SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Alexander stood at the window of his office, watching the morning traffic crawl through Manhattan streets. His phone buzzed constantly on the desk behind him, but he ignored it. Three days had passed since Kane Industries' stock plummeted, and his carefully laid plans were supposed to be bearing fruit by now.

Instead, the numbers on his computer screen told a different story. Kane Industries stock had not only stopped falling, it was climbing back up.

The door to his office opened without a knock. Camille entered, her face glowing with relief and excitement. She practically bounced across the room to reach him, throwing her arms around his neck before he could react.

"We did it, Alex," she breathed against his ear. "We actually did it." Alexander forced his arms to circle her waist, forced his voice to sound pleased. "Did what?" "The stock recovered. More than recovered, we're up two points from where we started." Camille pulled back to look at his face, her eyes bright with joy. "Mom and Dad stepped in. Can you believe it?" Something cold settled in Alexander's stomach. "Your parents?" "Dad called this morning. He'd been watching the news, saw what was happening to us." Camille's words tumbled over each other in her excitement. "He made scalls to his old friends at Goldman Sachs, arranged emergency funding to stabilize the stock. Then Mom contacted everyone she knows, board members at major corporations, influential investors, people who've known our family for generations." Alexander's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "That was... generous of them." "Generous?" Camille laughed, the sound bright as breaking glass. "It was incredible. Within hours, we had billionaire investors publicly backing Kane Industries. The Rothschild family trust bought five million in shares. The Vanderbilt Foundation committed to long-term investment. Dad even got Warren Buffett's people to release a statement of confidence." The rage building in Alexander's chest felt like a physical thing, hot and expanding, threatening to burst through his carefully maintained mask. Months of planning. Weeks of careful stock manipulation targeting a billion-dollar empire. All undone by Margaret and Richard Lewis and their elite social circle.

"I'm so happy for you," he managed, his voice strained with the effort of appearing supportive.

Camille studied his face, concern replacing her earlier joy. "You don't look happy. Are you feeling okay?" Alexander cleared his throat, forced his expression to soften. "Just tired. It's been a stressful few days watching Kane Industries under attack." "I know." Camille reached up to touch his cheek, her fingers warm against his skin. "But it's over now. Kane Industries is stronger than ever. Victoria said we've never had this level of institutional backing before. Billion- dollar companies dream of the kind of investor confidence we have now." "How exactly did your parents mobilize so quickly?" Alexander asked, keeping his tone casual despite the fury burning in his veins.

"Connections built over decades," Camille said, moving to his desk to show him the financial reports on her tablet. "Dad serves on three Fortune 500 boards. Mom chairs the charity committees for half the wealthy families in America. When they explained what was happening, everyone rallied around us immediately." She scrolled through the numbers, each figure more devastating to Alexander's plans than the last. "Look at this.... two billion in new investment commitments. The markets are treating us like we're untouchable now." Alexander stared at the charts and graphs, each green arrow pointing upward like a dagger in his heart. Everything he had worked for, destroyed by two people he had never considered a threat. Camille's parents, who had reconciled with their daughter and now wielded their vast influence on her behalf.

"There's more," Camille continued, her voice growing softer. "Mom and Dad want to have dinner with us tonight. To celebrate, but also to discuss sexciting opportunities. Dad thinks Kane Industries should consider expanding into European markets, and he has contacts who could fast-track the regulatory approvals." The room felt like it was closing in around Alexander. He loosened his tie, struggling to breathe normally. "Tonight?" "I know it's short notice, but Alex..." Camille moved closer to him, her eyes shining with happiness. "Having my parents back in my life, working together like this-it feels like everything is finally falling into place." Family. The word echoed in Alexander's mind, mocking him. While Camille was building bridges with her parents, his uncle remained dead and unavenged. While the Lewis family celebrated their triumph over financial adversity, Richard Pierce's killer walked free, now stronger than ever.

"Of course," Alexander heard himself say. "Whatever makes you happy." Camille's smile could have lit up the entire city. She kissed him quickly before heading toward the door. "Seven o'clock at Le Bernardin. Dad's flying to Washington tomorrow morning-scongressional committee wants his input on financial regulations-so this might be our only chance this month." After she left, Alexander stood motionless in his office for several minutes. The silence felt oppressive, broken only by the distant sound of traffic and the steady tick of the antique clock on his bookshelf.

