SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 110

The clock on the wall of the control room read 3:17 AM as

Camille stood by Hannah Zhao's workstation, watching streams of code flicker across multiple screens. A faint

blue glow bathed the room in ethereal light, casting long shadows across the faces of the twelve er six hours.

“It's time,” Hannah said, looking up at Camille with red-

rimmed eyes that nonetheless sparkled with determination. "The first section of the Grid is ready for activation."

Camille nodded, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Everyone in position?”

Through her earpiece, Alexander's steady voice confirmed, "Security teams are in place. The suspected saboteur

is

working on the east junction, thinking he's alone while preparing the final circuits."

"And whoever it is has no idea we've replaced everything?" Camille asked Hannah.

Hannah's lips curved into a smile that

held no humor. "Not unless they actually test the components, which doesn't appear to be part of their

instructions. Whoever it is, they're following the sabotaged plans to the letter, installing modified circuits tha

seventy-two hours after full activation."

Camille took a deep breath, steadying herself against the edge of the desk. This wasn't just a business venture

or even a simple triumph over Rose and Herod. The Phoenix Grid represented something more profound-

her rebirth from the ashes of Camille Lewis into someone new, someone who

created rather than destroyed.

"Let's bring it online," she said quietly.

Hannah's fingers flew across the keyboard. "Initiating power

sequence to Section A. Substation One coming online in five, four, three, two..."

The room fell silent as

the main display showed a schematic of the Grid's first section, a network of intersecting lines spanning six city

blocks. For a heart- stopping moment, nothing

happened. Then, one by one, the connection points illuminated, bright blue dots spreading through the network

like stars appearing in the evening sky.

"Power flow stable," called out Rishabh from his monitoring station. "All junction points green. Transformer loads

at expected levels." "Voltage regulation is holding," added

Elena, her voice tight with concentration. "No fluctuations detected."

"Security protocols

active," said Marcus, his fingers moving rapidly across his keyboard, "No unauthorized access attempts."

Camille found herself holding her breath as the indicators continued to light up across the display. This

was it, the moment they would discover if their countermeasures

had worked, if they had truly managed to outmaneuver Rose and Herod's

sabotage.

1/6

Chapter 110

"Section A fully operational," Hannah announced finally, swiveling in her chair to face the room. “Ladies and

gentlemen, we have successfully brought the first section of the Phoenix Grid online."

Cheer erupted from the exhausted team, the sound of it washing over Camille like a wave. She closed her eyes

briefly, allowing herself to feel the victory.

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"Remarkable work," cVictoria's voice from the doorway. Camille hadn't heard her enter. "But | presume

we're maintaining appearances?"

"Yes," Hannah confirmed, suddenly serious again. "From the outside, it appears we're following the sabotaged

blueprints exactly. Our corrections are invisible unless someone physically inspects the component Victoria

nodded, her silver hair catching the blue light from the screens. "And what about our mysterious installer?"

Alexander's voice cthrough the speakers. "Currently packing up his tools, looking rather pleased with

himself. He just

made a call, encrypted, but our team picked up the word ‘complete.’ He thinks his part is done."

"Let him think that," Camille said, moving to stand beside Victoria. "The more confident Rose and Herod feel, the

more likely they are to be at the launch ceremony."

Victoria studied the displays, her

expression unreadable. "I've known many enemies in my time, but few as

persistent as the Prestons. Herod's father would be proud of his son's dedication."

"We have something they

don't," Alexander replied through the comm system. "We know they're coming."

Hannah gestured toward another screen showing complex data flows. "I've implemented what | call ‘honeypot

errors' deliberate minor issues in

the system that appear to be part of the normal startup process. If anyone's monitoring our systems remotely,

they'll see exactly what they expect to see; a grid

with hidden flaws preparing to fail catastrophically."

"And the backup power systems?" Victoria asked.

"Triple redundancy, just as you requested," Hannah confirmed. "If anything goes wrong, we can shift to alternate

circuits in

milliseconds. No interruption, no explosions, no chaos."

Camille felt a strange mixture of emotions as she watched the blue

lights of her creation pulse with life. Pride in what they had built. Anger at those

who sought to destroy it. And something else, a quiet satisfaction that went beyond revenge.

"I need a moment," she murmured, stepping away from the group and walking to the large windows overlooking

the city.

Dawn was still

hours away, but New York never truly slept. Lights twinkled in office buildings and

apartments, people going

about their lives unaware of the battle being waged in the shadows. Somewhere out there, Rose and Herod were

waiting, watching, planning.

