Lahat ng Kabanata ng SCORNED EX WIFE : Queen Of Ashes: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

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 3 ROSE'S POINT OF VIEW I 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 thirteen 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, desper

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 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 9 Victoria stopped at a heavy wooden door, unlocking it with a key from her robe pocket. Inside was a home gym unlike any I'd ever seen, state-of-the-art equipment, mirrors covering one wall, a boxing ring taking up the center of the room. She flipped on lights that mimicked daylight, making me blink at the sudden brightness. Without a word, she crossed to a cabinet and extracted hand wraps and boxing gloves. "Put these on." I took them, bewildered. "Victoria, it's the middle of the night." "And you're awake, drowning in self-pity instead of planning your resurrection." Her voice wasn't cruel, just matter-of-fact. "So put them on." My hands trembled as I wrapped them, clumsy from inexperience. Victoria watched, neither helping nor criticizing, until I managed to secure the gloves. "Hit that." She pointed to a heavy bag hanging in the corner. I approached it uncertainly. "I've never boxed before." "I'm not teaching you to box. I'm teaching you to channel your rage." Sh