Chapter 388

Chapter 388:

“She’s nobody,” Rose snapped, the words burning her throat. “A fake. A placeholder. Victoria Kane’s pet project.”

The woman squinted at the screen, then at Rose, taking in her hollow cheeks and burning eyes. Recognition dawned slowly. “Wait. Isn’t that…”

“Leave me alone,” Rose snarled, and something in her face made the woman step back quickly.

On television, Camille continued fielding questions from the press. Someone asked about her background, about her seemingly sudden appearance in business circles.

“Many of you are wondering who I am,” Camille acknowledged. “Where I came from. That story is longer than we have time for today.”

“Liar!” Rose shouted at the screen, loud enough that heads turned throughout the common room. “Tell them who you really are! Tell them how you stole my life, my future!”

A guard looked over, brow furrowed. Rose forced her face into blankness, years of practice making it second nature, but inside, acid burned through her veins.

“Ms. Lewis,” the guard called from across the room. “Everything all right up there?”

“Fine,” Rose answered, her voice honey-sweet. “Just caught up in the news.”

The guard studied her a moment longer, then returned to his conversation with another.

A staff member moved past, but Rose’s attention snapped back to the screen where Camille was answering a question about her plans for the company.

“I can confirm that Kane Industries will be realigning certain holdings,” Camille was saying. “Details will be released tomorrow.”

Rose sat forward, suddenly alert. The hospital gown gaped at her neck, revealing collarbones that had grown sharp during her weeks in custody. “Realigning holdings?” she repeated, her eyes narrowing. “What does that mean?”

A terrible suspicion formed. The Rodriguez Shipping assets, the ones Kane Industries had acquired during Camille’s revenge campaign against Stefan. Was she giving them back to him? After everything he’d done?

The thought made Rose’s stomach twist with fresh fury. Of course Camille would forgive Stefan. She had always been weak that way—always ready to excuse betrayal, to offer second chances. Not like Rose. Rose never forgave. Never forgot.

Questions continued from journalists about the company’s direction, about Victoria’s health, about Camille’s own background. With each smooth, articulate answer, Rose’s rage grew hotter, brighter, consuming her from within.

“Look at her,” she muttered to no one. “So polished. So perfect. Fooling them all.”

But the woman on the screen wasn’t fooling anyone. She radiated authentic authority, answering each question with thoughtful precision. Not a trace remained of the naive, trusting woman Rose had so easily manipulated. This was someone else entirely. Someone stronger. Someone Rose had failed to destroy.

The final question came from a reporter in the back row, his tone insinuating.

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