Ch. 91..95: SCORNED EX WIFE Chapter 91-95
Chapter 91
Chapter 91
The crystal vase shattered against the wall, water and roses exploding across the cream-
colored paint. Rose grabbed the next item within reach, a heavy silver photo frame and hurled it at the television where her parents' faces still filled the screen.
"Liars!" she screamed, her voice raw. "Filthy, worthless liars!"
The frame cracked the television screen, splitting her father's image in two before the picture went black.
Rose stood in the middle of Herod's penthouse living room, chest heaving, hair wild around her face. The elegant space lay in ruins around her, furniture overturned, glass broken, papers scattered across the fl else to destroy.
"Fourteen years!" She kicked over a side table, sending a lamp crashing to the floor. "Fourteen years playing the perfect daughter! The supportive sister! And they throw it away for her?" She grabbed a leather-
bound book and tore it in half, pages fluttering around her like wounded birds.
"After everything I did to make them love me! After everything I endured in that house, pretending to be grateful, pretending to belong!"
Her voice broke on the last word, anger momentarily giving way to something darker and more painful. She pressed her hands against her eyes, willing away
the burning tears.
Behind her, the elevator doors opened silently. Herod Preston stepped into the chaos, surveying the destruction with raised eyebrows.
"I take it you've seen the press conference," he said dryly.
Rose whirled toward him, eyes blazing. "Did you know? Did you know they would do this?"
"If I had known your parents would suddenly develop backbones, I
would have taken preventive measures." Herod carefully stepped over broken glass, making his way to the bar. "The timing is... unfortunate." "Unfortunate?" Rose laughed, the sound harsh and brittle. They've empty bottle of wine and drank directly from it, red liquid spilling down her chin, "And those journals! Those damned journals I thought I'd destroyed!" She slammed the bottle down. "How did they get them? How "I want him destroyed too," Rose hissed, pacing like a caged animal.
"Him, Camille, Victoria, my parents, Stefan, all of them. I want them to suffer for this humiliation."
She paused by the window, staring down at the street where reporters had gathered outside the building. News of her parents' accusations had spread quickly, drawing media vultures hoping to catch her reacti "I can't even leave," she whispered, a new note of panic entering her voice. "They're waiting for me down there. Cameras. Questions. All those people who believed me yesterday, now looking at me like I'm a m Herod watched her, swirling his drink thoughtfully. "Sit down, Rose."
"I don't want to sit!" she snapped. "I want to...".
"Sit. Down." His voice hardened, the casual facade dropping momentarily.
Something in his tone cut through her rage. Rose sank onto the edge of a chair, shoulders still rigid with fury. Herod took the seat across from her. "Do you know why most revenge plots fail?"
"I don't need a lecture," she seethed.
"Emotion," he continued as if she hadn't spoken. "Uncontrolled emotion leads to mistakes. Mistakes lead to failure." He sipped his whiskey. "What's happening right now is you losing control." "They betrayed me!" Rose's fists clenched on her knees. "My own parents. Stefan. After everything..."
"Yes, yes, they're terrible people.” Herod waved his hand dismissively. "The question is not whether you have the right to be angry. The question is whether your anger serves our purpose.” His calm only infuriated her further. "How can you sit there
so coldly? Kane Industries stock is recovering. Camille's reputation is being restored. Everything we worked for-"
"Is a minor setback," Herod cut in. "One battle in a larger war."
Rose laughed bitterly. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one they're calling a liar and manipulator on every news channel. Your life isn't being torn apart in public.
"No," Herod agreed, something flashing in his eyes. "That happened to me ten years ago, when Victoria Kane systematically destroyed my family. I know exactly how public humiliation feels." He set his glass down carefully. "The difference is that I channeled that feeling into something productive. A plan. A purpose. Not..." he gestured at the destroyed room, "this childish tantrum.” Rose flinched as if he'd slapped her.
"Now," Herod continued, "we have two choices. We can abandon our efforts because of this setback, or we can accelerate to phase two."
Rose drew a shaky breath, struggling to pull herself together. "What exactly is phase two? You've been vague about the details."
"Because until now, you didn't need to know them." Herod stood and moved to his desk, retrieving a tablet from the drawer. "The Phoenix Grid project breaks ground in two weeks. The site is prepared, construc He handed her the tablet, open to technical specifications. These are
the modified blueprints for the power distribution nodes. Our contact inside Kane Engineering has already substituted them for the originals."
Rose stared at the diagrams, not understanding the technical aspects but recognizing the importance of what she was seeing. “So the project will fail?"
"Not immediately," Herod said, a thin smile appearing. "The system will operate perfectly during the demonstration and initial testing. The flaws will only manifest under full load conditions, approximately six to ri
"And when it fails?"
"Catastrophically." He took the tablet back. "Not dangerous to human life, I'm not that reckless, but catastrophic from a business perspective. Complete system failure across multiple cities simultaneously, Hund Rose's breathing slowed as she absorbed his words. "And Camille takes the blame."
"As project head, she bears ultimate responsibility." Herod nodded. "Particularly when evidence emerges that early tests
showed potential problems..... problems she supposedly ignored."
"Evidence you've manufactured," Rose guessed.
"Already planted in Kane Industries' secure servers, timestamped months ago." Herod looked pleased with himself. "When investigators dig, they'll find exactly what we want them to find."
Rose felt her anger transforming, cooling into something harder and more focused. "And the timing? After today's disaster, they'll be watching us more closely."
