By my parents.
The car turned onto the private road leading to Victoria's estate. Through the trees, lights glowed welcome in the gathering dusk. My new home. My new life.
I touched the phoenix pendant at my throat, Victoria's gift symbolizing rebirth through fire.
"Hunting tonight?" James asked as he opened my car door, using Alexander's phrase with different meaning.
I nodded, clutching the envelope of secrets. "Yes. And tomorrow, the hunt goes public."
As I walked toward the house, I felt the weight of my choices pressing down. The evidence I'd gathered would destroy Rose piece by piece, just as she'd done to me. Would expose her lies just as she'd expose It was justice, I told myself. Not revenge. Justice for years of manipulation. For stolen opportunities. For a life taken without remorse.
So why did victory already taste like ashes in my mouth?
Because deep down, beneath
Victoria's careful programming; beneath the hunger for revenge, a small voice whispered an uncomfortable
truth: in destroying Rose this way, I was becoming what I hated most about her.
1 pushed the thought away, squaring my shoulders as I entered the house. Tomorrow would bring the
first public blow against Rose's carefully constructed image. The first crack in her perfect life.
And nothing, not even my own doubts, would stop what I'd set in motion.
Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Camille's point of view
Five screens glowed on the wall of Victoria's private office, each displaying a different fashion blog. The headline on Fashion Insider screamed in bold type: "ROSE LEWIS: FASHION'S FEMME FATALE?" Belov clock on her desk showed 9:07 AM. The story had been live for exactly twelve minutes, and already the view counter showed over three thousand clicks.
"Perfectly timed," Victoria said, satisfaction evident in her voice. "The fashion industry wakes up, checks their morning feeds, and finds their darling, exposed.”
I nodded, a strange mix of emotions washing through me. Satisfaction, yes. The first real blow against Rose's carefully constructed image. But something else too, something I hadn't expected. A hollow feeling Was this really victory? Releasing photos that had been easy to obtain, evidence of sins that seemed almost trivial compared to what she'd
done to me?
"Ms. Kane? Ms. Camille?" My assistant Rebecca knocked before entering, tablet in hand, excitement barely contained. "You wanted updates on the Rose Lewis situation?" Victoria motioned her forward "Report"
"The story's spreading faster than projected. It's hit three major fashion blogs in the last five minutes. Social media engagement is exploding." Rebecca handed Victoria the tablet. "Her publicist has already issue Victoria's lips curved into a rare smile as she scrolled through the data. "And the hashtag we planted?"
"#Rose Thoms is trending in New York and Los Angeles." Rebecca couldn't hide her admiration. "The influencers we prepped are amplifying exactly as planned."
I leaned forward, scanning the social media metrics on the tablet. “Her brand partners?"
"Panicking" Rebecca's smile widened. "Three have already reached out to their legal teams about morality clauses in their contracts."
Victoria handed me the tablet, our eyes meeting; briefly. This moment, the first real strike against Rose, was what we'd been building toward for months.
"I want to see her," I said suddenly. "When she gets the news."
Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous. Unnecessary."
"I'll stay hidden. I just..." I struggled to explain the hunger inside me. "I need to see her face."
Understanding dawned in Victoria's eyes. "Not enough to destroy her. You need to witness it."
She considered for a moment, then nodded. "Rebecca, have James position Ms. Kane near the Lewis boutique. The target has an investor meeting there at ten.”
Thirty minutes later, I
sat in a darkened car across from Rose's flagship store in the Fashion District. Tinted windows ensured no one could see me, but I had a perfect view of the boutique's glass front. Rose arrived at 9:50, looking i Then I saw it. The moment her assistant rushed out, phone extended urgently. The slight freeze in Rose's perfect posture. The fractional widening of her eyes as she looked at the screen.
Even from this distance, I could read the shock in her body language. The momentary loss of control as her practiced mask slipped.
The waiting photographers noticed too, cameras suddenly firing rapidly, capturing her unguarded reaction. Her hand clutched her assistant's arm for balance. Her mouth opened slightly before snapping shut. For ten glorious seconds, I watched genuine panic overtake my sister's face. Then, like the performer she'd always been, she recovered, Smiled tightly, Waved off the photographers. Walked into her boutique w But I'd seen it. That moment of pure, unfiltered fear. That instant where her carefully constructed world began to crumble.
It tasted like honey on my tongue
Back at Kane Industries, Victoria and I tracked the story's spread through more mainstream media. By noon, three major fashion magazines had picked it up. By two, entertainment news sites were running spe I nodded, scanning the reports. "And the investors?"
"Postponed their meeting. Waiting to see how bad the damage gets."
Victory. Clear and undeniable. The first true strike in my campaign against Rose.
So why did part of me still feel empty?
1 dismissed the feeling, focusing instead on the next phase. "When do we release the Russian connection?"
Victoria consulted her watch. "Three days. Let this first scandal fully develop before introducing the next. Maximum damage occurs when
people are just beginning to recover from one blow before receiving another."
Her cold precision should have bothered me. Once, it would have. Now I found comfort in her tactical approach, her emotional detachment. It made my own conflicted feelings easier to ignore.
My phone buzzed with a text message. I glanced down, expecting another update from our media team.
Instead, Alexander Pierce's name lit up my screen: Watching your sister's meltdown on Page Six live updates. Remind me never to cross you, little phoenix. Though I must say, hotel security footage seems ben A*
Heat crept up my neck as 1 quickly darkened the phone screen. How had he known? We'd been so careful, ensuring no connection between Kane Industries and the leaked photos.
Victoria's sharp eyes missed nothing "Problem?"
"No," I replied, too quickly. "Just a market update."
Her gaze lingered a moment too long, assessing, calculating, before she returned to the reports. "Tomorrow we'll monitor the fallout and prepare for phase two. The British lord's ex-
wife has provided some exceptionally detailed revelations."
I nodded, trying to focus on Victoria's words while my mind kept returning to Alexander's message. Little phoenix. The nickname no one else used. The teasing tone that somehow acknowledged both my streng And the unsettling realization that he knew what I was doing
Later, alone in my suite, I stared at his message again. Should I respond? Ignore it? Report this development to Victoria?
My finger hovered over the delete button. Alexander Pierce was dangerous, too perceptive, too knowledgeable, too interested in my affairs Victoria would see him as a threat to our plans.
But something in his teasing words resonated with the emptiness I'd felt even as I'd watched Rose's world begin to crumble.
Without quite deciding to, I typed a response: *Quality improves with the next release. Though I'm curious how you identified my handiwork.*
His reply came almost instantly: "The same way I know when a master painter has created a new work. The technique
is unmistakable, even with different brushes. Sleep
well, avenger. Tomorrow brings new battles.*
I turned off my phone, moving to the window that overlooked
Victoria's immaculate gardens. Tomorrow would bring more scandal for Rose, more destruction of her carefully built world.
But tonight, for the first time since beginning this path of revenge, I found myself wondering if victory was supposed to feel this empty. If becoming like those who had hurt me was truly the justice I sought. I touched the phoenix pendant at my throat, Victoria's symbol of rebirth through fire.
What kind of person was I becoming in these flames? And would I recognize myself when the transformation was complete?