Camille's reflection stared back at her from the glass-a woman transformed

by pain and purpose, harder than she once was but perhaps stronger for it. She barely resembled Camille Lewis

anymore, that trusting woman who had signed divorce papers with quiet dignity before walking into a trap.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Alexander's voice startled her. He had arrived in person, his reflection appearing

beside hers in the window.

"I was just thinking about who I've become,” she admitted. "When Victoria found me, all | wanted

was to make them pay. Now..."

"Now you're creating something that could change

millions of lives," he finished for her. "That's the difference between you and Rose. She can only destroy what

others build."

Camille turned to face him. "Do you think she knows? That

we've discovered the sabotage?"

Alexander shook his head. "If she knew, she'd be

panicking, changing plans, making mistakes. Everything suggests they still

believe their trap is set and waiting."

"Two more

days until the official launch," Camille said quietly. "Everything we've worked for comes

down to that moment."

"Not everything," Alexander countered, taking her hand. His touch was

warm, grounding. "This project is extraordinary, but it's

not your whole story, Camille."

She looked down at their

joined hands, remembering the hospital room where they had first met years ago, though she

hadn't remembered until he told her. How strange that their paths had crossed twice, once when she was simply

kind to a stranger, and again when that stranger had becher ally against those who sought to destroy her.

"Ms. Kane?" Hannah called from across the room. "You should see this."

Camille and Alexander returned to the central console where Hannah

had pulled up a new display.

"We're detecting an unauthorized access attempt on the main server," Hannah explained, pointing to a flashing

indicator. "Someone's trying to view the activation data from Section A."

"Can you trace it?" Victoria asked sharply.

Hannah's fingers flew across the keyboard. "It's bouncing through

multiple proxies, but..

yes. The origin appears to be a penthouse in Tribeca."

"Herod's building," Alexander

confirmed. “They're wondering if their sabotage is working as planned.”

"Let's give them exactly what they

want to see," Camille said, her voice hardening. " Show them the honeypot data. Let them think everything is

proceeding according to their

plan."

Hannah nodded and initiated the protocol.

"Feeding them the false telemetry now. They'll see minor fluctuations that appear consistent with their sabotage

timeline."

"Perfect,” Victoria said with grim satisfaction. "Let them believe they're winning."

On the main screen, a notification appeared indicating the unauthorized user had downloaded the doctored data

and disconnected.

"They took the bait," Hannah confirmed.

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Alexander's phone buzzed. He checked the message and looked up. "That was my team watching the installer.

He just got into a car with dark windows. Looks like a pickup."

"Follow him?" Camille asked.

Alexander shook his head. "Better to let him go. If we spook their operative

now, Rose and Herod might realize something's wrong."

Victoria turned to the engineering team. "Proceed with bringing the remaining

sections online

according to schedule. Remember, from the outside, everything must appear to be following their sabotaged

blueprints precisely."

As the team resumed their work with renewed

vigor, Camille felt a strange calm settle over her. For so long, she had been reacting to Rose's machinations,

scrambling to catch up. Now, finally, she was a step

ahead.

"You should rest," Alexander said quietly. "You've been here all night."

"| couldn't sleep now if | tried," Camille replied, her eyes fixed on the glowing blue network that represented her

vision made real. "Besides, | want to be here when Section B comes online."

Victoria approached them, her expression softer than

usual. "He's right, Camille. The next twenty-

four hours will be crucial. You need to be at your best."

Camille hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Wakeimmediately if anything changes.” “Of course,” Victoria

promised. “Alexander, see that she gets hsafely."

As they walked toward the elevator, Camille cast one last glance at the

control room, at Hannah directing

her team, at Victoria standing tall and vigilant, at the screens showing

the first heartbeats of the Phoenix Grid.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said quietly.

Alexander followed her gaze. "Yes, it is. And they can't take it from you."

The elevator doors opened, and

they stepped inside. As the doors closed, Camille leaned against the wall, suddenly aware of the

bone-deep exhaustion that had been lurking beneath her focus,

"When this is over," she said, "when Rose and Herod are dealt with... what comes next?"

Alexander considered her question carefully. "Whatever you want. That's the point of all this, isn't it? To reclaim

your choice."

The elevator descended smoothly, carrying them away from the pulsing

heart of Camille's creation. But even as the physical distance grew, she could feel it, the Grid, alive and

awakening, its power flowing through the veins of the city like blood through a body.

Two days until the launch ceremony. Two days until Rose and Herod made their final move. Two days until Camille

would face

her sister one last time.

But tonight, for the first time, she wasn't afraid. Tonight, the Phoenix had risen from the ashes, and its wings

were made of light.