Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge-Chapter 46: A Blessing

After quickly explaining the situation to Scarlett, Aveline dialed Giselle’s number. She didn’t get a chance to speak.

[Did your trap work?] Giselle asked straight.

"He fell for it," Aveline responded plainly.

Asking for a divorce, despite knowing Damien wouldn’t agree? Aveline wasn’t that naive anymore.

She used it to flip his game. Damien had two choices. Pressure the Laurents and trap her in something she never did. Or choose to divorce her.

Divorcing her meant losing his control over her and the Laurent family. He wouldn’t let that happen. Thus, he wouldn’t only handle the mess he created, but he would also get rid of the hospital staff who forged her hospital report.

Giselle could’ve done all those, but Aveline had another mission for her. "Anything on Elias Hawthorne?"

Yes, she had already confessed to Giselle that she had seen Elias Hawthorne driving into the Sterling Villa. He was the supplier of the toxin and the one who introduced lead to Damien. Giselle’s team had started working to either prove his involvement or revoke his medical license.

Aveline wasn’t even scratching the surface for whatever he did to her.

[Aveline Laurent, you really are extraordinary.] Giselle said, impressed by how she busied Damien with miscellaneous work while gaining them time and space to look into Elias.

But her tone sharpened the next second. [Elias Hawthorne is riding two boats. Vivienne Sinaclair is paying him a huge sum.]

Aveline wasn’t surprised. If Vivienne could have Damien in her pocket, there was no limit to what she could pull.

"Thank you." She responded, and Giselle hung up the call.

Giselle and Alaric, by her side, were a blessing in disguise. But it terrified her to think about the reasons behind their actions.

"Linnie..." Scarlett patted Aveline’s shoulder, almost startling her.

"Who is Elias Hawthorne?" she asked.

"A doctor working for Damien." Aveline could only reveal that. Nothing more.

...

Shortly after, her brother returned with breakfast. Aveline still struggled to start eating, but she trusted the person who brought it rather than who made it.

Then, Scarlett assured Charles she would stay with Aveline. He reluctantly left for the company.

Just when the two girls were lazing on the couch, there was a knock, before the door opened, and there he was.

He was in a sand-toned suit with an open collar, as if rules were merely optional. The mauve overcoat hung off his shoulders like power disguised in softness.

Aveline sat up quickly. Scarlett took one good look at him and asked, not so quietly, "Isn’t he the infamous spoiled prince?"

Aveline pursed her lips. He was indeed a spoiled prince who always got his way. She caught the flicker of displeasure on his face.

Was it Scarlett’s presence? Or her words?

He sauntered in, his eyes brushing over the scattered papers, then narrowing on the petition lying on the coffee table. "You are playing with danger." His deep voice broke the silence as his gaze rested on her petite face.

Aveline already knew. Alaric had warned her when she had shared the plan with Giselle. She shrugged, "That’s what you are here for, aren’t you?" He had promised to protect her.

Scarlett craved popcorn. The tension between them was magnetic. The way Alaric looked at her and the way Aveline wasn’t formal, it was sizzling.

Hearing the footsteps approaching. Alaric glanced at his wristwatch. "I have a meeting. I’ll pick you up after your IV."

Aveline and Scarlett: "..."

Aveline was speechless at how smoothly he decided her schedule, and Scarlett was impressed. His authoritative tone wasn’t suffocating. It was oddly reassuring.

Before they could react, Amelia stepped in with nurses and attendants pushing in the monitoring machines.

"Ms. Laurent, how are you doing?" Amelia asked, pointing to the bed.

Aveline’s shoulders stiffened when her eyes fell on the machines. But someone’s intent gaze kept her rooted. She quickly shifted her focus to Amelia.

She obeyed and responded politely, "Good. The metallic taste is fading, but strong-flavored food still makes me nauseous." freёwebnoѵel.com

After a quick check of her vitals, they prepped her IV. Aveline reached for her new headphones.

Alaric took them from her and tossed them aside. Then he placed his own over her ears.

’Crash.’

Aveline, Amelia, and Scarlett: "..."

Her headphones were already broken. There was no point in arguing. She sighed and closed her eyes, letting the soothing music wash over her.

Scarlett watched as Amelia activated the monitors, and the room filled with the rhythmic beeps. Amelia soon left, but Alaric remained, standing quietly like he was guarding something precious.

After some time, he gently removed the headphones and slipped out of the room.

Only then did Scarlett realize that the headphones were to help Aveline sleep. She glanced at the door where Alaric had disappeared.

Sitting on the bedside chair, she whispered, "My dear Linnie, he just came by to make sure you slept through the IV. Your husband didn’t even ask about your treatment. Are you blind, or am I just reading too much?"

....

At the police station,

Damien met with the lead officer, updating him about the forges report from Lifeline Hospital. Then he was escorted to meet Walter, the housekeeper.

"Director Ashford." Walter greeted in a broken voice. His eyes filled as he asked, "D-Do I have to spend the rest of my life in prison?"

Damien didn’t answer, "Your son got the overseas job."

It didn’t make Walter happy. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in prison. Trembling, he waited to know more.

Damien leaned in, his voice dropping, "Next time they ask, say Aveline never gave you the vial."

Walter stayed quiet. He knew there was more to just changing his statement.

"You’re being charged under Section 328. Intent to harm with poison. But if you cooperate, I’ll convince Aveline to forgive you, you’ll get reduced sentencing. You’ll serve minimal time."

Walter wasn’t satisfied but held his breath for what Damien would say next.

Then Damien’s voice dropped to a whisper, "If you don’t... I’ll make sure your son never steps into that job. And your family never walks free again."

Broken, Walter stared at him.

...

In a villa nestled deep in the woods,

Vivienne Sinclair sat on a lounge, surrounded by silk pillows, her wrists delicately bandaged in gauze, a bruise painted expertly across her collarbone.

Across from her, Alaric Lancaster sat calmly, watching her with unreadable eyes.

Vivienne blushed under his gaze and smiled sweetly. "So... are you here to rescue me, or just to enjoy the view?"