Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge-Chapter 43: Tainted Truth

Alaric was in NexGuard, and Aveline was back in her manager role, both were keeping an eye on Damien in their own way.

At half past eleven, Aveline’s phone beeped with a message. [I have been assigned to Vivienne Sinclair’s missing case.]

Alaric’s phone buzzed with a call from Giselle, [Alaric Lancaster, say you didn’t kidnap her.] Her voice carried the kind of threat only Giselle could deliver.

"Aveline? Not yet." He replied smugly, ignoring her tone.

There was a pause in the line before she exhaled and added, [Ric, Vivienne Sinclair is missing.]

That threw him off, "I don’t have a hand in it." Alaric dismissed it, careful not to rile her further.

[Aveline?] She asked with a silver line of doubt.

"She is too simple for that." Alaric’s tone was certain.

[That crook...] Giselle cursed, then she snickered. [Tell the Laurents to buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.]

The realization sank in fast. Damien had a hand in Vivienne’s disappearance. Her disappearance meant Damien would be free from interrogation.

It shouldn’t be an issue, considering Aveline didn’t plan to prove Damien’s hand behind the poison.

Then his green eyes darkened. Damien was targeting Aveline.

He immediately dialed her number. She answered the call and heard a commotion on her end, "Sunshine!?" He whispered.

[It’s dark.] Then the line went dead.

"F**k." Alaric growled, pinching his temples.

He knew Damien wouldn’t be quiet, but his move was smooth.

He grabbed his overcoat and charged for the door, but stopped. As much as he wanted to be there and handle things, Damien’s fury would spike if he showed up in person in favor of Aveline.

He trusted Giselle to take care of Aveline. Still, the image of Aveline harassed under pressure made his blood boil.

He stormed back to his desk, pressed the intercom, and roared, "Ezra..."

Ezra went running into the office.

Alaric ordered, deadly calm now, "I want Damien playing whack-a-mole with his own empire."

....

At Laurent Industries,

Aveline stared at the statement. The housekeeper had confessed that she had given him the powder, told him it was medicine to improve her beauty, and asked him to mix a pinch into her drinks daily.

Her throat tightened. Her eyes flicker to her parents. She feared only one thing - Damien’s manipulation working on her parents.

They turned to her, stunned. Her chest clenched, and she found it hard to take a breath.

Then Henry blinked the shock away. "That’s complete nonsense."

Margaret held her daughter’s arm tightly. "My daughter has no reason to hurt herself." She wasn’t some insecure woman out there.

Aveline finally took a breath. Theories swirled but found no path out without legal guidance.

Leaving Charles to handle the company and PR if required, her parents followed the cops towards the police station.

...

At the police station,

Giselle stood tall, as elegant and sharp as ever. As Aveline stepped in, she rubbed her arm gently. "You don’t look scared," she observed.

Aveline gave a weak smile, "Ironically, I have two Lancasters at my back. And I don’t even know why."

Giselle chuckled and wrapped an arm around her. "Don’t say anything.."

Just as they turned a corner, Damien rushed over, "Nina, what am I hearing? Why would you do something like that?"

He wasn’t asking her, he already believed Walter’s lie.

Why wouldn’t he?

He orchestrated it.

Aveline refrained from saying anything sarcastic. "You believe the one who poisoned me?" She asked, as though hurt..

Giselle stiffened. She had just told Aveline to stay quiet. But she didn’t correct Aveline.

Instead, she tugged Aveline forward and ignored Damien entirely, "Let’s go."

Margaret and Henry, arriving behind them, didn’t even look at Damien. That fueled his frustration.

He had expected their guilty eyes and apology. He got their indifference to him.

Inside, Giselle murmured, "You aren’t as docile as you look."

"Caring isn’t being docile."

Giselle nodded with agreement. Being a soft and kind woman in today’s world was the toughest battle. And she respected it.

Her assistant handed a file to the officer as Giselle stated, "There is a medical certificate, and my client cannot endure the stress. On medical deferment of interrogation and all permission filed, I’ll be escorting her to the hospital."

Aveline turned to her, stunned. When had she done all this?

Now she knew why Giselle was a legend. She prepared for the disaster before it even knocked on the door.

Giselle caught the look and smirked, "Don’t thank me yet."

In under five minutes, the paperwork was done. Aveline was free to leave.

Before leaving, Giselle turned to the officer and said, "You don’t believe that housekeeper blindly, do you?"

The officer hesitated, "Of- of course not."

"Then either find real evidence against my client or against the one pulling the strings." Suddenly her voice softened, "I trust you’ll choose wisely."

Without another word, she led Aveline out. The Laurent couple followed them in quiet relief.

But Aveline stopped at the corner when her eyes found Damien. "I need to talk to Damien."

Giselle abruptly halted in her steps. She studied Aveline quietly, then she nodded, "I will see you at the hospital." She finally said and left without further protest.

Aveline had no choice but to spend her time in the hospital if she didn’t want to get her every statement twisted against her.

"Lina..." Henry’s voice held concern.

"Please, Dad..." Saying it, Aveline walked towards Damien.

...

Damien caressed her head, tucked her hair lock behind her ear, yet he saw her stare at him. Maybe a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

"You can tell me anything, Nina. I’m your husband. I will protect you, no matter what." His voice was low and soft.

Her voice was faint. "You broke my heart with just a question, Damien."

Her fingers dug into her palm, forming a painful crescent. Was he planning to send her to prison? Then, it’s better to get freed from him.

"I’ll say this once, I didn’t know anything about the poison until I woke up in the hospital."

Every word she uttered was the truth. She turned to leave.

"Nina..." Damien immediately held her back. freewebnøvel.com

Aveline cut in, "You said the housekeeper was your most loyal staff. Wouldn’t he have informed you if I gave him such powder?" Her voice cracked.

Tears rimmed her eyes. "Damien, he poisoned me, yet you believe him."

Wiping her face, she said quietly, "If I have to recover only to be detained, so be it."

She stepped forward, gently brushed her fingers along his jaw. "You took care of me like no one else. I don’t want to repay you by affecting your public image due to my... criminal status."

Then she stepped back, taking her hand away. "I’ll have my lawyers send the papers, please sign them."

And she walked away.

Damien didn’t move. He just stood there and watched her climb into the car with her head down.

A bitter sneer twisted his lips.

"You want a divorce, Aveline Laurent?" His voice was a whisper of rage.

’This was my first move, and you already want out? This isn’t a game you get to quit. Not when I’m still playing.’