"Which is why we let them believe they've won." Herod moved back to his chair. "You disappear from public view. Retreat. Appear defeated. Let Kane Industries recover, let Camille bask in her vindication, let yo He leaned forward. "And then, just when they feel safest, everything collapses around them."
Rose stared at the floor, seeing not the scattered debris
of her outburst but the future Herod described. Camille's fall from grace. Victoria's empire crumbling. Her parents watching helplessly as the daughter they chose suffered public disgrace. "How long?" she asked finally.
"Two months, perhaps three." Herod shrugged. "Patience is essential."
"And what about me? I can't even leave this building without being mobbed."
"You won't need to for a while." Herod gestured toward the room beyond. "The penthouse has everything you need. Food delivered. Private elevator. Security. Consider it a strategic retreat."
Rose stood, moving back to the window. Below, more reporters had gathered, their cameras
pointed up at the building
"They think they've won," she said softly, pressing her paim against the
cool glass. "Camille. Victoria. Alexander. My parents. Even Stefan. They're all celebrating right now, congratulating themselves on exposing me."
"Let them celebrate," Herod said, coming to stand beside her. "Victory makes people careless. And we need them careless."
Rose turned to him, something new hardening in her expression.
Two months is a long time to wait for revenge."
"Not compared to ten years." Herod's voice carried the weight of his decade-
long quest against Victoria. "True revenge isn't about immediate satisfaction. It's about complete destruction. Taking everything from your enemy, not just their possessions, but their sense of security. Their trust His words resonated with something deep inside Rose, the part of her that had watched Camille from the shadows all these years, plotting, waiting, building toward the moment when she could take everything "We move to phase two," she said finally, her decision made. "But I have conditions."
Herod raised an eyebrow. "Which are?"
"I want Camille to know it was me in the end. Not just suspect, but know with absolute certainty that I destroyed her again." Rose's voice strengthened. "And I want to be there when it happens. I want to see her "Risky," Herod noted. "But possibly arrangeable."
"And my parents," Rose continued. "They don't just lose social standing. They lose everything. The house. Their money. Their reputations."
"Collateral damage is expected in war," Herod agreed smoothly.
Rose's mind cleared, her earlier rage transforming into cold determination. "And Stefan. I want him ruined most of all. He betrayed me after everything I did for him. Everything I sacrificed."
"Your priorities seem somewhat tangled," Herod observed. I thought Camille was your main target."
"They all are," Rose said simply. "Different branches of the same tree. Cut them all down, burn the roots, salt the earth."
Herod studied her with new interest. "You continue to surprise me, Rose. Most people underestimate the depths of your commitment."
"Most people underestimate me entirely," she replied. "It's what makes them so easy to manipulate.”
She looked around at the destroyed room, suddenly embarrassed
by her earlier loss of control. "I apologize for the mess. I'll have it cleaned up."
"Don't bother." Herod dismissed her concern with a
wave. It's just things. Replaceable."
"Unlike reputations," Rose added, a thin smile forming. "Those, once truly broken, never quite recover."
Herod moved to his desk and pressed an intercom button. Tackson, have the penthouse cleaned. And inform the security team downstairs that no press is to be allowed into the building under any circumstance
He released the button and turned back to Rose. "Phase two requires preparation. We should begin immediately." Rose nodded, the last embers of her rage cooling into resolve. The initial plan had failed, yes. E This time, she would destroy Camille so
completely that no amount of support from Victoria Kane or Alexander Pierce could save her.
"What do we do first?" she asked.
Herod smiled, pleased by her renewed focus. "First, we disappear. Let the world think you've been defeated. Let them lower their guard."
"And then?"
"Then we strip away everything Camille values.... piece by piece. Her new identity. Her position at Kane Industries. Her relationship with Alexander. Her precious Phoenix Grid." His voice
hardened. "By the time we're finished, she'll wish she had died in that parking garage."
Rose moved to the bar and poured herself a proper drink, leaving behind the half-
empty wine bottle of her earlier frenzy. The smooth burn of whiskey steadied her as she raised her glass.
"To phase two," she said quietly. "And to complete destruction."
Herod clinked his glass against hers. "To patience. And to perfect timing."
Rose sipped
her whiskey, letting the warmth spread through her chest. The day's humiliation still stung, but Herod was right. Emotion was a liability in a game like this Cool heads prevailed. Patient predators caught their pre And Rose Lewis was nothing if not patient when it came to destroying her sister.
Chapter 92
The private dining room at Per Se glowed with amber light, Manhattan's skyline twinkling beyond floor-
to-
ceiling windows. Camille swirled her wine, watching the deep red liquid catch the light. The remnants of their nine -
course meal and two bottles of Bordeaux scattered across the table.
"To resurrection," Victoria said, raising her glass, platinum hair shimmering in the candlelight.
"To truth," Alexander added from beside Camille.
"To unexpected allies," Camille said, joining the toast with a delicate clink of crystal, thinking of her parents and Stefan defending her when she least expected it.
After days of crisis management, simply sitting and breathing felt like luxury.
"The board has officially reversed their position," Victoria said. "The emergency meeting lasted ten minutes. Gordon couldn't backpedal fast enough."
Alexander smiled. "Amazing how quickly principles dissolve when stock prices recover."
"They never had principles," Victoria replied. "Just fear. And fear is always temporary."
Camille observed them, two business titans who had circled each other warily for years, their usual tension softened by their common goal of protecting her.
