Camilla sat on the edge of the cheap mattress in her temporary apartment.

She scrolled through the endless sea of hateful comments on her phone. Her face was paper-white. Her fingers trembled so hard she almost dropped the device. But her eyes were turning colder by the second.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was her father, Donnie Mcneil.

"Camilla!" Donnie's voice was frantic. "What's going on? The news is saying... Is it true? Are you okay?"

Camilla took a deep breath. She forced her voice to stay steady.

"Dad, I'm fine. It's all lies. Carlisle is... manipulating the story. I need to handle this myself."

Donnie roared into the phone. "That bastard! I'll call him! I'll-"

"No, Dad. Please," Camilla interrupted firmly. "Let me deal with it. I'll explain everything later. I love you."

She hung up the phone. A fierce, burning resolve ignited in her chest.

She walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She applied a light layer of makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes. She put on a sharp, tailored black blazer.

She walked out of the apartment and hailed a cab straight to the Stark Enterprises headquarters.

She walked through the revolving glass doors of Stark Tower. Her heels clicked loudly against the marble floor.

Tiffany Reed, the front desk receptionist, saw her coming. Tiffany's eyes darted nervously around the lobby. She stepped out from behind the desk to block Camilla's path.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Stark... I mean, Ms. Mcneil," Tiffany stammered. "Do you have an appointment?"

Camilla didn't even slow down. Her voice was sharp and commanding.

"No appointment. But Carlisle will see me. Now."

Tiffany reached for her radio to call security. Camilla ignored her. She walked straight to the private executive elevator. She didn't bother with her deactivated access card. Instead, she locked eyes with Tiffany. "Call the top floor," Camilla ordered, her tone leaving absolutely no room for argument. "Tell Carlisle I am here to sign the final asset transfer documents for the divorce. If he wants my signature on the remaining shares, he will let me up this second." Tiffany swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she picked up the phone. A moment later, the receptionist nodded nervously and pressed a button under the desk. The private elevator chimed, its doors sliding open.

The elevator shot up to the top floor. When the doors opened, Camilla stepped out. The entire floor went dead silent. Employees stared at her, whispering behind their hands.

Camilla ignored them. She walked straight to Carlisle's massive corner office.

The heavy wooden door was cracked open. A soft, whiny voice drifted out into the hallway.

"Carlisle, I'm so scared... What if she comes after me? She must hate me so much..."

Camilla's footsteps stopped. She recognized Celine's voice instantly. Her stomach violently contracted. A wave of pure, unadulterated rage washed over her.

She shoved the door open. It slammed against the wall with a loud bang.

Inside, Carlisle was sitting behind his massive mahogany desk. Celine was sitting in the chair right next to him. She was leaning forward, her delicate hand resting on Carlisle's forearm. She looked like a fragile, frightened bird.

The second Celine saw Camilla, she snatched her hand back. She gasped and pressed her hand to her chest, acting terrified.

Carlisle's face instantly darkened. He stood up abruptly.

"How did you get up here?" he demanded.

Camilla didn't even look at him. She locked her eyes onto Celine. Her voice was pure venom.

"So, this is the 'first love'? The homewrecker who couldn't wait to slither back?"

Celine's eyes instantly filled with tears. A single tear rolled down her perfectly powdered cheek. Her voice shook.

"Camilla, please... I never meant to hurt you. Carlisle and I... we just couldn't deny our feelings..."

Carlisle immediately stepped around the desk. He stood directly in front of Celine, shielding her with his body. He glared at Camilla.

"That's enough, Camilla! Don't you dare speak to Celine like that!"

Camilla let out a harsh, bitter laugh. Seeing him protect another woman right in front of her face felt like a knife twisting in her gut. But it also felt completely ridiculous.

"Protecting her? In my face?" Camilla sneered. "You really have no shame, Carlisle."

Carlisle's eyes were cold and hard. "You're the one with no shame, coming here after what you did. Security is on their way. Leave now, before I have you removed."

Camilla took a step closer to him. She refused to back down.

"I'm not leaving until I get the truth out! You lied to everyone! You emotionally cheated on me for years, and now you're painting me as the villain?"

Celine suddenly buried her face in her hands. She let out a loud, pathetic sob.

"It's all my fault... I should just disappear... Carlisle, maybe I should go..."

Carlisle immediately turned and placed a comforting hand on Celine's shoulder. Then he turned back to Camilla. He looked at her like she was a piece of trash on his shoe.

"You see what you're doing? You're upsetting her. Celine is innocent in all this. She doesn't deserve your harassment."

Camilla stared at Celine's fake tears. A sudden, overwhelming wave of exhaustion hit her. Her shoulders dropped slightly. She realized in that exact moment that fighting with these two was completely pointless. Carlisle was blind, and Celine was a master manipulator.

She took a step back. The burning anger in her eyes died out. It was replaced by a dead, hollow emptiness.

"Innocent," Camilla whispered flatly. "Right."

Two large security guards rushed into the office.

"Escort Ms. Mcneil out of the building," Carlisle ordered coldly. "She's not allowed on the premises again."

The guards stepped toward her. Camilla didn't fight them. She didn't scream. She just looked at Carlisle one last time. There was no anger left. No sadness. Just absolute, chilling disappointment.

She turned around and walked out of the office. The guards followed closely behind her. She kept her spine perfectly straight. She walked into the elevator and pressed the lobby button.

The second the metal doors slid shut, a single tear escaped her eye. She wiped it away viciously. Her eyes hardened into steel.

Up in the office, Carlisle stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. He watched Camilla's tiny figure walk out of the building and onto the busy street. A strange, hollow feeling opened up in his chest.

