Chapter 149Spotlights swept across the Grand Plaza Hotel's ballroom, catching on crystal chandeliers that scattered light like diamonds. Underneath them, New York's elite mingled in formal wear that cost more than most people earned in months. Women draped in silk and jewels. Men in perfectly tailored tuxedos. The soft notes of a string quartet floated above the murmur of conversations and tinkling champagne glasses.Camille Kane stood just outside the ballroom doors, watching through a crack. Her blue gown shimmered in the dim light of the hallway, but she had never felt less festive."Security check complete," said Jason, Alexander's head of security, into his earpiece. "Main floor is clear. Balconies and kitchens clear. All entrances covered."Camille nodded, barely hearing him. Her thoughts remained with Victoria, who was gathering her strength in a private room upstairs before making her entrance."Camille." Alexander's voice brought her back to the present. He stood beside her
Chapter 1CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW Three years. One thousand and ninety-five days of trying to be the perfect wife, and this was my reward divorce papers on our anniversary.I stared at Stefan's perfect signature on the last page, the ink still fresh. He must have signed them this morning, probably right after I'd left that stupid handmade card on his desk. The one I'd spent hours making, like a fool who still believed in fairy tales.The anniversary card I made for my husband Stefan still sat on the kitchen counter, untouched. Three years of marriage summed up in a handmade gesture he couldn't even bother to open. I'd spent hours on it last night, writing words I thought mattered.My coffee had gone cold. Funny how you notice small things when your world is falling apart."Sign here. And here." Stefan's voice was distant, businesslike. He'd laid out the divorce papers like contracts at one of his meetings, sticky tabs marking each signature line. "The highlighted sections need initia
Chapter 2Camille's point of view The house was quiet, too quiet. I slipped in through the side door, locking it softly behind me. The air smelled like lemon polish and roses, just like it always did. It felt strange to be back, like stepping into someone else’s life.The kitchen was dark except for the faint glow of the fridge light. I crept up the stairs, careful to skip the third step that creaked. Every sound I made felt loud, like the house itself was listening.When I reached my bedroom door, I stopped. It was open a crack, just like I’d left it all those years ago. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside and shut the door.My childhood bedroom hadn't changed in three years. Same pale pink walls, same white furniture, same collection of second-place trophies. Rose's first-place ones used to shine in the room next door.I stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror, the same one where I'd practiced my wedding makeup three years ago, Rose standing behind me with that perfect smil
Chapter 3ROSE'S POINT OF VIEWI swirled the champagne in my crystal flute, watching the bubbles dance. Victory tasted sweet, just like I'd imagined all these years. The living room of my penthouse apartment overlooked the city where I'd spent twenty years pretending to be the perfect adopted daughter, the loving sister, the supportive friend.What a joke."To freedom," I whispered to my reflection in the window. The woman staring back at me smiled, perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect lies. Just like always.My phone buzzed again. Another missed call from Stefan. He'd been calling non-stop since Camille walked out, probably worried I'd change my mind now that everything was in the open. Poor, predictable Stefan. Still thinking he was in control of any of this.I kicked off my Louboutins and sank into the leather couch, letting memories wash over me like warm wine.---The first time I saw Camille Lewis, I hated her.I was thirteen, fresh out of foster care, desperate to please my new
Chapter 4STEFAN'S POINT OF VIEWThe scotch burned going down, but I poured another anyway. My third? Fourth? I'd lost count somewhere between signing those divorce papers and watching Camille walk away.Our wedding photo still sat on my desk, mocking me. Camille's genuine smile, my distracted eyes, already looking past her, always looking for Rose.Rose.Even her name felt like betrayal now.My phone lit up with another message from her: "Darling, stop drinking and come over. We should celebrate."Celebrate. Like we hadn't just destroyed someone who loved us. Someone who'd given me three years of devotion I never deserved.The memory hit me like a punch to the gut.---"Stefan?" Camille's voice was small, uncertain. "Did I do something wrong?"I looked up from my laptop, irritated at the interruption. She stood in the doorway of my home office, holding a plate of something that smelled amazing."I made that pasta you mentioned. The one with truffles?" Her eyes were hopeful. "Rose ga
Chapter 5CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEWThe parking garage of the hotel where i lodged was too quiet. My heels echoed against concrete, each click bouncing off empty cars and shadowed pillars. It was late, past midnight, but something felt wrong. Off.My confrontation with Rose and my family had left me drained, empty except for the cold satisfaction of finally seeing behind her mask. I fumbled with my key fob, wanting nothing more than to get to my hotel room and plan my next move.A car door slammed somewhere in the darkness.I stopped, listening. Nothing but the hum of fluorescent lights and the distant sound of traffic.My phone buzzed in my purse. Rose's number. I declined it, but not before noticing my signal had dropped to one bar.Perfect.Footsteps behind me. Multiple sets.I walked faster, cursing my choice of heels. The hotel's elevator was just around the corner, past a row of concrete pillars. If I could just..."Going somewhere, Mrs. Rodriguez?"A man stepped out from behind
Chapter 6CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEWI woke to silk sheets and sunlight. For a moment, I thought I was back in my childhood bedroom, before everything fell apart. But the ceiling above me was unfamiliar, hand-painted cherubs floating in a cloudless sky, framed by gilded molding that probably cost more than my entire wedding.Pain shot through my ribs as I tried to sit up, memories flooding back. The parking garage. Rose's hired thugs. The mysterious woman with silver hair."Careful." A voice from the doorway made me turn. "Three bruised ribs and a mild concussion. The doctor said you need rest."She stood there like something from a fashion magazine, tailored black pants suit, pearls that definitely weren't fake, silver hair swept into an elegant twist. But it was her eyes that held me. Sharp. Calculating. Hauntingly familiar."Where am I?" My voice was rough. "Who are you?""You're safe." She moved into the room with fluid grace, settling into a chair beside my bed. "As for who I am...