"I still can't believe my parents did that," Camille said. "After everything, they actually stood up for me." Victoria studied her. "Have you decided whether to return your mother's call?"
Camille shook her head. The voicemail remained unanswered.
"They took a significant risk," Alexander noted. "Publicly admitting they failed you. Exposing Rose."
"Why now, though?" Camille asked. "After years of choosing Rose, why stand with me when it might cost them everything?"
Victoria sipped
thoughtfully. "People rarely change unless the cost of staying the same becomes unbearable."
"Or unless they finally see the truth," Alexander added, his eyes meeting Camille's. "Sometimes we don't recognize what matters until we nearly lose it."
The weight of his gaze made Camille look away; suddenly conscious of the current between them, unspoken but growing stronger. She focused instead on the skyline.
"Either way," she said finally, "it changes nothing about our plans. The Phoenix Grid launches in ten days. We move forward."
Victoria smiled slightly, approval evident. "Spoken like a tree Kane."
"The permits came through for the Brooklyn site," Alexander said. "Construction crews begin tomorrow."
"And the Chicago location?" Victoria asked.
"Ready for phase one. The mayor wants to be present for the groundbreaking."
Camille felt excitement flutter beneath her ribs. The Phoenix Grid, her project, her vision, her chance to build something lasting, Clean, sustainable energy flowing through revitalized Infrastructure.
"The testing results exceeded expectations," she said proudly. "Efficiency ratings fifteen percent higher than projected. We'll revolutionize urban power distribution."
Alexander's hand found hers under the table, a brief squeeze of understanding. He knew what this meant to her, not just business
success,
but personal transformation. For so long, her focus had been destruction. The Phoenix Grid represented something
different Creation Legary.
"The board has authorized the full funding package," Victoria said. "Eight billion for
the initial three cities, with conditional approval for phase two."
"And Pierce Industries remains committed to the partnership." Alexander added, "Solar generation, offshore wind integration, and distribution protocols. "
Camille felt gratitude toward them both, Victoria who had saved her and given her purpose, Alexander who had seen her potential.
"We're really doing this," she said softly.
"Did you doubt it?" Victoria raised an eyebrow.
tually win."
"After this week? Maybe. For a moment there, it seemed like Rose might actually win."
Alexander's expression darkened. “She miscalculated. Attacking your mental stability without evidence was desperate."
"And where is Rose now?" Camille asked. "She's gone completely silent since the press conference."
Victoria signaled for coffee. "My sources say she hasn't left that building on Park Avenue. The one owned by that investment group."
"Chris Holdings," Alexander supplied. "A shell company, most likely."
Camille frowned. "You think she's hiding? That doesn't sound like Rose. She never
retreare i
"Everyone retreats when they have no choice," Victoria said with certainty. "She's been exposed, humiliated. She's regrouping"
planning something else," Camille murmured.
Alexander squeezed her hand. "If she is, she'll fail again. You have us
Snow!
The waiter arrived with coffee. When he departed, Victoria leaned forward, her expression serious. "Speaking of Stefan," she began, eyeing Alexander. "That press conference was remarkably well- timed."
Alexander met her gaze steadily. "One might think so."
“Almost as if someone had coordinated it,” Victoria pressed “Someone with resources."
Camille looked between them. "What are you saying?"
"I'm wondering if Alexander has been making moves without consulting us," Victoria said coolly
Alexander didn't flinch. "Would you have approved if I had consulted you?"
"That's not the point
*
"It's precisely the point. Sometimes action must precede consensus."
Camille felt the tension returning "You went to see Stelan that's where you were when you called me."
- Chapter
Alexander nodded once. "I did."
"Why not tell me?"
"Because you wouldn't have approved either,"
because he had no reason to defend you."
had simply "And we needed him. His testimony carried weight
Victoria's expression remained neutral, but Camille sensed her disapproval. "Unilateral decisions are dangerous, Alexander
15
"So is committee thinking during a crisis," he countered.
Camille raised a hand, stopping their brewing argument. "It worked. That's what matters. But next time, I want to know. Even if you think I'll disapprove." Something flickered in his eyes, a mixture of apology and deeper emotion. "Fair enough."
Victoria watched this exchange with sharp attention. "Now that Rose has been neutralized, we should discuss. security for the launch events."
"Already arranged," Alexander said. "Maximum coverage, minimum visibility."
Camille took a sip of coffee, letting the normalcy of project planning wash over her. This was what
she wanted, to be defined by what she built, not by what had been taken
from her.
"The Phoenix Grid changes everything," she said. "Cities that can't be blacked out. Communities that control their energy destiny. Real sustainability."
Alexander smiled warmly. "That vision is why I wanted to partner with Kane Industries in the first place." "And now?" Victoria asked, her tone casual but her gaze piercing
"Now t
the vision and the person behind it are equally compelling," he replied, not looking away from Camille. The air between them thickened. Camille felt heat rise in her cheeks.
"The technical achievements will establish Kane Industries as the leader in next-
generation infrastructure," she said, steering the conversation to safer ground. "The patents will transform the company."
Victoria allowed the deflection, though her knowing smile suggested she wasn't fooled "Indeed. Which is why the launch must be flawless."
"The engineering team has triple-
checked everything," Camille assured her. "The system is solid."
"And beautiful in its elegance," Alexander added.
The waiter appeared with chocolate truffles. "Compliments of the chef, in celebration of Ms. Kane's return to public life"
Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Your vindication is already bearing sweet fruits."
