Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge-Chapter 101: The Latte

At a cafe,

Aveline crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. She gracefully took a sip of her steaming cup of coffee and set the cup back on the table.

Alaric shook his head in resignation. Her soft voice could fool anyone. Despite sitting directly across from her, he almost believed she was genuinely feeling bad for Damien.

"That’s it?" He probed, wondering if her plan for the day was complete.

She smiled, so sly, so tempting. Her gaze shifted to the woman who had just entered the cafe.

Alaric followed her line of sight and spotted her.

Clara Reeve, Damien’s personal lawyer. She walked in wearing crisp business attire, her presence commanding respect and space naturally.

Clara wasn’t only helping Damien bury his illegal actions, but she had also concealed her illicit dealings with Ashford Globals.

Alaric had gathered evidence against Clara for Aveline. After getting a clear look, he identified her easily.

He turned back to Aveline to find her already standing. He realized she was going to approach Clara. But wasn’t Aveline’s plan to stay off Damien’s radar?

"Sunshine."

"Time to shine." Aveline walked away from Alaric and stood behind Clara, who was waiting in line to order.

Alaric least wanted Aveline to raise suspicion when she was meticulously pushing Damien into a corner. But watching her move so confidently to manipulate a lawyer, someone who was supposed to be a master of manipulation herself, he couldn’t help but feel thrilled.

Aveline began a fake phone call while standing directly behind Clara. "Yes, Chairman Rowe... I just went through the file. Give me some time to make the decision... Thank you."

Clara’s eyes widened upon hearing ’Chairman Rowe.’ She waited until the call ended and glanced behind her with practiced casualness.

She had to bite back a sharp gasp when she saw Aveline up close. The first time she had seen Aveline was at the gala, but now she couldn’t help but admire the woman’s flawless skin and delicate features.

Aveline broke her out of her reverie. "Excuse me, it’s your turn." Her voice was soothing, almost melodic.

Clara stepped aside and gestured graciously for Aveline to go ahead. "Ms. Laurent, after you."

Aveline’s eyebrows rose slightly at being addressed by name. Nevertheless, she ordered first. "One double shot Americano." Then she gestured for Clara, who ordered, "One pumpkin spice latte."

"Anything else?" the barista asked.

"Nothing, thank you," Aveline responded and made the payment for both drinks.

The two women moved aside to wait. "Have we met before?" Aveline asked with feigned curiosity.

Clara confidently extended her hand. "I’m Clara Reeve, Mr. Ashford’s personal lawyer and legal consultant for Ashford Holdings."

However, Aveline didn’t take Clara’s offered hand. Her brows dipped, and her soft expression shifted to something more serious.

Clara could read every micro-expression on Aveline’s face. Uncertainty crept into her chest. She wasn’t sure how she had offended the woman. She slowly lowered her hand. "Ms. Laurent!?"

Aveline pointed to a table directly behind where Alaric sat, and they settled themselves there. "Are legal consultants supposed to ensure nothing illegal happens at their companies, or are they meant to help clients exploit incorrect and misleading clauses?"

Clara’s face remained impassive, but her pulse quickened. She carefully studied Aveline’s composed demeanor, noting how the woman’s words were precise rather than speculative. Still, Clara refused to take the bait.

"Ms. Laurent, you should be careful when speaking with a lawyer. You shouldn’t make random accusations."

Aveline smiled, her eyes dropping for a moment before she reached for her bag on the adjacent chair. She pulled out a manila file and placed it gracefully in front of Clara.

Clara’s stomach dropped, but she kept her expression neutral. Her fist clenched beneath the table as a cold dread began to spread through her chest. After a tense beat, she flipped the file open.

With the air of someone casually reviewing documents, she continued turning pages, her eyes inevitably drawn to the highlighted words and clauses.

With each page, Clara felt her carefully constructed world beginning to crack. The evidence was damning. Bank transfers, email correspondence, and contract modifications. Everything she thought she had hidden so well.

Finally, she closed the file, her hands steadier than her racing heart. She shrugged with practiced nonchalance. "So? Are you going to report me?"

Her voice was too calm to be believed, though there was no visible panic. Inside, however, her mind was racing through damage control scenarios. "This doesn’t prove I’m actively conspiring with the client." At worst, she might lose her job.

Aveline thanked the barista who served their coffee, then turned back to Clara. "Enjoy your latte. You might not be able to appreciate it from tomorrow."

She retrieved the file and slipped it back into her bag. She appeared ready to leave when Clara spoke through gritted teeth, her composure finally cracking.

"You don’t own the shares. Don’t pretend like you own Ashford Holdings."

The words came out sharper than Clara intended, revealing the frustration and fear she had been suppressing.

Aveline let out a soft, knowing laugh. "Ms. Reeve, as long as I’m married to Damien, I own Ashford Holdings. And as long as I own it, I’ll make sure you lose every ounce of credibility you’ve built."

She slipped on her sunglasses with deliberate slowness and walked out of the cafe, leaving Clara sitting alone with her untouched latte and the crushing weight.

Alaric was stunned. He had assumed Aveline would threaten Clara directly to pressure Damien. Instead, she had planted the seed of divorce in Clara’s mind, knowing the lawyer would likely suggest it to Damien as a solution to his mounting problems.

He stood and exited the cafe just as Aveline pulled up in front with his car. He slipped into the passenger seat and chuckled when she glanced at him.

"Sunshine!" His voice impressed.

Aveline stopped at a red light and turned to face him.

"What’s next?" he asked. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

She pursed her lips thoughtfully before revealing, "The return of Daniel Anderson."

He nodded, genuinely impressed that she had orchestrated every move to turn Damien’s world upside down.

"How do you come up with these ideas?" he asked, genuinely curious.

She shrugged casually. "I have read a lot of novels."

Alaric: "..."

What kind of novels were available in the market that could transform a gentle lamb into a calculating lioness?

Aveline giggled at his bewildered expression. "It’s Scarlett, actually. I talk to her every day. I plan, she perfects the strategy." Otherwise, Scarlett would follow her, and Damien would become suspicious. "Her boyfriend told me about the cafe Clara frequents."

That’s when he realized Aveline had an entire support system behind her. But she had chosen to involve him specifically. "Then why did you ask me to gather information?"

She responded without hesitation. "Because your Lancaster network is extensive, and your people can get results quickly. You can cross certain lines that her boyfriend couldn’t."

She glanced at the countdown on the red light and continued, "I don’t want to strain my relationship with my family by involving them in all this." That’s why she had chosen not to ask her father for help.

"And..." She paused, her voice growing softer. "I don’t think Damien would try to harm you physically."

After a beat, his quiet voice cut through the hum of traffic. "Would it matter to you if he did?"

Aveline didn’t answer immediately. The red light turned green, and she pressed the accelerator gently, keeping her eyes on the road ahead.

She understood the weight of his question. Regardless of how close they had grown in such a short time, she would never risk anyone’s life for her benefit. He was no exception to that principle.

"Yes," she said simply. She didn’t have the heart to make him feel otherwise.

But for Alaric, that single word was enough.

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