At Ivory Heights,
Unbeknownst to Aveline, who braced herself for battle, another war had already begun in the shadows.
In a penthouse at Ivory height, within the dim glow of the study room, a man was seated in his armchair, his green eyes were dark with lethal intent, ready to befall the hell upon the person who disturbed his peace.
Alaric Lancaster.
The man who never let his peace be disturbed. Yet, someone had trampled over it.
…
A few hours ago, at Obsidian,
The moment Alaric heard Aveline Laurent, for the first time, enter the Obsidian in the middle of the night in her nightwear, he knew it wasn't out of pleasure, but something was very, very wrong.
His eyes remained on the surveillance screen the moment she stepped inside the clubhouse.
Her dishevelled hair, her urgency, the way she glanced around frantically, she was desperate and searching for someone.
Who?
There was an international client meeting of his father happening in the conference room. He felt impatient to watch her helplessness, running through the floors of the club, bar and determined to search every corner of Obsidian.
His voice cut through the silence, "Ezra, find out who she is here for."
Ezra Kane, his efficient assistant, gave a curt nod before stepping aside to make a quick call.
Meanwhile, Alaric watched the screen as Aveline pushed through the vast library, restless and lost.
Then she entered the hallway leading to the private conference rooms. Alaric's eyes narrowed. She shouldn't go in there.
At that moment, a manager appeared and guided her away before she could go any further.
Ezra returned beside Alaric with a frown on his usual unreadable face. He relayed the information. "Sir, Ms. Laurent is looking for her husband, Damien Ashford."
Alaric's world stilled for a moment. His fingers curled, his green eyes widening, and his heart shuddered at the information.
Ezra hesitated before continuing, "Director Ashford is with Vivienne Sinclair at the moment."
Alaric's eyes flicked with something unreadable. Firstly, he had never heard that Damien was married. All these years, he just knew Damien was obsessed with Vivienne.
Secondly, the woman Damien was married to was Aveline Laurent.
Alaric's fist tightened. 'Of all people - her?'
He could care less what Damien did with his life, but her.
Aveline Laurent.
The woman who held the power to bring a smile to his face without her knowing.
The woman whose infectious cheerfulness could ease his heart.
The woman who gave purpose to his life.
And now she was being cheated on.
His jaw ticked, something dark curling within him.
Ezra cut the silence when he saw Aveline in the hallway of the private rooms of the restaurant, where Damien was with Vivienne. "Should we stop Ms. Laurent?"
Alaric's eyes zeroed in on the screen. She had every right to know about her husband's affair, "No." Bitterness spread on his tongue.
On the screen, Aveline suddenly stopped. Her hands trembled at her sides. Her shoulder stiffened as her tears rolled down her cheeks.
Alaric reached for his phone, dialing a number with lethal precision without moving his gaze away from Aveline.
The call connected, [Ric!?] As soon as it was answered with grogginess, Alaric spoke.
His voice was cold and merciless, "It's time you paid what you owe. Obsidian. Now."
Before the voice on the other end could respond, he ended the call.
On the screen, Aveline was frozen in front of Damien's presidential suite.
Then he ordered, "Find out everything. When. And why." His voice cut through like a blade.
"Yes, Sir." Ezra quickly left with a short nod.
The hunt began.
––––
At Dawn
The golden light of dawn bathed the private study, casting long shadows along the walls. Yet Alaric hadn't moved from his chair the entire night.
His whiskey glass remained untouched, with his back against the chair and fingers clutching the arms.
Ezra Kane entered the study, his usual composed expression betraying a hint of tension. He held his tablet in one hand, tapping the screen as he spoke.
"Damien Ashford married to Aveline Laurent," He said, breaking the silence. "In under two weeks."
Swiping across the screen of the tablet, Ezra opened a file as he continued. "What's strange is—Ashford had no reason to rush. He had Vivienne Sinclair in his hands for years. No external forces were pushing him to marry Aveline Laurent." His gaze sharpened. "Unless the marriage itself is a calculated move in a grand scheme."
Alaric exhaled slowly. His mind moved like clockwork, fitting pieces together, eliminating the unnecessary pieces, honing in on what mattered.
Damien Ashford never did anything without benefit. If he married into the Laurents, it wasn't for love.
His gaze dropped to the tablet screen in front of him. The big bold words, 'Laurent Industries' most protected network.' The system was so secure it had kept hostile takeovers at bay for decades.
Alaric fitted another puzzle piece. Damien didn't marry Aveline for the Laurent name.He married her to get inside the one place he was never meant to enter.
And he was using Aveline to drop Laurent's guards off.
A slow, dangerous smirk ghosted Alaric's lips. "So that's his game."
The clock continued to tick, and Ezra silently waited without disturbing Alaric.
After a moment, Alaric stood up. When he spoke, his voice was razor sharp, "Find the man assisting Damien inside Laurent Industries."
His eyes gleamed intently. "Let me know where she stops by before she returns to the Sterling villa."
Ezra lowered his head in silent acknowledgement, "Yes, sir,"
Just as he turned to leave, he hesitated. Then glancing back at Alaric, he asked, "Forgive me, Sir, but… I would like to know this from a moral standpoint. Would you have intervened between them if they were a happy family?"
Alaric's piercing eyes zeroed in on the man.
Ezra Kane was a man in his mid-thirties and a former royal protection officer from the country Elaron. Thus, not just his build, he was trained to serve with unwavering loyalty and honor.
A man chosen by Alaric's grandmother for his incorruptible morals.
Alaric didn't waste time on hypotheticals. His voice was steady and unwavering, "From this moment forward, she will either be mine," His eyes darkened, "or happy alone." He vowed.
Without another word, he walked away, leaving Ezra speechless.