Camille picked up a truffle. "Strange how quickly public opinion shifts. Yesterday I was unstable. Today I'm the wronged heroine "
"People love a comeback story," Alexander observed "Especially one with villains as clear as Rose."
"And what happens when the next crisis hits?" Camille asked. "When someone else questions my stability?" Victoria leveled her gaze. "You stand firm. You trust what we've built. You remember that you've survi worse."
Chapter 92
“And you don't face it alone,” Alexander added quietly.
The simplicity of his statement
touched something raw in Camille's chest. After years of isolation, the concept of genuine partnership felt almost foreign.
"To not facing it alone," she said, raising her coffee cup.
When the meal ended, they stood at the private elevator. Victoria checked her watch.
"I have a late call with our Tokyo office," she said. "The car will drop me first."
Alexander helped her with her coat. "I can see Camille horne."
Victoria's eyes moved between them, calculation evident. "Im sure you can. Camille, I'll expect you at nine tomorrow for launch preparations."
Just before the elevator doors closed, Victoria fixed Alexander with a pointed look. "Remember what we discussed. Some games have higher stakes than others."
The cryptic warning hung in the air.
Camille turned to him. "What was that about?"
Alexander shook his head slightly. "Victoria being Victoria. Always three moves ahead."
"Of what?"
His eyes met hers. "Of everyone."
The second elevator arrived, and they descended together, awareness building between them. "Thank you," she said suddenly. "For going to Stefan. For helping when I didn't know you were." Alexander's expre "Because from the moment I saw who you truly were, beyond the pain, I recognized something worth protecting, Something extraordinary."
The elevator slowed.
"Victoria worries you'll lose focus," Camille said, understanding. "She thinks this might distract from our plans." "Victoria worries about everything she can't control," Alexander replied. "Including how people feel. The doors opened to the lobby. Outside, his car waited.
"Can I take you home?" Alexander asked, his voice low.
The question carried weight beyond the simple words. Camille felt the crossroads, continued focus on Phoenix Grid and revenge, or something she hadn't allowed herself to consider since before Rose destroye Connection. Possibility. Perhaps even love.
"Yes," she said finally. "I think it's time we talk. Really talk"
Alexander's smile transformed his face. "I've been waiting to hear you say that."
As they slid into the car, Camille felt something
unfamiliar plooming in her chest, not cold determination, not burning rage, but something warner and more fragile.
Hope.
Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Camille's phone buzzed against the boardroom
table, its vibration cutting through her presentation. She glanced at the screen and felt her stomach drop.
"Excuse me," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Let's take a five- minute break."
As the engineering team filed out, Camille opened the alert
"BREAKING: Kane Industries (KI) down 8.7% on rumors of Phoenix Grid safety concerns"
She scrolled quickly to a financial blog
post: "SOURCES CLAIM PHOENIX GRID POSES UNPRECEDENTED FIRE RISK."
The article cited "anonymous whistleblowers inside Kane Engineering" who allegedly provided documents showing the power distribution nodes could overheat under certain conditions. The claims were vague
Camille called Victoria. No answer. She tried Alexander next
"I've seen it," he said immediately. "PR is already crafting a response."
"Who would do this?” Camille demanded, pacing the empty boardroom. "Three days before groundbreaking? This isn't coincidence."
"No," Alexander agreed, his voice tight. "It's coordinated. The same story appeared simultaneously on four-
different financial platforms. Our stock dropped the moment markets opened."
Camille glanced at the wall of glass. Engineers huddled nearby, faces
worried, stealing glances toward her.
"Get Hannah Zhao on this immediately," she ordered. "I want a comprehensive
safety report ready by this afternoon-
something clear enough for the media to understand."
"Already happening." Alexander assured her. "Victoria's called an emergency press conference for two o'clock." Camille checked her watch: 10:17 AM. Less than four hours to contain a crisis. "I'll be there," she said. "I need to finish with the engineering team first."
"Camille," Alexander's voice softened. "This will pass. The Phoenix Grid is sound. We both know that."
She ended the call, took a deep breath, and opened the door to call back the engineers. Their anxious-
faces told her rumors had already spread,
"I assume you've all heard," she said
directly. "Let me be clear: The Phoenix Grid design is sound. These allegations are baseless. But we will address them with facts, not defensiveness."
Hannah Zhao, the lead engineer, stepped forward. "The distribution nodes have been tested far beyond normal parameters. They simply cannot cause fires as described."
"Someone fabricated concerns," Camille agreed. "Our job now is to prove it. Hannah, I need your team to prepare a comprehensive safety assessment. Every test, every safety margin, every redundancy. Two As the team dispersed, Hannah lingered behind.
"Ms. Kane," she said quietly, "these allegations contain technical details that only someone with inside knowledge could know."
The implication hung in the air. A leak. A betrayal from within.
"I'm aware," Camille replied. "Let's focus on the facts first. We'll deal with how this happened afterward."
Two floors below, Victoria Kane stood in her office, watching financial news coverage. The ticker showed Kane Industries down 11.3%. She held her phone to her ear.
"Find out who's behind this," she ordered. "Check trading patterns. Someone is profiting from this drop." She ended the call as her assistant entered with printouts of every article mentioning the allegations. "The technical team is preparing a detailed response," the assistant reported. "And Mr. Pierce is on his way." Victoria scanned the articles. Something in the phrasing caught her attention, targeting not just the te Her eyes narrowed. This had Rose's fingerprints all over it. But Rose had
been in hiding since the press conference disaster. This attack was too well-
orchestrated for Rose alone.
