Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge-Chapter 60: The Reality

At Lancaster Global Holdings,

The headquarters of Lancaster Global Holdings towered like a fortress of power. The silence echoed like authority. Every inch of it whispered control. And an entrance that doesn’t welcome, but warns.

Walking into one of the most prestigious and powerful office buildings, Henry didn’t flinch even without an appointment and without an assistant beside him.

He seamlessly fetched his wallet from his blazer and flicked out his card. Standing in front of the receptionist, he said, "I don’t have an appointment with Chairman Lancaster."

The receptionist was about to apologize and refuse him, but the logo on the card caught her attention. She flipped it, her eyes narrowing at the name.

Immediately, she donned a professional smile. "Sir, please wait while I make a call."

Henry merely nodded and sat on the couch. He thanked the one who served him water and refused the coffee.

In less than two minutes, the same receptionist appeared before him. "Chairman Laurent, let me guide you to Chairman Lancaster’s office."

....

The top floor,

Henry walked in like he owned the place. The complex emotions he carried earlier were long gone. Now he looked cold and authoritative, just as much as the man sitting behind the desk.

One look at Henry, and Edward knew this wasn’t a meet-and-greet. He simply waved his hand, and everyone in the office left clean and square.

"Chairman Laurent," Edward said, gesturing to the chair in front of him.

Henry wasn’t there to sit and chat, "Chairman Lancaster, I won’t beat around the bush—"

Edward interrupted, "You should sit. And take it calmly when it’s about our kids." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

It was clear. Edward had expected his visit, sooner or later, and knew about Alaric and Aveline.

"I’m not here to clarify anything about my daughter. I don’t trust your son. I’m here to inform you. I’m digging into his actions."

Henry wanted it to be clear. He didn’t want Lancasters to get the wrong idea about them or try to obstruct his investigation. He was simply avoiding unnecessary trouble or offending Lancaster.

Unlike what Henry expected, Edward smiled. His expression softened. "Of course. You have every right to know more about him."

Edward assumed Henry was digging into Alaric to see if he had truly changed, if he was serious about both NexGuard and Aveline.

"I can assure you my son is genuine when it comes to your daughter," Edward added.

Alaric had chosen Aveline over family, just like Isabella had once chosen him over hers. Edward didn’t need more proof. He knew his son wasn’t just interested in Aveline. He was in love with her.

A part of Henry believed him. But belief wasn’t enough. Not yet. He had to hear it from his sources.

He nodded at Edward and walked away without another word.

...

Evening, at NexGuard,

Alaric had just stepped out of his office when he saw Aveline sauntering toward it. She barely paused at the sight of him but resumed walking in those sky-high heels.

He leaned against the doorframe and watched her. He hoped this surprise would repeat every day.

Lost at his sight, he didn’t move even when she stood in front of him and extended her hand.

Aveline didn’t understand why he always stared at her like that. It made her want to check her face, or her thoughts went wild.

She stepped closer, held his forearm, and placed the pendrive in his palm. "I don’t need this," she said.

Alaric looked at the pendrive in his hand, then quickly slipped his hand into hers to stop her.

Aveline glanced at his long fingers wrapped gently but firmly around hers. She tried to pull away, but he tugged her closer. "Alaric Lancaster..."

He couldn’t understand her actions. She came to him for proof of Damien’s affair. Why was she giving it back?

"You’ll need it for divorce," he said, not letting go of her hand.

Aveline stilled. Yes, she needed the video of Damien’s affair, but "I’ll manage without it," she said quietly.

She tried again to take her hand back, but her palm fit in his like it belonged there.

"Why?" he asked.

She looked away from their hands and met his green eyes. "I don’t want to answer." Her voice was tight. "Let me go."

"Sunshine," he said with a shrug, "you held my hand first."

Aveline: "..."

She held it because he wouldn’t take the pendrive. ’Why is he childish?’

"You’re forcing me now." She chose a different approach.

"Then stop pulling," he countered.

Aveline: "..."

She didn’t know how to argue with that.

"I’ll let go," he said, "if you tell me why you aren’t using these videos."

She bit her lips. Then confessed, "Saving NexGuard to sacrifice Obsidian is unfair." Whether she used the videos or not, he would have to deal with the fallout. She couldn’t live with that. So she chose not to use it. She would find another way out.

When he finally let go, she missed the warmth. ’I should be angry at him,’ she thought. But she just felt... empty.

Alaric couldn’t believe she was thinking of him even in her situation. "You didn’t watch the videos, did you?" he asked, but he was certain.

Aveline froze. She had tried. All day. But she couldn’t bring herself to watch Damien with Vivienne. She already couldn’t unsee the little she had seen.

Alaric took her hand again and led her into his office.

"I don’t want to watch," she said, pulling her hand away.

He turned around to look at her. "You won’t see what you don’t want to see." He assured her.

Why would he show her an explicit scene?

Still, there was a bitter taste in his mouth. It hurt, watching how much Damien still affected her.

"Yet I have to see them together," she said, choking on the words but standing her ground.

"Does it change the fact?" he asked. He wasn’t being cruel. She had to face the truth. Not run from it.

Aveline: "..."

He went ahead, inserted the pendrive into the computer, and waited. Letting her decide whether to walk away or face it.

And she came beside him and stood quietly.

He clicked the first video.

A security footage of a yacht. Aveline looked at the date. A week after their wedding.

Damien entered the screen first. Then Vivienne appeared in a bikini and a wrap. They were talking. Laughing. Then started kissing.

A bitter smile curved Aveline’s lips. That was supposed to be their honeymoon. Damien had said he had to cancel due to urgent work.

When she grasped, it wasn’t video from Obsidian, she closed the video and opened another.

A dimly lit dashcam video from a parking lot. Damien and Vivienne were all over each other, making out against the car.

Her eyes stung, yet she looked at the date. Her birthday.

Her hands shook as she played another. It was a romantic dinner by the river. They were dancing and kissing down the neck. Before it went further. She closed the video.

She didn’t want to play the last one. But her finger moved before her mind could stop it.

The Sterling villa pool.

Aveline gasped, stepping away in reflex. It was security footage from the neighboring villa.

She got a glimpse of Vivienne throwing the top away and Damien moving close to her.

Alaric quickly placed a hand over her eyes.

She resisted, but a tear still slipped down her cheek. It was happening right under her nose.

How could she have been so oblivious?