Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge
Chapter 71: Blame Me

Chapter 71: Blame Me

Evening, at NexGuard

Whirling the wheel into the parking spot, Aveline parked her car. Grabbing her bag, she stepped out to find Alaric leaning against the car directly across from her.

She got straight to the point, "What was it that you weren’t able to tell me over the phone?"

Alaric watched her. Caramel trench layered over crisp whites, heels clicking with intent, and a bag that could carry contracts and secrets. She looked like a boss lady.

He missed her. But finding a reason to go to her or invite her wasn’t easy.

"Hello, Sunshine." He greeted her. His voice was gentle, softer than the evening breeze.

Hearing him call her that, she wasn’t sure how to address him. So she always did what she felt best, skipping pleasantries.

But what about her manners?

She took a breath to ease herself and greeted softly. "Hai!"

Her voice came out melodious, casual, not her usual professional or reserved tone. She immediately caught herself and asked again, "What happened?" Her voice was crisper than the first time.

Before Alaric could lecture her again about her tone, another person emerged from the passenger seat of her car.

Mike Wilson.

He bowed slightly upon meeting Alaric’s gaze. He had been on an emergency company call, which was why Aveline had driven the car.

Aveline witnessed Alaric’s expression flatten in less than a second. She followed his line of sight and spotted Mike. Turning back to Alaric, she said simply, "You can trust him."

He stared at her for a few seconds, a trace of coldness filling in his eyes like a curtain dropping over his warmth. Without a word, he turned around and walked away, silently commanding her to follow.

Aveline felt it to her bones. Alaric was displeased. His indifference after everything felt foreign, though she knew Alaric was known for his coldness.

She glanced over her shoulder. "Let’s go."

Mike followed her into Alaric’s office. There he sat, like a devil fresh out of hell. The air in the room was tense and unwelcoming.

Alaric realized just how it felt to throw cold water on excitement after seeing Mike walk in behind Aveline.

Henry was already digging into his life. Was it necessary to place Mike behind him, too?

If he had known, he would have just spoken to her on the phone.

His anticipation and excitement had a sudden death.

He played an audio file on the iPad and left it on the coffee table. Then, without a word, he walked out of the room.

Aveline: "..."

She wasn’t sure what to focus on. The man who left or the audio that was playing.

The audio won her attention.

’It started as if Lawrence Ashford would put an end to Damien, but something happened. Lawrence stood there, thunderstruck, while Damien got the board’s approval for the project. The board was impressed that Damien had already cleared the permits and approvals in advance...’

It was a call recording, and she didn’t identify the man.

The audio ended, and Aveline blinked. Lawrence turned out to be an idiot. He had everything in his hands. The permits, approvals, the time, and yet, he failed miserably.

’No wonder, Maxwell Ashford fooled him so easily.’ She thought.

She knew Damien wasn’t someone who lost easily. He was powerful and ruthless. ’One misstep, he will destroy me... and Laurents.’

Aveline grimaced. Then she noticed the steam rising from two coffee cups on the counter. Her attention shifted.

’Did he have something more to tell me?’ She wondered.

She stepped outside and spotted the black Bugatti pulling towards the exit. Without a second thought, she stepped onto the road.

The car stopped.

Tossing her car keys to Mike Wilson, she got in.

Mike: "..."

Henry had told him that Alaric was interested in Aveline. But what he saw looked completely different. Alaric indifferent, Aveline following him.

....

In the Bugatti,

"Do you have anything more to tell me?" She asked, referring to the board meeting.

He didn’t respond. Acted like he didn’t hear her.

Aveline: "..."

Wasn’t he flirting and chatting just two days ago?

What was she suddenly invisible to him?

"Alaric Lancaster, you were fine until my assistant showed up." She couldn’t be wrong. She knew his gentle, flirty tone.

"Your assistant!?" He scoffed at her misunderstanding, "That’s your father’s walking, talking loyalty."

Aveline pursed her lips. She didn’t have to prove Mike’s loyalty to anyone. She could see it. The childish man was throwing a tantrum.

Why would he get irritated over Mike’s presence?

"Let’s get a gelato." She pulled her seatbelt on. "We need to cool your temper."

Alaric nearly cracked her silly humour, but held himself together. He pulled out into the street, eyeing the rearview mirror. Mike Wilson was tailing them.

Winning against Damien was hard enough. Now he had to win time with her. Her attention. Her mind.

He spent one day with her. Maybe he got happy and expectant too soon.

Watching his silence as he drove, Aveline asked him, feigning surprise, "Are we really getting a Gelato?"

Alaric finally smiled. Why couldn’t he stay indifferent to this woman?

"When you use men like Lawrence Ashford," He said, "you need to teach them what to do." He meant stupid men like Lawrence Ashford.

Aveline nodded, agreeing with him. She had overestimated Lawrence.

At a red light, Alaric turned towards her. "His secretary betrayed him."

The failure highlighted Damien’s grip on his company, despite his position as a director.

Aveline hummed and expressed her worry. "I thought I had three more months. Now that the project got a green light, he’ll ask for the land."

’Three months!? How accurate!’ Alaric’s brows lifted. He hadn’t told her that.

It wasn’t the first time she surprised him. He kept his thoughts to himself.

"Then become a partner in the project." He suggested.

"I don’t want to." Aveline blurted out. The thought of working with Damien turned her stomach.

Alaric poked her head and resumed driving when the light turned green.

Aveline: "..."

She rubbed her forehead. They were better in his office. At least she had space to create.

He pulled over, "Stay here," and got out of the car.

Her gaze followed him, and her jaw dropped when he entered a gelato shop.

’He can’t be serious.’

She stared at the glass door as he came out with a single cup, spoon, and tissues in hand.

Something inside her shifted. The contrast of Damien and Alaric.

Her husband, who never took her out, never cared about what flavors she liked. And this man, who brought her the exact flavor without asking.

Looking at the dark chocolate gelato, she accepted with a murmur, "Thank you." She didn’t ask how he knew.

One bite in, and she realized that she was craving it. A soft hum escaped before she caught herself.

He didn’t owe her this. She wasn’t his to care for. But that was the problem. He did care about every small thing about her. And she let him.

That scared her the most.

What was he helping her with?

Was it freedom from Damien? Or to push her into another dangerous vortex? Or was it to restore her hope?

Her phone started ringing, cutting through the silence. He helped her hold the cup, and she dug her mobile out of her bag.

’Damien’

She didn’t answer it right away. She murmured, "This has to be about the project information leak." Damien doesn’t call for pleasantries.

"Blame me," Alaric said.

"No." Aveline refused. She wasn’t going to use him as a shield.

She answered the call, [Nina, where are you?]

"I’m meeting a client." She lied.

[I missed lunch yesterday. Let’s have dinner tonight.] His tone wasn’t gentle. There was restraint in his voice.

Aveline: "..."

Refusing would increase suspicions, and she wouldn’t be able to eat at the place he chooses. "I’m craving a steak." She said suddenly, "I will send you the location."

The call ended with a hum.

"Obsidian, I’ll keep an eye," Alaric said the moment she dropped her hand.

Obsidian!

The thought of entering the place where everything shattered made her chest tight, but she nodded.

She took another bite of the gelato and paused. She turned to him and responded to his words, "You don’t have to do all these." It was crossing the line of gratefulness.

"I know," he replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face, "Let me do it."

His voice wasn’t demanding. It was deep, yet soft like a sweet plea.

Not just skipping a beat, she felt her heart beat. She didn’t want him to heal what he didn’t break. She didn’t want to lean where she didn’t belong.

She looked away, quickly engaging her mind with Damien and the dreaded conversation ahead.