She had help. Significant help.
When Alexander arrived, Victoria didn't bother with greetings.
"This is a coordinated attack," she said, handing him the most damaging article. "Look at the technical specifics, someone with engineering knowledge helped prepare this.
Alexander scanned the document. "The details are close enough to our actual specs
to sound legitimate, but with key differences,"
"Suggesting?"
"Someone with partial knowledge," he concluded. "Not current blueprints, but perhaps earlier versions." Victoria moved to the window. "I want every former employee with technical knowledge investigated. Ever "Already underway," Alexander assured her. “Security is also checking for digital breaches."
"And Rose?" Victoria turned back. "What's she been doing since the press conference?"
Alexander shook his head. "Gone dark. No credit card usage no phone activity. She's effectively disappeared." "Nobody disappears that completely without help," Victoria observed. "Someone is sheltering her, f Victoria's expression hardened. "Because it's Camille's project. Her vision. Her redemption. Attacking it
is personal."
The Kane Industries press room buzzed with media activity Television
cameras lined the back wall as reporters filled every seat.
Camille stood backstage, reviewing her notes. Victoria beside her, both women dressed in nearly identical charcoal suits, a united front.
"Remember," Victoria
said quietly, "no defensiveness. No anger. Just facts, confidence, and absolute —
Chapter 93
our technology."
Alexander appeared, tablet in hand. "Hannah's report is really, Comprehensive, clear, and irrefutable."
"Who leaked the specifications?" Camille asked, keeping her voice low.
Alexander shook his head. "Not yet. But the technical details weren't entirely accurate, close enough to seem legitimate, but with key differences." "Meaning?
"Someone with partial knowledge," he clarified. "Not a current insider with full access."
Camille's mind immediately went to Rose. "It's her. Rose is behind this."
Victoria's expression remained neutral. "Focus
on the present crisis. We'll deal with the source later."
The lights
seemed unnaturally bright as Camille approached the podium, Victoria and Alexander flanking her. "Good afternoon," Camille began, her voice clear and strong. "I'm here to address rumors regarding the Phoen She gestured to the screen showing Hannah's safety report in simplified graphic form.
"The
Phoenix Grid distribution nodes have been tested at three times maximum operational temperature without any safety concerns. The fire risk described is technically impossible given our design specifications." A reporter called out: "Why would whistleblowers make these claims if there's no substance?"
Camille met his gaze directly. "We've found no evidence these 'whistleblowers' exist. These rumours appeared simultaneously across multiple platforms, a coordinated attack, not a genuine safety concern." "Are you suggesting corporate sabotage?" another reporter asked.
"I'm stating facts," Camille replied coolly. "The Phoenix God has undergone rigorous testing by independent Jaboratories. Those results are publicly available."
She continued dismantling the allegations point by point. When technical questions arose, Hannah Zhao offered precise explanations that reassured without overwhelming the audience.
By the time the press conference ended, the stock had stabilized, regaining two percentage points.
As
they exited, Alexander showed Camille his tablet, social media sentiment shifting as technical experts confirmed their safety claims.
"Crisie-contained," he said, relief evident.
"For now," Camille replied, unable to shake her unease. "This was too well-
planned to be a one-
time attack." Alexander nodded. "I've assigned a team to trace the source If there's a connection to Rose, we'll find it." "She's behind this," Camille insisted as they walked toward the elevator. "I can feel it."—
"Even if she is," Victoria interjected, "Rose lacks the resources and technical knowledge to execute something this sophisticated alone."
The elevator doors closed, sealing the three of them in privacy.
"Then she has help," Camille said, frustration edging her voice. "Someone with money, influence, and a grudge against Kane Industries."
Chapter 93
"That describes half of Wall Street," Victoria replied dryly.
Alexander's phone buzzed. He checked it, his expression turning grim. "Security reports unusual access attempts on our engineering servers last night. Nothing breached, but someone was probing for weaknes Camille felt cold certainty settle in her stomach. "This is just the beginning, isn't it?"
Neither Victoria nor Alexander contradicted her.
That evening, Victoria called Camille and Alexander to her private office. The large circular room, with its panoramic views of Manhattan, felt like a war room.
"The final damage report," Victoria began, sliding tablets across her desk. "Stock closed down six percent. Four institutional investors have expressed 'concerns' about the Phoenix Grid. Two regulators have red Alexander reviewed the information. "Better than we feared, worse than we hoped."
"The press conference helped," Victoria acknowledged. "But doubt has been planted."
Camille scrolled through the reports. "Has security made any progress identifying the source?"
"Nothing concrete," Victoria admitted. "But the timing is too perfect to be coincidence. Three days before groundbreaking, just as final preparations are underway."
"Someone knows our schedule intimately," Alexander added. "Someone with access to internal planning." "We need to investigate everyone with access to the Phoenix Grid specifications," Camille said. "Curren "Already in progress," Victoria assured her. "But this feels personal, Camille. Targeted specifically at your project.
"Rose," Camille said, the name like acid on her tongue. "She's been silent too long. This is exactly her style, wait until I feel secure, then strike where it hurts most."
Alexander leaned forward. "Rose lacks
the technical expertise to understand the Phoenix Grid specifications." "She doesn't need to understand them," Camille countered "She just needs to find someone who does." Victoria's expression remained tho "No," Camille said firmly. "That's exactly what they want. If we delay, it only validates the rumors."