Chapter 7ROSE'S POINT OF VIEWMy phone buzzed while I was getting my nails done. Normally, I'd ignore it, Tuesday afternoons are my me-time, after all. But something made me look. Maybe it was intuition. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was just that delicious feeling I'd had all morning, like something wonderful was about to happen.The headline made me smear the perfect French manicure Julie had just finished on my right hand."LOCAL WOMAN FEARED DEAD AFTER CAR FOUND IN RIVER"My hands shook as I clicked the link, not caring about the ruined nail polish. There it was, in clean black and white: Camille Elizabeth Lewis, age 25, presumed dead after her car was discovered in the Morton River early Tuesday morning. No body recovered. Search ongoing."Oh my God," I whispered, but inside, fireworks were going off. Champagne corks were popping. Every cell in my body wanted to jump up and dance."Everything okay, Miss Lewis?" Julie asked, concerned about my trembling hands.I forced my face into
Chapter 149Spotlights swept across the Grand Plaza Hotel's ballroom, catching on crystal chandeliers that scattered light like diamonds. Underneath them, New York's elite mingled in formal wear that cost more than most people earned in months. Women draped in silk and jewels. Men in perfectly tailored tuxedos. The soft notes of a string quartet floated above the murmur of conversations and tinkling champagne glasses.Camille Kane stood just outside the ballroom doors, watching through a crack. Her blue gown shimmered in the dim light of the hallway, but she had never felt less festive."Security check complete," said Jason, Alexander's head of security, into his earpiece. "Main floor is clear. Balconies and kitchens clear. All entrances covered."Camille nodded, barely hearing him. Her thoughts remained with Victoria, who was gathering her strength in a private room upstairs before making her entrance."Camille." Alexander's voice brought her back to the present. He stood beside her
Chapter 148Camille knocked on Victoria's office door, files clutched under her arm. The security plans for the gala needed one final approval, and despite Victoria's reluctance about the event, Camille knew she would want to review the details.When no answer came, she knocked again.Still silence.Camille turned the handle, expecting to find the office empty. Instead, she found Victoria slumped in her chair, eyes closed, face pale as paper. A small bottle of pills had tipped over on the desk, its contents scattered across important documents."Victoria?" Camille rushed forward, files forgotten, falling to the floor.Victoria's eyes fluttered open. For a moment, confusion clouded her face, then recognition dawned. "Camille. I was just resting my eyes."But Camille wasn't listening. Her gaze had locked on the pill bottle. The label faced upward, the word "OXYCODONE" visible in bold print, along with Victoria's name."What are these?" Camille picked up the bottle, dread pooling in her
Alexander Pierce stood in the ballroom of the Grand Plaza Hotel, watching his security team transform the elegant space into a fortress. Men in black suits installed hidden cameras in crystal chandeliers. Others tested metal detectors disguised as decorative archways. Every entrance, every window, every air vent was being secured."The sniper teams will be positioned here, here, and here," his head of security explained, pointing to locations on the blueprint spread across a table. "Full view of all approaches. No one gets within a hundred yards without being spotted."Alexander nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. Rose Lewis had vanished completely. No sightings. No trails. It was as if she had disappeared into thin air. And that worried him more than if she'd been openly threatening them.The silent threats were always the deadliest.His phone buzzed. Stefan Rodriguez's name flashed on the screen. Alexander stepped away from the security team to take the call."What do you have for m
Chapter 146Pain came first. A deep, burning ache in his chest that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. Then sounds filtered in, the steady beep of machines, the squeak of rubber-soled shoes on linoleum, hushed voices just beyond his reach.Herod Preston opened his eyes.The hospital room swam into focus slowly. White ceiling. Blue curtains. Clear tubes running into his arms. And a man in a dark suit sitting beside his bed, watching him with tired eyes."Mr. Preston," the man said, leaning forward. "I'm Special Agent Morgan with the FBI. Can you hear me?"Herod tried to speak, but his throat felt like sandpaper. A nurse appeared, holding a small cup of water with a straw. He sipped, the cool liquid both painful and soothing as it went down."Yes," he managed finally, his voice a raspy whisper. "I hear you."Agent Morgan nodded to someone Herod couldn't see. A woman stepped into view, also in a dark suit. "Agent Chen," she introduced herself. "You've been unconscious for four days, Mr