He walked to his desk and pulled out his secure phone, the one Camille knew nothing about. His fingers shook slightly as he typed a message to "Guardian." *Phase one failed completely. Lewis family intervention too powerful. Kane Industries now has unprecedented institutional backing. Need new strategy immediately.* The response cwithin minutes: *Expected this might happen. Old money protects its own. Moving to phase two ahead of schedule. Much more dangerous, but necessary. Are you ready?* Alexander stared at the message, knowing that phase two would require him to take enormous risks, to move far closer to the fire. But what choice did he have? Kane Industries was now backed by sof the most powerful families in America.

*Ready,* he typed back. *What do you need from me?* *Access to Kane Industries internal servers. Physical access, not remote. Need original documents that prove Victoria's cover-up of the factory deaths. Can you manage that?* Alexander's blood ran cold. Getting physical access to Kane's secure servers would mean betraying Camille's trust completely. No more plausible explanations, no more innocent research requests. This would be pure corporate espionage, the kind of betrayal that could never be explained away if he was caught.

His phone buzzed with a new message from Camille: *Love you so much. Thank you for being so supportive through all this craziness. Mom and Dad can't wait to see you tonight. You're the best husband in the world.* The irony was suffocating. While she praised his support, he was planning to rob her billion-dollar company of its deepest secrets. While she called him the best husband, he was orchestrating her professional destruction despite her family's overwhelming show of power and influence.

Alexander typed a response to "Guardian": *I can get access Friday night. Security shift change at midnight a window. But they'll have upgraded security after the stock attack.* *We'll handle security. Just get us inside. Remember.... this is for Richard. This is for the three workers who died in that factory. Victoria Kane thinks her billion-dollar empire makes her untouchable. Tto prove her wrong.* Justice. The word felt hollow now, corrupted by months of lies and deception. Was this still about justice for his uncle, or had it becsomething darker? Something driven by pride and the need to prove that even the most powerful people could fall? His office door opened again, and Victoria Kane entered without invitation. Her face was composed, but Alexander could see the tension in her shoulders, the slight tremor in her hands that betrayed lingering stress. "We need to talk," she said, closing the door behind her.

Alexander's pulse quickened, but his voice remained steady. "Of course.

Congratulations on the incredible recovery." Victoria moved to stand directly in front of his desk, her pale blue eyes fixed on his face. "The Lewis family's intervention was... remarkable." "But completely understandable," Alexander pointed out. "They're protecting their daughter's interests. Any parent would do the same." "Yes." Victoria's voice was soft, thoughtful. "Though the speed and scale of their response was impressive. Moving billions of dollars in investment commitments within hours. The kind of coordinated effort that typically takes weeks to organize." The accusation hung in the air between them like smoke. Alexander met her gaze directly, allowing confusion to show on his face. "Are you suggesting something suspicious about their help?"

"Not suspicious," Victoria said slowly.

"But perhaps... they were more prepared for this kind of crisis than most parents would be. As if they had contingency plans already in place."

Alexander leaned back in his chair, projecting calm confidence despite the alarm bells ringing in his head. "Victoria, the Lewis family has been managing vast wealth for generations. Of course they have contingency plans. That's how old money stays old money." Victoria studied his face for another long moment, then nodded slowly. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I'm overthinking this." She turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Alexander?" "Yes?" "Camille is fortunate to have someone so devoted. Someone who would do anything to protect her interests." The words seemed innocent enough, but Alexander heard the warning underneath. Victoria Kane hadn't built her billion-dollar empire by being naive or trusting. She suspected something, even if she couldn't prove it yet.

"She's my wife," Alexander said simply. "Her success is my success." After Victoria Jeft, Alexander slumped in his chair, exhaustion washing over him like a tide. The gwas becoming more dangerous by the day. Victoria wet growing suspicious, Camille trusted him completely, and his plans lay in ruíns thanks to intervention by sof the most powerful families in America.

But failure wasn't an option. His uncle's death demanded justice, regardless of the cost. Regardless of how many billions stood in his way.

Alexander looked at his phone, at they

Camille's loving message still glowing on the screen. Tonight he would sit across from her at dinner, smile at her parents play the role of the perfect son-in-law while discussed their daughter's billion-dollar empire. Tomorrow he would begin planning the theft that would expose Kane Industries' darkest secrets. And someday soon, Camille would learn that the man she loved had been her enemy from the very beginning. The thought should have brought him satisfaction. Instead, it felt like dying by inches, one betrayal at a time.