Victoria studied her, approval flickering in her eyes. "Agreed. We proceed as planned, but with enhanced security."
"I want to find Rose," Camille said suddenly. "Look her in the eye, see what she's planning."
"Too risky," Victoria responded immediately. "Drawing her out now could
accelerate whatever she's planning " "Or disrupt it," Camille argued. "Rose has always been reactive. If she sees me unafraid, it might force her to make a mistake." Alexander returned to the table. "If we could locate Rose, aproaching her would need to be handled carefully." Victoria's eyes narrowed. "You're considering this."
+25 BONU!
Chapter 93
"I'm considering all options," he corrected. "Including that drawing Rose into the open might reveal who's backing her."
Camille felt a surge of gratitude toward Alexander. "We know Rose. She can't resist gloating. If I confront her directly, she'll reveal something, even unintentionally." Victoria remained unconvinced. "And if it's a trap? If she wants you to find her?"
"Then we set a counter-
trap," Camille replied. "But sitting here waiting for the next attack isn't working."
The three fell silent, each weighing the risks. Outside, darkness had fallen over the city.
"Find her," Victoria said finally. "But do not approach without a full security plan. And Alexander goes with you." Camille nodded, accepting the conditions.
"Now," Victoria continued, "the Phoenix Grid groundbreaking proceeds
in three days. I want hourly security checks at all sites, background rechecks on all personnel, and additional testing on every component."
"Already implemented," Alexander assured her. "Nothing will go wrong at the ceremony."
"See that it doesn't," Victoria replied, her tone leaving no room for failure. "The Phoenix Grid represents more "Seet than just a business venture. It's Camille's statement to the world, that she builds rather than Camille felt the weight of Victoria's words. The Phoenix Grid wasn't just about energy distribution, it was about her transformation.
"We'll find who's behind this," she promised. "And we'll stop them."
Alexander reached for her hand under the table, a small gesture of support invisible to Victoria. "Together," he added quietly.
Camille squeezed his hand in response, drawing strength from his presence. Rose might have help, resources, planning, but Camille had something stronger.
She had truth on her side. And she would not be defeated again.
"Let's get to work,” she said, rising from her chair. "We have a groundbreaking to prepare for, and a sister to find.
Victoria nodded, her expression warming slightly as she watched her protégé. "Tomorrow morning, eight o'clock. Full team briefing."
As Camille and Alexander left Victoria's office, uncertainty still hung in the air. But something else was there too, a renewed sense of purpose, of unity in the face of this invisible threat. Whatever came next, they would face it together.
Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Rose stepped onto the balcony of Herod's penthouse, a glass of champagne catching the golden light of sunset. Below, Manhattan sprawled in all its glittering glory, oblivious to the small victory celebration taki
"To successful beginnings," Herod said, joining her with his own glass. The evening breeze ruffled his dark hair, softening his usually severe appearance.
"Six p ix percent," Rose replied, satisfaction warming her voice "Six
percent drop in a single day. Millions wiped from Kane Industries' value."
Their glasses clinked, crystal meeting crystal with a delicate ring. Rose sipped the expensive champagne, bubbles dancing on her tongue. The taste of revenge was even sweeter than the Dom Pérignon. "You should have seen Victoria's face during that press conference," she said, leaning against the railing "So controlled on the surface, but I know that look in her eyes. She's rattled." iling. "So"
Herod studied her, his expression curious. "You enjoy this, don't you? Not just the outcome, but the process. The game itself.”
Rose considered this. "I never thought of myself as someone who enjoyed causing pain. But watching Camille squirm, seeing her precious project questioned." She trailed off, surprised by the Intensity of her fe "Most people lie to themselves
about such things," Herod observed, moving closer. "They pretend their revenge is only about justice, not pleasure."
"I stopped lying to myself a long time ago," Rose replied. When you grow up unwanted, you learn to see things clearly."
Something flickered in Herod's eyes, recognition, perhaps Understanding. The setting sun cast half his face in shadow, half in golden light, emphasizing the sharp angles of his cheekbones. "Your honesty is refreshing," he said.
Rose felt a strange flutter in her chest. For weeks, they had worked together with cold precision, their partnership purely transactional. But tonight, celebrating their first victory, something subtle had shifted in th "Tell me something real about yourself," she said suddenly "Not about your family or Victoria Kane or
business. Something I don't know yet."
Herod seemed surprised by the request. He
turned to face the skyline, considering.
"I collect first editions," he said finally. "Books from the 19th century, mostly. I find comfort in things that have survived their time, outlasted their creators."
The admission was unexpected, a small, human detail about a man who had revealed so little of himself beyond his thirst for revenge.
"Do you read them?" Rose asked. "Or just collect them?"
"Both. Some nights, when sleep won't come, I read by the window until dawn." He glanced at her. "Your turn. Something real."
Rose felt oddly vulnerable under his gaze. She
was accustomed to crafting herself for othare -
the supportive sister, the devoted girlfriend. Revealing anything authentic felt dangerous.
"Lcan't swim,” she admitted. "I nearly drowned
as a child, before the foster system. I've never been able to put my head underwater since."
The words hung between them, more revealing than she'd intended. Not just a fact, but a weakness. A fear.
Herod didn't fill the silence with empty reassurances or prying questions. He simply nodded, accepting her truth as she had accepted his.
"We all have our depths we can't face," he said finally.
