Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge
Chapter 74: A Quiet Company

Chapter 74: A Quiet Company

In Obsidian,

Giselle called out twice, but Alaric kept walking as if he didn’t hear. She paused and snapped, "Ric." Her cold voice halted everyone in the hallway.

And he stopped, but didn’t turn around.

Only when she caught up to him did she see Aveline standing at the entrance. He hadn’t stopped for her, but Aveline.

She glanced at the hallway that connects to Isabella’s office and whispered, "Didn’t you send her home?"

Alaric wasn’t sure how to feel about Aveline’s return. His men hadn’t called, so no one had followed them. She had either returned voluntarily or never left Obsidian at all.

They walked forward and stood in front of her. He asked, calm to the point of unease, "What happened?" She should’ve been asleep by now, after her medication.

Aveline wasn’t sure how to explain, or if she even should tell him that she came because she was worried about him. Now, looking at the redness on his cheek, the only thing she could manage was, "Could... I be of help?"

He saw through the words she didn’t utter. She was worried. Especially after he had rushed her to leave, when it had always been her walking away.

It wasn’t the right time for his parents or grandmother to meet Aveline, even by coincidence. Though the restraining order had been his choice, he didn’t want anyone blaming her for it.

And she didn’t need to know the mess of his family yet. The very mess that had kept him away from her for years.

"Let’s go. I’ll drop you home." He said casually and moved towards the exit. Another reason was to avoid being pulled back into his suffocating family drama.

Aveline turned as she caught his hand. She wasn’t there to be dropped off. Mike was still around. But something struck her.

’Would he want to talk to me in the car?’

"If it’s just to drop me, my assistant is there. If you want to talk to me, I’ll come with you." Aveline offered calmly.

The thought of him being in any trouble or Damien striking at Obsidian due to her disappearance had brought her back.

From the redness on his face, she had guessed it was family. Because he was strong and smart enough to dodge a punch from somebody else.

If he were left alone, he might act recklessly, against his mother, the Lancasters, or even Beatrice. Her presence would keep him grounded.

"Maybe a quiet company," he responded flatly.

She nodded without a hint of hesitation. After everything he had done for her and doing for her, this was the least she could do.

"You wanna drive?" She asked, already feeling the effects of her meds.

Ezra stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "I will get the car."

Aveline glanced at Giselle, who was quietly waiting, "I’ll send my assistant." She left to give time for the siblings.

Watching them, Giselle realized how well they complemented each other. She hadn’t imagined Alaric would change so much, so quickly, let alone share a car ride with her.

She spoke promptly, "Ric, yes, I gave Mom time, but I didn’t know she would drag Grandma into this."

Taking an envelope from her bag, she handed it to him. "The restraining order was issued today." Isabella never contacted Alaric or her after her warning. So she had to do what no mother would tolerate.

Beatrice only found out everything upon landing in Velmora.

A hint of relief softened his shoulders. At least Giselle was standing by him. He responded with a nod and headed out.

He had reached the car when Giselle spoke again, this time addressing Aveline too.

"Damien has sent an email to revoke Sinclair’s membership."

Aveline: "..."

She wasn’t even surprised.

"Reason?" Alaric asked.

"Nothing," Giselle replied. That’s what baffled her.

The Sinclairs didn’t qualify for membership without a founding member’s backing. If that member withdrew support, the Obsidian could revoke it immediately. No notice was required.

Alaric turned to Aveline, and she didn’t hesitate, "Send them notice. Let them enjoy a few months of luxury and attention." And she climbed into the backseat of the Rolls-Royce.

Giselle: "..."

She was amazed at their chemistry.

Anyway, she whispered to Alaric, "If Vivienne Sinclair had fallen from Damien’s mercy, you should get Aveline out of marriage. ASAP." But Aveline’s plan for divorce still had time.

Alaric hummed and watched Giselle depart in her car. He was sure Beatrice had already scolded her for siding with him. Yet Giselle didn’t complain.

He got in the car, and Ezra drove in silence.

When Aveline yawned, he wordlessly tucked her with a throw, and she fell asleep without asking a single question.

He noted silently. She could sleep well in a Rolls-Royce, with its recliner and footrest. Unlike his sports car.

.....

At Blackwood Residence,

Mike was loyal to Aveline, but he couldn’t lie when it came to Alaric. So he reported to Henry the truth.

[Ms. Laurent chose to return with CEO Lancaster and asked me to return home.]

He purposefully phrased it that way so that Henry would know Aveline was following Alaric voluntarily.

Henry didn’t like it. But he accepted it. Not because Alaric’s reports were clean, but because Aveline had chosen him.

She trusted Alaric. And Henry trusted her.

When the Rolls-Royce stopped, Henry watched from the window. Charles disturbed Aveline’s sleep when he tried to carry her. So he helped her to her room.

...

In the Rolls-Royce,

Alaric watched her enter the villa before Ezra drove away. His eyes fell on the letter that felt heavier than it had before.

He was tired of Isabella’s manipulations and constant eyes on him. Aveline in his life was all he needed to draw the line.

Yet he still couldn’t believe it. His own mother didn’t trust him. Obsidian held more value to her than her son.

He looked at the seat beside him, where Aveline had just sat a few minutes ago. She was worried, she returned for him when she could have simply ignored him.

And Isabella brought the only person he ever listened to, his grandmother, into her game.

"Did you know she was coming?" He asked Ezra, aware of his past ties to Beatrice’s circle.

"I wasn’t aware of it, Sir." Ezra would have informed him.

Alaric closed his eyes, as if to push the thoughts away so that his mother and grandmother couldn’t wreak his peace. But...

"Have security around Aveline until she leaves. Make sure no one is following her."

His Peace was destroyed.

...

Meanwhile, in the Starlink apartment.

Damien smashed his mobile on the floor. Aveline hadn’t picked up. Hadn’t replied to a single message.

He had only asked questions and cleared his doubt.

What was she so upset about?

"Why is she overreacting to something so small?"

Vivienne flinched, not at the noise but at his voice. "Damien Ashford, when it involves the heart... Nothing is small. Even ignorance burns holes."

She had been the one to coach him on how to win over Aveline without intimacy. But now, it was clear. He didn’t have a heart, just a stone in his chest.

Glancing at the shattered mobile, she asked, "Damien... Have you fallen for her?" He was too agitated.

His expression twisted, like she had said something formidable. "I’m not a fool." Even saying it, the words tasted bitter.

’Am I losing?’ That thought alone made him squirm.

A sad, helpless smile appeared on her face. How could she have been so stupid?

He cared only about power, money, and success. Even his parents were pawns to him. Yet she believed he was obsessed with her.

Later, she returned to her room. Slept, ignoring Damien working downstairs.

But she woke to the rip of her nightdress and half-naked Damien over her.

There were days she used to seduce him and revel in everything that came after it. Now, lying beneath him, everything she once enjoyed felt... empty.

’Damien Ashford, I’ll make sure you suffer with me.’