SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

The morning sun cast sharp shadows across the Kane Industries boardroom as Camille paced behind her chair, her phone pressed against her ear. Alexander watched from the doorway, studying the tension in her shoulders, the way her free hand clenched and unclenched at her side. Three percent. Such a small number to cause such devastation.

"No, that's not acceptable," Camille snapped into the phone. "We need that press release out within the hour, not by end of day."

Victoria sat at the head of the massive conference table, her face pale but composed. Charts and graphs covered the polished surface before her, all showing the same ugly truth, Kane Industries stock had plummeted overnight, wiping out millions in market value.noveldrama

Alexander stepped into the room, his expression carefully crafted to show concern and support. Inside, satisfaction burned like a flame he couldn't extinguish.

"How bad is it?" he asked, knowing the answer already.

"Bad." Camille ended her call and turned to face him, dark circles under her eyes telling the story of a sleepless night. "Three percent drop in twelve hours. The trading floor is calling it a bloodbath."

Victoria's voice cut through the morning air like ice. "Someone is spreading lies about our acquisition history. Targeting our credibility at the worst possible time."

Alexander moved to Camille's side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Her body was rigid with stress, muscles tight beneath his palm. "What kind of lies?"

"Anonymous sources claiming we used 'questionable tactics' during hostile takeovers fifteen years ago," Camille said, her voice shaking with anger. "Investors are spooked. They're questioning whether the Phoenix Grid expansion is built on the same foundation."

The irony cut through Alexander like a knife. If only she knew how right those anonymous sources were. If only she understood that her husband was the architect of her company's destruction.

"That's ridiculous," Alexander said, his tone perfectly pitched between outrage and support. "Your acquisition record is spotless. Anyone can see that."

Victoria's eyes met his across the table. For a moment, Alexander saw something flicker in her gaze, suspicion, calculation, fear. Did she suspect him? Or was she simply a woman watching her life's work crumble and grasping for explanations? "The timing is too convenient," Victoria said slowly. "Right after the Phoenix Grid announcement. Right when we're most vulnerable to market manipulation."

"You think this is intentional?" Alexander asked, keeping his voice neutral even as his pulse quickened.

"I know it is," Victoria replied, her fingers drumming against the table. "The question is who benefits from our stock dropping."

Camille sank into her chair, running both hands through her hair. "Does it matter? The damage is done. Investors are pulling out, questioning our leadership, demanding answers we can't give."

Alexander sat beside his wife, reaching for her hand. Her fingers were cold,

trembling slightly. The sight of her distress should have brought him joy, Victoria's empire falling meant justice for his uncle. But watching Camille suffer sent unexpected pain through his chest.

"We'll fix this," he said, squeezing her hand. "Both of us. Pierce Enterprises stands behind Kane Industries completely."

"You'd risk your own company's reputation?" Victoria asked, her voice sharp with surprise.

Alexander met her gaze steadily. "Camille is my wife. Her success is my success. Pierce Enterprises has complete confidence in Kane Industries' integrity."

The lie flowed from his lips as smooth as honey. Every word was calculated to deepen their trust in him, to position himself as their closest ally even as he orchestrated their downfall.

Camille's eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall. "Thank you," she whispered. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

The words hit Alexander like physical blows. Camille trusted him completely, loved him without reservation, believed in their partnership both personal and professional. And he was betraying that trust with every breath.

Victoria's assistant knocked on the boardroom door, entering with a tablet clutched in her hands. "The financial networks are picking up the story," she announced, her voice tight with worry. "CNBC is running a segment on 'Kane Industries: Built on Questionable Foundations?""

"Christ," Camille breathed, burying her face in her hands.

Alexander stood quickly, his mind already working. "What if we get ahead of this? Call a press conference, address the rumors directly?"

"And say what?" Victoria's voice was bitter. "That anonymous accusations are false? That looks defensive."

"Then we go on offense," Alexander continued, his tone growing more confident. "We don't just deny the rumors, we provide complete transparency. Open your books. Invite independent auditors to review every acquisition from the past twenty years. Show the world that Kane Industries has nothing to hide."

Camille looked up at him with something approaching awe. "That's brilliant. Complete transparency would eliminate any credibility these rumors have."

