Chapter 12

Camille's point of view

Rose had posted a "tribute" to me, a carefully filtered photo of us as teenagers, her arm around my shoulders, her face glowing while mine was partly in shadow. "Missing my angel sister every day. Your light was too bright for this world. #SisterLove #Forever"

Beneath it, dozens of sympathetic comments. Friends who'd never questioned her role in my marriage's end. Acquaintances eager to attach themselves to her grief narrative.

And Stefan, commenting with a simple heart emoji. The man who'd handed me divorce papers on our anniversary,now publicly mourning the wife he'd discarded.

"Enough," I said finally, closing the laptop. "I've seen what I needed to see."

Victoria studied me carefully. "And what do you feel?"

I searched myself, digging for the hurt, the rage, the betrayal that should be there. Instead, I found something colder, more focused. Like looking at specimens in a lab.

"Nothing," I answered honestly. "They're strangers performing in a play."

Victoria's smile was approving. "Good. Emotional detachment is essential for what comes next."

She gestured to the rest of the files on her desk. "Your new life awaits, Camille. Elite education. Investment prodigy. My reclusive adopted daughter finally emerging to take her place in my empire."

I picked up my new passport, thumb brushing over the name embossed in gold. Camille Kane. A woman who'd never been hurt by Rose. Never been betrayed by Stefan. Never been overlooked by parents who preferred their adopted daughter.

"And if someone recognizes me? Someone who knew Camille Lewis?"

Victoria's expression turned serious. "Your new life must be impenetrable. If anyone connects Camille Kane to Camille Lewis, everything we've built collapses."

"How do we prevent that?"

"First, appearance." She gestured to my hair. "Tomorrow morning, our stylists will transform you. New cut,new color, subtle changes that create distance from your former self."

I touched my long brown waves, another piece of the old me about to disappear."What else?"

"Body language.Speech patterns. The way you walk, the way you hold a glass, the way you respond to questions. We've arranged sessions with a behavioral coach who works with intelligence agencies. He'll help eliminate tells that might connect you to your former self."

The thoroughness of the plan was both impressive and terrifying. Victoria had thought of everything,anticipated every potential crack in my new identity.

"And most importantly," she continued, "limited exposure/to anyone who knew CCamille Lewis. For at least the first year, you'll avoid any setting where you might encounter old connections."

"And after that?"

Victoria's eyes gleamed. "After that, when your new identity is firmly established, when the world has accepted Camille Kane without question, then we begin the real work."

She opened anotherfile, this one containing financial reports, business plans, investment portfolios.

"Rose has expanded her boutique into a small fashion line. She's seeking five million in startup capital.Her current business plan is remarkably solid, I must admit."

I glanced at the numbers, the projections, seeing the dream my sister had likely been nurturing even while pretending to support my marriage,"And?"

"And Kane Ventures will be very interested in her proposal. So interested that I'm sending my protégée,you... to handle the potential investment personally."

The image formed in my mind instantly. Mle, transformed, powerful, wealthy beyond imagination sitting across from Rose, holding her dreams in my hands. Her not recognizing the sister she'd betrayed, now positioned to grant or destroy her future.

"How long?" I asked. "How long until I can face her as Camille Kane?"

"One year. Perhaps eighteen months. Time for your 'death' to fade from memory. Time for your new identity to solidify. Time for you to master every skill you'll need to dismantle their world piece by piece."

I nodded, a plan forming. Not just revenge, but justice. Not just destruction, but reconstruction. Taking back everything they'd stolen from me and more.

Victoria handed me a final document, a schedule that spanned months, detailing my transformation from Camille Lewis to Camille Kane. Language lessons. Etiquette training. Finance courses. Self-defense classes.Public speaking workshops. A complete rebuilding from the ground up.

"It begins tomorrow," she said. "5 AM. Personal trainer. 7 AM. Hair and styling. 9 AM. Diction coach. 11 AM.Press conference preparation. 2 PM. Official introduction to the board of Kane Industries."

The day stretched before me, the first of many that would forge me into someone new. Someone stronger.Someone capable of executing the justice I deserved.

Victoria opened her desk drawer and withdrew a small velvet box. "One last thing."

Inside was a pendant, a silver phoenix rising from flames, suspended on a platinum chain. Diamonds formed the bird's wings, catching light as she held it up.

"My gift to you. A reminder of what you're becoming."

She moved behind me, fastening the necklace around my throat. The pendant settled against my skin, cool at first, then warming.

"From the ashes of what they did to you," she murmured, her hands resting briefly on my shoulders. "From the fire they thought would destroy you."

I touched the phoenix, feeling its weight against my collarbone."Thank you."