Chapter 145Rose paced the tiny motel room, her expensive boots wearing a path in the cheap carpet. The walls closed in on her, yellow from decades of cigarette smoke, spotted with water stains. How had it come to this? She, Rose Lewis, hiding in this filthy place while her sister lived in luxury.The TV blared the noon news. Rose turned up the volume when she heard the words "Kane Industries.""The annual Phoenix Foundation charity gala will proceed as planned this Friday night, despite recent security concerns," the reporter announced. "Camille Kane released a statement today confirming that the event, which raises funds for the Children's Hospital, will not be postponed."The camera cut to Camille standing at a podium, looking confident and polished. "We refuse to let fear dictate our actions," she said, her voice strong. "The children who benefit from this gala need our support now more than ever."Rose hurled her coffee mug at the TV screen. It shattered, coffee splashing across
Chapter 144Camille stood at the window of her office, a cup of coffee cooling in her hands as she watched the city below. The Phoenix Grid had fully recovered from the bombings, with the repairs finished ahead of schedule. In two days, Kane Industries would host its annual charity gala, celebrating both the Grid's success and raising money for the children's hospital. Everything was going according to plan.Until Alexander Pierce walked in, his face grim."We need to talk," he said, closing the door behind him.Something in his voice made Camille's stomach tighten. She set down her coffee cup. "What happened?"Alexander loosened his tie, a gesture he only made when upset. "Herod Preston was shot three times in a motel room yesterday. He'd called the FBI to turn himself in, but before they got there, someone tried to kill him.""Rose," Camille said immediately. It wasn't a question.Alexander nodded. "The motel room was registered under her name. She escaped through the bathroom windo
Chapter 143Rose ran across the motel parking lot, her mind racing faster than her feet. The worn soles of her expensive shoes slapped against cracked asphalt as panic clawed at her chest. Herod was going to tell the FBI everything. Her plan, her revenge, her future, all of it would crumble if he talked.She reached her car, not her car, really, but one of Herod's cars. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the keys. The recorder. The damned recorder he'd shown her. How long had he been recording their conversations? What exactly had she said?Rose stopped, the key halfway to the lock. She couldn't run. Not yet. Not while Herod sat in that motel room with a phone pressed to his ear, her name on his lips, and evidence of her crimes in his pocket.In the distance, sirens wailed. Still far away, but coming closer.Rose looked back at Room 17, its faded blue door visible from where she stood. Behind that door sat the man who could destroy everything she'd built. Everything she'd sacrificed
Chapter 142The morning news blared from the small TV in their latest hideout, a run-down motel on the outskirts of the city. Herod sat on the edge of the bed, watching his own face flash across the screen. The reporter's voice filled the cramped room."Federal authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Herod Preston, naming him as the primary suspect in the Phoenix Grid bombings. Officials cite overwhelming evidence found in Preston's apartment, including detailed plans and materials matching those used in the attacks."Rose emerged from the bathroom, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. "Turn that off," she snapped. "We already know what they're saying."Herod didn't move. His eyes remained fixed on the screen as the reporter continued."Sources close to the investigation reveal Preston had a long-standing grudge against Victoria Kane, whose company developed the Phoenix Grid. If convicted, Preston faces terrorism charges that could carry multiple life sentences without possibility o
Chapter 141Victoria Kane stared at the medical report on her desk, the words blurring as her eyes filled with unwanted tears. The cancer had spread faster than expected. Six months, maybe less, was all the time she had left. She pushed the papers away and stood to look out her office window.Her own reflection stared back at her, thinner now, her face pale and drawn from the treatments that weren't working. The doctor had suggested stopping them, focusing instead on comfort measures. "Quality of life over quantity," he'd said gently.Victoria had walked out without answering. Quality wasn't enough. She needed time. Time to secure Camille's future. Time to make sure her daughter by choice would be protected when Victoria was gone.Her assistant's voice came through the intercom. "Mrs. Lewis has arrived."Victoria straightened her jacket, checked her reflection once more, and squared her shoulders. No one, not even Margaret Lewis, would see her weakness today."Send her in."Margaret L