Victoria's expression remained skeptical. "Opening our books to that level of scrutiny is dangerous. Even legitimate business decisions can be misinterpreted by outsiders."

"Only if you have something to hide," Alexander said, his voice carefully neutral. "But since Kane Industries' record is clean, transparency can only help."

The trap was elegant in its

simplicity. Victoria couldn't refuse without appearing guilty. But agreeing would expose fifteen years

of ruthless business tactics to public scrutiny, including the systematic destruction of Meridian

Technologies and the cover-up that had driven his uncle to suicide.

"He's right," Camille said, her voice growing stronger. "We call their bluff. Complete financial transparency, independent audits, everything. Let the world see exactly how Kane Industries operates."

Victoria was quiet for a long moment, her fingers still drumming against the table. Alexander could almost see her mind working, weighing risks, calculating odds.

"Very well," she said finally. "We'll prepare for full disclosure. But this had better work, because if it backfires, we'll lose everything."

Camille reached across the table and grasped Victoria's hand. "It won't backfire. The truth is on our side."

Alexander nodded solemnly, even as satisfaction spread through his veins like poison. The truth was indeed on their side, his side. And when that truth finally came to light, Victoria Kane's empire would burn.

"I'll have my team prepare a comprehensive communications strategy," Alexander offered. "Pierce Enterprises' PR department has experience managing corporate crises."

"That would be incredibly helpful," Camille said, squeezing his arm. "I knew marrying you was the smartest thing I ever did."

The words twisted in Alexander's gut like a blade. He forced a smile, leaning over

to kiss her forehead. "We're partners in everything, remember?"

For the next two hours, they worked together to craft their response. Alexander offered suggestions, provided resources, made calls to influential contacts in the financial media. To everyone watching, he was the perfect supportive husband and business partner.

Only he knew that every suggestion was designed to dig Kane Industries deeper into the hole he had created. Every resource he provided would ultimately serve his purpose. Every contact he reached out to would eventually help spread the truth about Victoria's crimes.

As the morning wore on, Camille's stress gradually gave way to determined focus. She threw herself into damage control with the same intensity she brought to everything, and Alexander found himself genuinely impressed by her resilience.

"The preliminary press release is ready," Victoria announced, looking up from her laptop. "Alexander, would you review it before we send it out?"

He accepted the laptop, scanning the carefully worded statement that proclaimed Kane Industries' commitment to transparency and ethical business practices. The language was strong, confident, defiant.

"This is perfect," Alexander said, handing the laptop back. "It strikes exactly the right tone."

Victoria's eyes searched his face. "You're certain? Once we release this, there's no going back. We're committed to full transparency." Alexander met her gaze without flinching. "I'm certain. The truth will set you free."

The words hung in the air between them, loaded with meaning Victoria couldn't possibly understand. But Alexander saw her shiver slightly, as if some part of her recognized the threat hidden in his supportive words.

Camille stood and stretched, exhaustion finally showing in her movements. "I need coffee before we move to the next phase. Anyone else?"

"I'll come with you," Alexander said, rising from his chair.

As they walked toward the executive kitchen, Camille leaned against him, seeking comfort in his presence. "I'm scared, Alex," she admitted quietly. "What if we can't stop this? What if everything Victoria built just... falls apart?" Alexander wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils, familiar and comforting even as guilt ate at his insides like acid.

"It won't fall apart," he promised, and for once, he wasn't entirely lying. Kane Industries wouldn't simply collapse, it would be systematically dismantled, piece by piece, until nothing remained but the truth about Victoria's crimes.

"How can you be so sure?" Camille asked, looking up at him with eyes full of trust and vulnerability.

Alexander cupped her face in his hands, studying the features he had memorized over months of marriage. Beautiful, intelligent, innocent Camille, who had no idea that her husband was her greatest enemy.

"Because," he said softly, leaning down to kiss her lips, "I would never let anything

happen to you."

It was the most honest thing he had

said all morning, and the biggest lie of all. Because when the truth finally came out, when Victoria's crimes were exposed and Kane Industries crumbled, Alexander knew that Camille would be destroyed along with everything else.

But his uncle's ghost demanded justice, and Alexander had chosen his path long

ago. Even if it meant losing the only woman he had ever truly loved.