Inside, Herod's phone rang. He excused himself, stepping back into the penthouse. Rose remained on the balcony, watching darkness claim the city. Lights flickered on across Manhattan, creating new constella Through the glass doors, she observed Herod taking the call. His posture shifted subtly, straightening, tensing. Business mode. She'd learned to read his body language during their weeks of planning. Whateve When he returned to the balcony, his expression had hardened back into the calculating mask she recognized from their strategy sessions.
"Good news?" she asked.
"Confirmation that phase two is ready," he replied. "Our contact at the engineering firm has implemented the modified specs in the Brooklyn site components. Everything appears exactly as it should, until full sys six weeks after installation."
Rose felt a familiar thrill of anticipation. "And then?"
"Complete system failure. Harmless to humans, as promised, but catastrophic for Kane Industries' reputation. Especially when the 'overlooked' safety warnings surface.
Rose smiled, imagining the scene, Camille watching helplessly as her precious Phoenix Grid collapsed, taking her reputation with it.
"Perfect timing," she said. "Just as they recover from this week's crisis, just as they think they're safe..."
"The true damage arrives," Herod finished. "Patience rewards those who wait."
He
refilled their champagne glasses, his fingers brushing against hers as he handed back her drink. The brief contact sent an unexpected warmth up her arm. Rose found herself noticing details she'd previously ig "Why did you agree to help me?" she asked abruptly. "You had your own plans for Victoria. Why include me?" Herod considered her question carefully. "Initially? Strategy. Your knowledge of Camille's weakness "And now?"
Something shifted in his expression, a softening around the eyes, a slight tension at the corner of his mouth." Now I find our partnership has... additional benefits."
The Implication hung in the air between them. Ruse felt her heartbeat quicken. For so long, her relationships had been calculated moves in a larger game, Stefan, the men before him, each one a stepping ston This felt different. Dangerous in a new way
"We should celebrate properly," Herod said, breaking the tension. "Not just champagne on the balcony. Dinner, perhaps."
"Here?" Rose asked, gesturing toward the penthouse.
"No. Out. In public."
Rose stared at him. "I can't be seen. Not after the press conference disaster. Every reporter in the city would pounce."
"Not in New York," Herod clarified. "My jet is fueled and waiting at Teterboro. We could be in Montreal for
gat dinner, back by morning. No one would know."
The spontaneity of the suggestion startled her. "Montreal? Tonight?"
"Why not? We've earned a moment of pleasure amid all this planning.” His eyes held hers. "Unless you're afraid to leave your hiding place."
The challenge was subtle but clear. Rose felt something stir inside her, pride, defiance, and something else she couldn't quite name.
"I'm not afraid," she said firmly. "But this seems... impulsive. Not like you."
"Perhaps you
don't know me as well as you think." A smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I can be impulsive when the occasion warrants."
Rose found herself returning his smile, conscious of how rarely she'd done so genuinely in recent weeks. Most of her smiles were performances, calculated to achieve a specific effect. This one surprised her wi "Montreal," she repeated, considering. "French food, anonymity, no press..."
"Freedom," Herod added. "Even if just for an evening."
The word resonated within her. Since the disaster at the Kane Foundation gala, she'd been living in shadows, moving between hotel rooms, avoiding public spaces, watching from afar as her carefully construct "Yes," she decided suddenly. "Let's go."
Surprise flickered across Herod's face, as if he hadn't expected her to accept. It vanished quickly, replaced by pleasure. "Excellent. Pack lightly. We leave in an hour."
As Rose turned to go inside, Herod caught her wrist gently. The unexpected contact froze her in place.
"One condition," he said, his voice lower than before. "Tonight, no talk of Camille, Victoria, or revenge. Just dinner, conversation, and whatever comes after."
The implication sent heat rushing through Rose's body. She met his gaze, searching for calculation or manipulation, the currencies she understood best. Instead, she found something more unsettling: genuine "Agreed," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
Chapter 95
Chapter 95
Three hours later, Rose gazed out the window of a private dining room in Montreal's most exclusive restaurant. Snow fell gently outside, illuminated by street lamps and café lights. Inside, candles flickered on th "You seem surprised to be enjoying yourself," Herod observed, watching her over the rim of his wine glass.
Rose turned from the window. "I am, a little. I haven't thought about anything but revenge for so long. It feels strange to just... exist."
"Vengeance is consuming," Herod agreed. "It leaves little room for ordinary pleasures."
"Is that why you collect books? To remember there's life beyond revenge?"
He considered this, "Perhaps. Though I began collecting long before Victoria Kane entered my life."
Rose studied him in the candlelight. Without the hard edges of their planning sessions, Herod Preston revealed different
facets, cultured, thoughtful, even charming in his precise way.
"Tell me about the brother you lost," she said softly.
Herod's expression tightened momentarily, then relaxed. "Charles was the better of us. Kinder. More idealistic. He believed in love, in goodness. I always saw
the darker side of human nature."
"And yet Victoria targeted him first."
"Because he was connected to what she loved most, her daughter." Herod swirled the wine in his glass. "The cruellest revenge strikes not at you directly, but at what you cherish."
Rose thought of Camille, of the Phoenix Grid, of how precisely
their attack had been aimed at what her sister valued most. "We're following her playbook, aren't we? Using Victoria's
own methods against her."
"With improvements," Herod added. "Victoria acted from raw grief. We move with calculation, patience." "A dangerous combination," Rose murmured.
"Indeed." Herod's eyes lingered on her face. "Especially in someone as naturally gifted at manipulation as you." Rose might once have taken this as an insult Tonight, she recognized it as appreciation, one strat "We all use the tools life gives us," she said.