But Celine quickly walked up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Carlisle, thank you for protecting me," she whispered softly. "But I'm worried... what if she tries to hurt you?"

Camilla walked into her temporary apartment and threw her purse onto the cheap sofa.

She walked over to the small window and stared out at the glittering Manhattan skyline. The humiliation from Stark Tower still burned in her veins, but it was no longer pain. It was pure, highly combustible fuel.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed her father's number. Her voice was steady and hard.

"Dad, it's time. I want to come home. And I want to take over Mcneil Industries."

Donnie was silent for two heavy seconds. When he spoke, his voice was thick with pride and relief.

"It's about time, my girl. I've been waiting for this call. Come to the Hamptons tomorrow. We'll make the announcement."

The next morning, Camilla drove her car up the long, tree-lined driveway of the Mcneil Estate in the Hamptons. The massive stone mansion looked exactly the same. It gave her a brief sense of comfort, but her stomach tightened knowing who was waiting inside.

Bridget O'Malley, the elderly housekeeper, was waiting on the front steps. When she saw Camilla, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Miss Camilla! Welcome home!" Bridget cried. "Your father is in his study."

Camilla gave Bridget a tight hug. She didn't waste any time. She walked straight down the hall and pushed open the heavy oak doors to the study.

Donnie was standing by the window. He looked older, his hair greyer, but his eyes were sharp.

He didn't bother with small talk. He walked over to his desk and picked up a thick leather folder.

"I've drafted the press release and the board proposal," Donnie said, handing it to her. "You'll be appointed as the interim CEO, effective immediately. I've called an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning to formalize the succession. We are going to force their hand."

Camilla took the folder. Her fingers trembled slightly against the leather, but her eyes were fierce.

"Thank you, Dad. I won't let you down."

Right at that moment, the study doors swung open.

Evelin Velasquez, Camilla's stepmother, walked in. Jalyn Santana, her stepsister, trailed right behind her. Evelin wore a nasty, mocking smirk. Jalyn's eyes were burning with raw jealousy.

"Well, well, the prodigal daughter returns," Evelin sneered. "And after such a scandal too. Donnie, are you sure this is wise? Putting the company in the hands of a woman with such... reputation issues?"

Jalyn immediately chimed in, her voice high and whiny.

"Yeah, Dad! The tabloids are saying she's a cheater! That'll ruin Mcneil's image! I should be the one taking over! I've been working here for years!"

Camilla didn't even look at them. She kept her eyes locked on her father, waiting.

Donnie's face turned bright red with anger. He slammed his hand down on the desk.

"This is my decision," Donnie barked. "Camilla is my daughter and the rightful heir. Her personal life is none of your concern."

Evelin crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "But the board will never-"

"The board will do as I say," Donnie cut her off sharply. "Now, leave us. Camilla and I have work to do."

Evelin scoffed. She grabbed Jalyn's arm and pulled her out of the room. Jalyn stopped at the door, turning back to shoot Camilla a look of pure, toxic hatred.

Camilla watched the door click shut. She turned back to her father.

"They won't give up easily, Dad. I need to be prepared."

Donnie nodded heavily. "I know. Arthur Pembroke, my assistant, will help you with the transition. And remember, your talent is your best weapon. Show them what you can really do."

Camilla took a deep breath. A fire ignited in her chest.

"I will. I'll prove to everyone-Carlisle, the Starks, and the whole world-that I'm not just someone's wife or ex-wife. I'm Camilla Mcneil, and I'm taking back what's mine."

Four hours later, Mcneil Industries dropped a massive press release. Donnie Mcneil was stepping down due to health reasons. Camilla Mcneil was appointed as the interim CEO, pending the formal board vote the following day. The release noted that an emergency shareholder and board meeting was convened to formalize her permanent succession.

The internet exploded for the second time in two days. The comments were a warzone. Half the people mocked the "cheating ex-wife" trying to play boss. The other half were dying to see what the mysterious Mcneil heiress would do.

Across the city in Stark Tower, Carlisle stared at the news article on his computer screen. His jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached. A weird, uncomfortable feeling twisted in his gut. He was shocked. He was suspicious. And deep down, in a place he refused to acknowledge, he was intrigued.

Celine leaned over his shoulder. She read the screen and gasped. She dug her nails into Carlisle's arm.

"Carlisle, this is bad!" Celine cried. "If Camilla takes over Mcneil, she'll have the power to come after us! She hates me!"

Carlisle placed his hand over hers. His voice was cold and calculating.

"She won't have the chance. Mcneil Industries is a major client of Stark Enterprises. If she tries anything, I can crush her."

Meanwhile, back at the Mcneil Estate, Jalyn was tearing her bedroom apart. She grabbed a crystal perfume bottle and smashed it against the wall.

"It's not fair!" Jalyn screamed. "It should be me! I won't let her get away with this!"

Evelin walked into the room. She looked at the broken glass and sighed.

"Calm down, Jalyn. Screaming won't help. We need a plan. And I think I know just the person who might want to help us... and hurt Camilla."

Jalyn stopped screaming. She wiped her red eyes. "Who?"

Evelin smiled wickedly. "Celine Mills. The woman who took Camilla's husband. The enemy of my enemy..."

Jalyn's eyes lit up. A cruel smile spread across her face. "Yes... Celine. She must hate Camilla too. We can work together."

On the other side of town, Cristobal West sat in his office. He read the headline on his tablet. A soft, proud smile touched his lips. He picked up his phone and dialed her number.

"Camilla, congratulations," Cristobal said softly. "I knew you could do it. And remember, whatever you need, I'm here."