Victoria returned to her desk, gathering the files into neat stacks. "Everything is in place. Your new identity,across from Rose, holding her dreams in my hands. Her not recognizing the sister she'd betrayed, now positioned to grant or destroy her future.

"How long?" I asked. "How long until I can face her as Camille Kane?"

"One year. Perhaps eighteen months. Time for your 'death' to fade from memory. Time for your new identity to solidify. Time for you to master every skill you'll need to dismantle their world piece by piece."

I nodded, a plan forming. Not just revenge, but justice. Not just destruction, but reconstruction. Taking back everything they'd stolen from me and more.

Victoria handed me a final document, a schedule that spanned months, detailing my transformation from Camille Lewis to Camille Kane. Language lessons. Etiquette training. Finance courses. Self-defense classes.Public speaking workshops. A complete rebuilding from the ground up.

"It begins tomorrow," she said. "5 AM. Personal trainer. 7 AM. Hair and styling. 9 AM. Diction coach. 11 AM.Press conference preparation. 2 PM. Official introduction to the board of Kane Industries."

The day stretched before me, the first of many that would forge me into someone new. Someone stronger.Someone capable of executing the justice I deserved.

Victoria opened her desk drawer and withdrew a small velvet box. "One last thing."

Inside was a pendant, a silver phoenix rising from flames, suspended on a platinum chain. Diamonds formed the bird's wings, catching light as she held it up.

"My gift to you. A reminder of what you're becoming."

She moved behind me, fastening the necklace around my throat. The pendant settled against my skin, cool at first, then warming.

"From the ashes of what they did to you," she murmured, her hands resting briefly on my shoulders. "From the fire they thought would destroy you."

I touched the phoenix, feeling its weight against my collarbone."Thank you."

Victoria returned to her desk, gathering the files into neat stacks. "Everything is in place. Your new identity,your education, your backstory. Now we need only set the pieces in motion."

She pressed another button on her phone. "Send in the surveillance team."

Moments later, three men entered the office. James, who I'd seen earlier,and two others in similar dark suits.They carried tablets and folders, standing at attention until Victoria nodded for them to approach.

"Updates," she commanded.

"Ms. Lewis and Mr. Rodriguez returned from Greece this morning," James reported, handing her his tablet.

"And the parents?" Victoria asked.

"The Lewises are maintaining appearances," another man reported. "Charity functions, social obligations.Mrs.Lewis has increased her anxiety medication. Mr. Lewis has been spending more time at his club than at home."

Small cracks in their perfect facade. Just the beginning.

"Financial status?" Victoria directed this question to the third man.

"Lewis Industries stock has dropped eight percent since the memorial service. Initial sympathy has faded,and investors are questioning Mr. Lewis's focus. The Rodriguez family business remains stable, though there are rumors of tension between Stefan and his father regarding the hasty relationship to Rose."

Victoria nodded, satisfied. "Continue monitoring. I want updates daily. Focus particularly on Rose's business activities. Every investor she approaches, every meeting she takes."

"Yes,Ms.Kane."

They departed as silently as they'd arrived, leaving me alone again with Victoria and the scattered remnants of my fabricated life.

"Well?" she asked, studying my reaction.Does this satisfy you? Knowing they're being watched? Knowing we see every move they make?"

I considered the question, searching my feelings. The photos should have hurt. The news of them in Greece should have enraged me. Instead, I felt strangely detached, as if watching characters in a film I'd already seen.

"No," I answered honestly. "It doesn't satisfy me."

Victoria raised an eyebrow."NO?"

"Watching isn't enough. Knowledge isn't enough." I picked up the photo of Rose and Stefan on their vacation, her face glowing with triumph, his arm possessively around her waist. "They're happy.They believe they've won."

I set the photo down, turning it face-down on the desk. "I don't want repoorts about their lives. I want control over their lives. I want them to build dreams I can shatter. Create hopes I can destroy. Construct a future l can dismantle."

Victoria's smile spread slowly, pride evident in her eyes.nd you shall have that opportunity. But first,you must become someone they would never suspect. Someone they would trust with their aspirations."

l looked at the stack of documents that created Camille Kane, the foundation of my new existence. "When do we begin dismantling their happiness?"

"The moment you're ready," Victoria promised. "The moment Camille Kane is real enough, solid enough to withstand their scrutiny."

She gathered the surveillance photos, sliding them into a folder. "For now, focus on becoming. On shedding the last traces of the woman they hurt. On building the woman who will destroy them."

I nodded, understanding the path before me. A long game. A patient revenge. Not the quick satisfaction.of confrontation, but the deeper pleasure of orchestrated downfall.

"Tomorrow," I said, gathering my new identity papers. "We begin tomorrow."

Standing straighter, I faced Victoria with new determination."I'm ready."

She nodded once, satisfaction evident in her eyes. "Then let us begin."