Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge-Chapter 221: The Pure Chaos

After another week passed peacefully, the golden rays of the morning crept into the penthouse quietly.

Alaric woke first.

For a moment, he didn't move. Aveline was curled against him, one arm loosely draped over him, her breathing slow and even. She shifted slightly when he adjusted his arm, her lips curving into a faint smile in her half-awake state.

He knew that smile. He bent and kissed her forehead. "Sleep," he whispered.

She hummed softly and sank deeper into the warmth, already drifting back.

Since hiring the assistant Alaric had recommended, Aveline's days had finally slowed. Her workload was filtered, her schedule less brutal. Mornings became lazy. Evenings were spent with him and in the home gym, practicing ballet.

She no longer woke up before sunrise just to outrun life.

Alaric slipped out from under the duvet and headed downstairs to work.

…

The workout ended. Sweat cooled on his skin as he walked out of the home gym. That was when he heard the front door unlock. Quick footsteps rushed inside.

Martha hurried in, a paper bag clutched tightly in her hands. She barely slowed before taking the stairs two at a time.

But Aveline met her halfway.

The softness from moments ago was gone. Her face was pale, tense, eyes sharp with something close to panic. She took the paper bag, turned, and ran upstairs, so fast she didn't even notice Alaric standing there.

He frowned. "What happened?" he asked quietly as Martha came back down.

Martha opened her mouth to say something, but closed it. Then she met his eyes with a look that carried weight. "You should go to Ms. Laurent," she said gently.

His chest tightened. He didn't ask more.

…

Upstairs, he reached the bedroom. "Sunshine?" But she wasn't there.

He tried the handle of the bathroom door. It was locked. "Sunshine?" His voice came firmer.

"…Wait," came her voice, barely audible through the door.

One minute passed.

Two.

Three.

Alaric wasn't an impatient man, but something about her silence scraped against him. Just as he lifted his hand to knock again, the door opened.

Aveline stood there. Her breathing was uneven. Eyes wide. Lips trembling like she was holding something back by sheer will. She lifted her hand slowly.

Two test strips.

Two unmistakable pink lines.

It took him a second to register what he was seeing and what it meant.

A pregnancy test. And it was positive.

"I…" Her voice shook. "I forgot to take my pills. On the day of the accident."

The memories hit him all at once. They had met at the hotel near the venue, then chaos erupted in the evening with the explosion. Then the hospital, a sleepless night, the police station, catching the culprit, and then Celeste. A lot had happened in a breath.

Of course, she forgot. He understood that instantly.

What he didn't understand was how to respond to the fear in her eyes.

"Sunshine…"

"We'll talk in the evening," she whispered, cutting him off. And before he could say another word, she disappeared back into the bathroom, the door locking softly behind her.

Alaric stood there alone.

For a woman who once wasn't even ready to date, who feared marriage because of trauma, this news was terrifying. He understood that too well.

He wanted to tell her she didn't have to decide anything right now. That he was okay with whatever she chose. That he wasn't going anywhere.

But she had clearly asked for time. So he gave it to her.

…

Inside the bathroom, Aveline dropped the pregnancy test on the washstand and pressed her palms over her face.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror and hissed at herself, 'Could you not live without drama in your life for some time?'

Her thoughts were chaotic. She was neither happy nor sad. She was too stunned to process it.

She felt foolish for forgetting the pills, especially when she was always the one insisting on them. If Alaric blamed her, she would accept it.

But blame wouldn't change anything now.

What scared her was deeper.

Was Alaric ready to be a father? With the childhood he had?

Was she ready to be a mother at the peak of her career?

Just weeks ago, life had finally felt… gentle. She was working, laughing, and loving. Was she ready for a life that would depend entirely on her?

And what about her parents? Would they be disappointed?

Despite everything, one truth settled firmly in her chest.

She was keeping the baby.

…

After breakfast, Aveline called Scarlett and Charles and asked them to come to the Laurent mansion. She asked her parents to be there too.

As soon as she entered, she revealed to them, "I'm pregnant." Then she braced herself.

Scarlett gasped first. Then screamed, jumping on her toes, "Oh my god! Oh my god! I'm going to be a godmother!"

Aveline blinked.

Charles stared at her for a second, then sighed dramatically. "Dang. My little sister has grown up." Then he grinned. "Guess I'll finally have someone to have fun with."

Aveline laughed before she could stop herself.

Her parents were quieter, more shocked than Aveline, and they slowly processed her words, her future, her life.

They wanted marriage first; she could see it in their eyes, but they didn't say it. Not after Damien. Not after everything they'd been through.

"It wasn't planned," Aveline added quickly. "I forgot the pills during the accident."

Margaret immediately went into worry mode. "Oh my… then you must be seven or eight weeks along." She made Aveline sit, holding her hands tightly. "The first trimester is very sensitive, Lina. No rushing, no lifting. Have you seen a gynecologist? I'll find the best one. You shouldn't drive anymore; keep a driver. And we need to…"

Henry gently placed a hand on Margaret's shoulder. "Let's hear Lina first."

He sat beside Aveline. "Are you okay? And where is Alaric?"

All eyes turned to her. It's good news, then where was he?

"He knows," Aveline said softly. "I want to keep the baby. But what if it's too soon for him? We never talked about marriage… or children."

Everyone stared at her. They had seen Alaric during crises, during happy days, and how much he loved Aveline. He would be nothing but a devoted husband. So they didn't know why she was fretting over something she could solve in a few seconds with Alaric.

The Laurents looked at each other. They understood she wanted to keep the baby and also loved Alaric. She feared having to choose one if Alaric chose otherwise.

Scarlett finally blurted out her question, "Linnie, if he ever made you choose between him and the baby, would you still love him?"

Aveline didn't even blink when she responded. "He wouldn't do that." She was too confident.

Scarlett smacked her head lightly. "THEN WHY ARE YOU PANICKING? GO. TALK TO HIM!"

Aveline tilted her head and realized Scarlett was right. Why was she overthinking?

"Maybe… I needed to hear that." She giggled sheepishly.

Then she ran out. Her entire family panicked and chased her.

Margaret yelled, "Lina, don't run!"

Henry shouted happily, "I'll inform the Lancasters!"

Charles grabbed their coats. "Don't catch a cold!"

Scarlett stood at the door and laughed, watching the pure chaos and family love of the Laurents.