Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge
Chapter 65: Cry or Conquer

Chapter 65: Cry or Conquer

At Sinclair Lifestyle,

Vivienne grabbed the bouquet from the vase and smashed it hard until the petals scattered like a flower carpet across the floor.

But her rage simmered hot. Her body shook, recalling everything. The way Damien had protected Aveline in front of everyone.

"You bitch, I’ll kill you." She screamed, hurling the stems to the floor, breathing heavily.

Damien had been sending her flowers every day with a card tucked inside. He even had her favorite coffee delivered twice daily. She was basking in his attention, in the way he remembered all the little things.

And he took that bouquet to Aveline?

"That’s supposed to be mine." She hissed, unable to differentiate if Damien had been acting with her... or with Aveline.

’What if I’m just his little affair?’ The thought froze it.

Sure, she was a model with a flawless body ratio. But Aveline? She lacked nothing. Beauty, elegance, wrapped in her signature aesthetics that made everyone stop and stare. Her net worth alone could swallow Sinclair Lifestyle whole.

And when it came to character? Vivienne cracked under pressure. Aveline didn’t even flinch when almost slapped.

Why would Damien or any man choose her over Aveline?

She had always believed Damien was obsessed with her. He couldn’t live without her. So she told him to marry Aveline to get access to Laurent Industries.

But for the past two months, all she had felt was a slow, rotting insecurity.

Vivienne stumbled and collapsed on the floor. Her face drained of color, and her body shook like a withering leaf. She had spent her youth chasing one goal. To be Mrs. Ashford. Damien had always been her ticket to her security, her future, and richness that never empties.

Even the thought of losing it made her chest ache.

She could cry. Or she could conquer. And Vivienne Sinclair never cried.

Shaking her head, fists clenched, her thoughts spiraled, ’I can’t lose everything. Not because of her. Aveline, Damien is mine. I won’t let you take him.’

"I won’t," she whispered like a curse, slamming her fist into the floor.

The door of her office burst open. Vivienne barely had time to pull herself together when her father stepped in. His expression dropped for a second. Just a second, before he beamed and ignored the mess.

"Vivienne, you did it." She had secured the deal, "Our spring collection will be a hit. Good job."

It was the first time her father praised her efforts. A smile bloomed on her face. She stood, hiding her chaos beneath her resolve. "Not just spring, Dad. I’ll take us to the top."

Her eyes filled with determination, she added, "We won’t be just an affordable label anymore. We’re going after the luxury market. And we’ll win."

Elliot chuckled, impressed by her enthusiasm, "You’re heading in the right direction." He walked away, giving the scattered petals one last glance.

Vivienne’s eyes glinted maliciously the moment the door closed. She knew rising to the top was never easy. Hence, she had a plan.

Once Damien crushed the Laurents, she would acquire their vendors, designers, and the entire staff. When the media spreads about it, every design they make will be sold as luxury under her brand.

A powerful husband and a thriving business were all she needed.

But now, she didn’t care about losing the Laurents, but she wouldn’t lose to Aveline Laurent. And Damien?

The way he held Aveline today? Protective. He didn’t even realize what it looked like.

Maybe it was time to stop playing hard to get.

It was time she revived their relationship at all costs.

—––––––

Evening, at Blackwood Residence,

Spending the day with her had been strangely satisfying. It felt like a dream. Alaric leaned against the car, watching her hold the flower bouquet he gave her. He hid his proud smirk.

Aveline met his gaze and mentally updated her list.

Profile: Alaric Lancaster

The Clues:

- He flirts

- He’s dominant

- He cares

- He’s childish ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶

- He’s unreasonable

She still couldn’t believe he bought her a bouquet just because he thought she felt bad after tossing Damien’s bouquet. And he even dared to warn her to keep the bouquet because he had never bought one before.

"What if I toss the bouquet after you leave?"

"You won’t." His voice was smug.

"I will." She snorted.

She turned to leave, then stopped and returned with a serious look. "No more dropping me home. No more flowers." Her tone was sharp.

"Why?" He asked, not letting her walk away just yet.

Why should he stop when he did nothing wrong?

Aveline pointed at the glass wall upstairs, "There he is. Watching us. Doubting if I’m having an affair with you."

Charles behind the glass wall: "..."

Alaric followed her gaze and barely saw a silhouette. He leaned forward, close enough to lower his voice just for her.

"Sunshine," he murmured, tugging gently at her blazer, "I wouldn’t be satisfied with just being your little affair." Then he let go, casual as ever.

Aveline glared at him, assuming it was just a harmless flirt. But cursed him in her mind for giving a perfect reason for Charles to lecture her.

She stormed away, then paused as the words sank in. "You..." She turned around, only to see his grin as the engine roared and he drove off.

....

Inside the villa,

Entering the villa, Aveline carefully arranged the lilies in three glass columns. Behind her, she could sense them. Her father’s heavy stance, her mother’s breath held too long, Charles pacing by the window.

They hadn’t spoken after the big reveal. Her father had been away last night. This morning, she left early without seeing them.

Now, no one said a word. They just stood there and watched the calla lilies inside the glass columns, their leaves curled at the base, twisting like secrets, too dangerous to rise. It perfectly aligned with the danger she was playing with.

They had never paid attention to flower arrangements before. But after she started making the vases at home, she showed them what true floral artistry meant, how to show emotions through it.

But they didn’t know how to start the conversation. Not this one. Because the daughter they had raised no longer needed protecting.

And if they made one wrong move, she would walk away.