SCORNED EX WIFE : Queen Of Ashes
pte
s point
softly behind me. The air smelled like lemon polish and roses, just like it a
I crept up the stairs, careful to skip the third step that creaked
a crack, just like I'd left it all those years ago. T
walls, same white furniture, same collection of second-place trop
makeup three years ago, Rose standing behind me with that perfect smile. Now my mascara wa
for hours, packing what little of my old life I wanted to keep.
e twentieth time in an ho
e home so we can discuss this lik
was worried. Her carefully
istening to familiar footsteps on hardwood. The sl
he stairs. "Darling, I know you're
en smarter, faster, better at disappearing. But I'd n
bably called home from work to deal with
e'd used when I was twelve, crying about Rose getting
d freeze. Lighter, more graceful. Per
ipped concern. "Sweetie, p
was finalized. Mom and Dad beaming, Rose radiant in her new dress, thirtee
a j
me like a pun
-
clutched my script, tears blurring the wo
didn't mean to take your part. I just... the words came so
Rose had a gift. For music, for a
always meant trouble. "Maybe you could help me practice? Be
Because saying no to Rose meant disappointed looks
e brought the audience to tears. Afterward, Mo
ur "practice sessions." Or that her dramatic monologue had b
gift for memoriz
-
s voice sharpened. "This behavi
my bedr
m in her designer suit, Dad looking distinguished in his wor
me out steady. "Shouldn't yo
s the performer. "Camille,
ng with my husband? Or how you set th
ose, who already had tears forming. Perfect,
ered. "Lashing out. You k
at card again. Show them the ring, Rose. The one Stefan gave you two m
mask slipped for just a second. I saw it this time
like that,"
ng me marriage advice while sleeping with my husband. Tell them about all the times you h
m stepped forward.
steal something that belonged to her sister?" I pulle
Camille. We tried to fight it, but some people are j
hat followed
ever meant to hurt you. We
nnecting with her cheek
bed my arm. "Have y
loom on Rose's perfect face. "For the first
Rose's sobs started, the same performance she'd p
called after me. "You can't
family. Mom comforting Rose, Dad looking torn, and my sister wat
em all step back. "No, this isn't family. This is a game.
ed for me, ever the caring si
ght me well, big sister. About manipulation. About pat
real fear this t
whispered, letting her go. "Now
the foyer mirror, I caught one last glimpse of my