"I learned early that my face, my charm could open doors that remained closed to others. That people believe what they want to believe, see what they want to see.'
"And what do you want me to see tonight?" Herod asked, leaning forward slightly.
The directness of the question caught Rose off guard. She was accustomed to men who accepted her carefully constructed personas without question, who never looked for the truth beneath the performance. "I don't know," she admitted, surprising herself with her honesty. "I'm not sure who I am when I'm not fighting, scheming, surviving "
"Perhaps that's what we're discovering tonight," Herod suggested. "Who Rose Lewis is when the masks come off.
Their dinner arrived, exquisite plates of food too artful to immediately disturb. The waiter poured more wins - retreated, leaving them in their cocoon of privacy.
"I've worn so many faces," Rose said after a moment. "The grateful adopted daughter. The supportive sister. The perfect fiancée. Sometimes I wonder if there's anything real left underneath."
"There is," Herod said with unexpected certainty. "I've seen it,
in your rage, your determination, your refusal to accept defeat. Those aren't masks, Rose. That's you."
His words touched something deep within her, a recognition she hadn't expected. In Herod's eyes, her darkness wasn't something to hide but something to acknowledge, even celebrate.
"Most people only want the pretty lies," she said softly.
"I'm not most people.” His voice carried a weight that made her look up from her plate. “I see your ruthlessness, your capacity for vengeance, and I find it... compelling.”
The word hung between them, charged with meaning. Rose felt her pulse quicken. She was accustomed to inspiring desire in men, but always for the mirage she created. Never for her true self, especially not t "Why did you really bring me to Montreal?" she asked directly.
Herod set down his fork, considering his answer. "Because partnerships forged only in hatred rarely survive. Because I wanted to know if there could be more between us than shared enemies."
"And is there?" Rose challenged, though she already suspected the answer.
Instead of replying, Herod reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers in a touch too deliberate to be accidental. "What do you think?"
Rose didn't pull away. The contact sent electricity up her arm, a sensation both foreign and familiar. How long had it been since she'd felt genuine attraction, not calculated seduction? With Stefan, with all the others, physical connection had been a tool, a means to an end.
This felt different. Unpredictable. Dangerous in ways that had nothing to do with their revenge plans.
"I think,” she said carefully, "that mixing business and pleasure complicates things."
"Complexity doesn't frighten me," Herod replied. "Does it trighten you?"
The question was a challenge, and Rose had never backed down from a challenge in her life. She turned her hand beneath his, their palms meeting, fingers intertwining-
"No," she said simply.
Something shifted in Herod's eyes, a heat that matched what she felt building within herself. For a moment, they remained perfectly still, connected by that single point of contact, the air between them charged "Shall we skip dessert?" Herod asked, his voice lower than before.
Rose nodded, suddenly certain. “Yes.”
Hours later, Rose stood at the window of Herod's Montreal apartment, watching snow blanket the city. Behind her, sheets lay tangled on the bed, evidence of boundaries crossed, new territories explored. She w Herod appeared in the doorway, two glasses of whiskey in and. The moonlight silvered his bare chest, highlighting the unexpected strength of his body. Rose accepted the offered drink, their fingers brushing in "Having regrets?" he asked, noticing her pensive expression.
Rose shook her head. "No. Surprises, maybe, but not regrets."
"What surprises you?"
She considered the question, trying to untangle the knot of emotions inside her. "That I can still feel something real. After everything, the press conference, losing my family, being publicly vilified, I thought I migh Herod stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the heat from his body. "And now?"
"Now I don't know what I feel," she admitted. "Except that it's more than I expected."
He didn't reach for her, respecting the space she
needed. Another surprise, the patience in his desire.
"This doesn't change our plans," he said, reading her unspoken concern. "If anything, it strengthens our alliance.
Rose turned to face him fully. "Is that what this is? An alliance strengthened?"
A smile touched his lips. "Among other things."
She studied him in the moonlight, this man who had seen her darkness and found it beautiful. Who matched her ruthlessness with his own. Who understood revenge not as a passing emotion but as a calling, a "When this is over," she said quietly, "when we've destroyed them all, what then?"
The question had been lurking in the back of her mind for weeks. After revenge, after victory, what remained? Who would she be when there was no one left to fight?
Herod set down his glass and finally reached for her, his hand cupping her cheek with unexpected tenderness. Perhaps we find out together."
The suggestion opened a door Rose hadn't allowed herself to imagine, a future beyond vengeance, beyond the single-
minded pursuit that had defined her recent existence. A future possibly shared with someone who knew her true nature and accepted it without judgment.
"Together," she repeated, testing the word, its weight and possibility.
His eyes held hers, dark and certain. "If you wish it."
Rose leaned into his touch, making her choice. "I do."
As his lips met hers, gentler than before, Rose felt something break and reform inside her, not weakness, but a different kind of strength. The knowledge that even in her darkest moments, she remained capable Tornorrow they would return to New York, to their careful plans, to the destruction of Camille and all she held dear. The Phoenix Grid would still fall, Kane Industries would still crumble, and Rose would watch it a But tonight had changed something fundamental. Tonight had shown her that beyond the ashes of her revenge, something unexpected might grow. Something shared with a man whose darkness complemente As snow continued to fall outside, covering Montreal in pristine white, Rose surrendered to the moment, to the feeling, to the surprising truth that even as she plotted destruction, she remained capable of creatin