Chapter 302

Chapter 302:

Her voice seemed to steady the crowd, but now people were pushing, the evacuation becoming more frantic.

Victoria had reached the stage steps, her face pale but determined. “The car is waiting. Alexander says we have less than ten minutes.”

Camille looked at the frightened faces below her, then at Victoria—the woman who had saved her life, who had given her a second chance, and who was now dying and still thinking of others first.

“You go,” Camille said. “I’ll be right behind you. I promise.”

Victoria’s expression hardened. “I won’t leave you here.”

“You have to.” Camille held Victoria’s gaze steadily. “The foundation needs at least one of us to survive. And you need medical attention.”

Another small explosion sounded from somewhere deeper in the building. More screams. More panic.

“Go,” Camille urged. “Please. Let me do this. Let me help these people.”

Victoria stood frozen for a moment, torn between her instinct to protect Camille and the logic of her argument. Finally, she nodded.

“Two minutes,” she said. “Then you follow. Swear it.”

“I swear,” Camille replied, though they both knew it might be a promise she couldn’t keep.

Victoria moved toward the private exit, where Alexander waited. As she disappeared from view, Camille turned back to the crowd. Nine minutes left. Hundreds still inside. Including her.

But she wouldn’t leave. Not yet. Not while she could still help.

Rose had designed this attack to destroy everything Camille had built. To kill her, yes, but also to shatter the foundation that bore her name. To turn a night of triumph into one of tragedy.

Camille wouldn’t let that happen. Even if it meant risking everything.

“Keep moving!” she called into the microphone. “Security personnel, please assist with the elderly guests. Everyone else, please allow children and those needing assistance to exit first.”

From the corner of her eye, Camille saw Alexander reappear at the private exit, his face taut with frustration and fear. He gestured urgently for her to come. Camille shook her head. Not yet. Not until she had done everything possible to save these people who had trusted her enough to come tonight.

Not until she had proven, once and for all, that Rose’s attempts to destroy her had failed.

Eight minutes remained on the countdown. Eight minutes to define who she truly was.

And Camille Kane would not run.

The first explosion hit without warning.

One moment, Camille was helping an elderly woman toward the exit, her arm supporting the frail body. The next, a thunderous boom shook the building. The floor beneath them trembled. Crystal chandeliers swayed dangerously overhead.

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