Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge
Chapter 69: Poison

Chapter 69: Poison

Sunday was supposed to be relaxing and chill. Though they were certain Elliot had caught Damien and Vivienne together, the aftermath wasn’t clear.

Aveline didn’t worry much. She hadn’t intended to burn the Sinclair house down, just cause some trouble. Damien was too smart to be flustered by Elliot Sinclair.

So she lounged next to her mother, getting her nails done after a manicure and a pedicure. Henry and Charles had ditched their work and sat nearby, sipping tea and chatting.

That’s when they heard the doorbell. None of them had visitors scheduled.

The butler checked the monitor and returned quickly. "Sir, the Ashford family is here."

Everyone’s expression changed. They were truly not in the mood to act and host the Ashford family. Their appearance only made their wounds raw.

Aveline almost cursed out aloud. Instead, she sucked in a breath and composed herself. "Alright, let’s take it easy." She said, lifting her head. "You’re all mad, stay mad. I’ll handle it." She could only hope things didn’t go out of hand.

Margaret blinked, concern flickering in her eyes. There was something unnervingly composed about Aveline today. Like she had rehearsed this chaos and knew exactly how to walk through it.

Henry nodded to the butler to let them in. Though he agreed to Aveline, he was prepared to show the Ashfords their places if they dared to point their finger at Aveline.

The Ashford couple entered with smiles that didn’t reach their eyes. Damien followed, quiet and unreadable. The butler welcomed them inside, but none of the Laurents made an effort to move an inch.

"Damien..." She made a show by rising from the chair, then paused, glancing at the nail artist. "Oh my, we are in the middle of our session." She turned to the three, feigning guilt, "You should’ve informed me prior."

Cassandra nearly rolled her eyes. ’In what universe did this woman look poisoned?’ Aveline looked radiant. She believed it was all a show to look down on them.

Maxwell was visibly tense. Mostly from the fact that he had been dragged there under threat. And the sight of Henry reminded him of the punch from days ago.

Before Damien could speak, Henry stepped in with a cool, dismissive tone. "It’s pamper time, Sweetheart. They can wait."

Aveline bit the inside of her cheek, resisting her urge to laugh. Her father was savage, and she adored it.

She turned to Damien, who just nodded at her.

The Ashfords were shown to the living hall while the Laurents finished their tea, chatting more than necessary. Only after forty minutes did they join their guests.

Aveline broke the simmering annoyance, pointing at untouched refreshments on the table, "You didn’t have anything?"

Cassandra scanned her head to toe, "You look fine."

Henry immediately clutched Margaret’s hand, giving her a meaningful look. Charles just walked away to the dining area, hiding the twitch in his jaw.

Aveline blinked in mock confusion, "It was slow poison, Mrs. Ashford." Her gaze shifted to Damien, "It silently wreaks havoc in the body." Then she turned to Cassandra, sounding sweet as sugar, "You wouldn’t know it... Unless you have tasted it."

She wasn’t just talking about two months of slow poison. She had been through years of poison, and her body had reduced to skin and bones, and her organs were giving up on her. The heaps of painkillers, the steroids, had become her food.

Margaret studied her daughter. There was a sharpness in Aveline’s smile. Something she learned the hard way. And Margaret wasn’t sure if she was proud... or heartbroken.

Because this wasn’t the same girl who was wrapped in hope and innocence. She had become a woman with poison on her tongue.

Cassandra flushed with rage. Was she being cursed to be poisoned? Before she could explode like a volcano, Aveline asked sweetly.

"Isn’t that right, Damien?"

Damien hummed, noting Aveline wasn’t docile anymore, just to hear her mother. At the same time, she calmly involved him to avoid his mother arguing.

Henry was also watching. Not Damien. But Aveline.

Beneath his calmness, he was burning down. Regret for trusting the wrong man with his precious daughter. Watching her stab a knife into her heart to become the woman she never was.

Damien didn’t want to drag it on longer. He cast a meaningful glance at his parents.

Cassandra stood, "Chairman Laurent, Mrs. Laurent..." She tried to be humble, "We were wrong. We should’ve paid attention to Aveline’s health and our staff’s loyalty. It was our failure. I promise, it won’t happen again. I’ll look after Aveline like she’s my... own daughter."

’Own daughter?’ That burned a hole in Margaret’s heart. She said nothing. Her daughter no longer needed defending. She wasn’t prideful about it. It was an aching concern.

Cassandra turned to Aveline, "Aveline, you should return home. I’ll be there to look after you."

Though it was insincere, Henry slid his cold gaze to Maxwell.

The man shifted and muttered, "We didn’t know the depth of the situation. Poisoning, of course, isn’t a family matter. It’s a crime. I get it."

Damien stood up and offered a reluctant, slow bow to his in-laws. "No matter who poisoned her, I take the responsibility, Chairman Laurent."

Henry and Margaret failed to keep their faces straight. Avelien lowered her head to close her eyes and compose.

Damien continued, "Punish me if you must. But I want to take my wife home. I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

Henry and Margaret turned to Aveline, who smiled, just enough. It was an act she was good at now. Too good.

Margaret caught it again. The small crack behind the polished facade. An exhaustion before her mask slid back into place.

Henry exhaled slowly. "It’s alright. Everyone overreacts when it comes to their kids." He looked at Damien. "Of course, take your wife home. But let her stay here a little longer." He wouldn’t send her until the paintings were ready with the cameras.

Before Damien could object, Henry continued facing Cassandra and Maxwell. "Let’s be honest. A daughter-in-law is never truly a daughter. And when something goes wrong, we prioritize ours over the others."

He looked at Margaret, "I just hope... when I have a daughter-in-law, I remember this moment. And spoil her the way I spoil my daughter."

Margaret’s smile was soft. That was what her mother-in-law once told Henry.

Charles appeared behind them, "That will be my job, Dad." His eyes landed on Damien as he added, "As a husband."

The Ashfords stiffened at their words. Cassandra’s expression twisted. Damien met Charles’s stare and understood the message. He failed to meet their bare minimum expectation.

Damien didn’t pretend to be oblivious. He answered, "You won’t get another chance to complain."

Charles didn’t flinch. "Neither will you get another chance to stand beside her." He declared war.

Henry’s chest lifted in pride.

Aveline smiled, hearing her brother, but she had to interfere in the charged air. She stepped in, "We have a reservation at Maison Elouan, four seats. Should I check if they can add three more?"

Cassandra wasn’t ready to put herself down throughout lunch, so she snapped, "I have an appointment."

"I have got a flight to catch," Maxwell muttered.

Hearing two lies, Damien said, "I could join." He knew the restaurant’s exclusivity. They wouldn’t get another table in three months, and they won’t accommodate another person on such short notice.

Aveline had a quick conversation and returned with an awkward smile, "Dad, should we change the booking?"

Henry replied with a shrug, "Margaret’s been waiting to try their menu."

Damien backed down as if he was being considerate, "You guys enjoy."

Aveline walked them to the cars, "I hope you all understand. It hasn’t been a week. They still need time to get over the shock."

Damien stayed quiet to hide his foul mood. He couldn’t believe Laurents treated him the way he treats others.

Cassandra and Maxwell said nothing as they left in a car.

Nonetheless, she flashed the brightest smile she could conjure, "Dad said yes." She whispered excitedly. "The land’s yours."

Damien’s face immediately relaxed.

’Henry Laurent might slowly come around,’ he thought.

He hugged her, "It could have waited, Lina." But his smile said something else entirely.

So did hers.

’No, Damien. This is exactly when it needed to happen. To keep your evil eyes off my family.’ She thought.