Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge
Chapter 121: Interruption

Chapter 121: Interruption

At eleven o’clock at Prestige Associates,

Scarlett looked at her mobile phone in the pouch of a Federal Bureau of Investigation officer. She wouldn’t be able to inform anyone about her detainment until after they questioned her.

As she was escorted toward the exit of the firm, she saw Damien Ashford in a tailored suit with a smug look on his face.

Then she glanced at the FBI officer who had cuffed her and was leading her away. Neither officer seemed to care about Damien’s presence.

Looking behind her, she noticed a Marshall from the Department of Justice following them. She saw him nod at Damien.

Now she wasn’t sure how long they would hold her before letting her call her brother.

Damien walked right beside Scarlett and sneered, "You didn’t see that one coming, did you?" With an internal protocol violation against her, he had avoided giving her the option of resigning.

Scarlett kept walking, refusing to break stride.

Damien didn’t seem bothered by her behavior and continued, "Scarlett Fournier, this is your end." He didn’t hold back, certain that Aveline would have told Scarlett everything.

She turned her head just slightly, her chin held high. "I’ll clear my name."

Damien laughed lightly. "Of course you will. But by then, the damage is done. Your Bar license? Hanging by a thread."

He waited a beat, letting the weight of that settle. "Unless," he said, his voice dropping, "you give me what I really want."

Scarlett paused, causing the others to halt.

"Aveline Laurent," he said simply. "You bring her back to me, and this goes away. Otherwise, I’ll make sure your career dies before it ever gets to court."

Scarlett stared at him. For a moment, she was silent.

Every word Aveline had uttered and feared was so accurate. It made Scarlett loathe Damien even more. She would rather lose her Bar license than let Aveline live with Damien, the d*ck.

Then her eyes hardened, not with fear, but with fury. She flashed him a middle finger as the officers ushered her into the car.

But in her mind, the timer had begun.

Damien could only grit his teeth at her audacity, though his confidence didn’t waver.

...

At noon, White-Collar Crime Division:

Scarlett forgot about the cuffs and smiled when she saw her boyfriend, Nate Rousseau, leaning against the wall at leisure, as though he was waiting for her.

"Nate..." She was moving toward him when another officer tugged her, then noticed Nate. "Officer Rousseau?"

Nate’s gaze sharpened as it shifted to the officer. "Were cuffs necessary?" His voice hardened. The cuffs were only used when the detainee didn’t cooperate.

Scarlett pouted at Nate as the officer hesitated before unlocking the cuffs.

Then everyone was speechless when Scarlett wrapped her arms around Nate without caring about anyone watching.

Nate indulged her, gently rubbing her head.

Scarlett whined, "Those digital footprints are fake. I was an intern and studying during the Eversage Holdings merger. I didn’t have the authority to sign audit papers. I don’t know what financial misconduct and legal malpractice they’re talking about."

’Ahem.’

Everyone turned around to find Gabriel Fournier with a team of lawyers behind him.

Scarlett reluctantly let go of Nate and heard him inform her, "I contacted your brother as soon as the warrant was signed."

Scarlett grinned from ear to ear. She didn’t have to worry anymore. She happily went inside and sat in the interrogation room.

Nobody got a chance to question Scarlett. She sat and admired her brother handling everything.

Gabriel and his team quickly invalidated the accusations. The alleged crimes: financial misconduct, document forgery, and legal malpractice, were traced back to Prestige Associates.

Furthermore, the original audit records and transactional documents were recovered, proving Scarlett’s lack of involvement. The investigation expanded, and new charges were brought against the firm and the associate who had supported the forgery.

.....

At 7 pm, in the evening

Scarlett stretched her body, standing in front of the bureau. "That bastard thought he made me helpless by not giving me a chance to resign."

"Language, Scarlett," Gabriel corrected her.

Scarlett ignored his words and hugged him. But the roar of a car caught her attention. As soon as her eyes fell on the Maserati, she ran downstairs, abandoning her brother.

Gabriel couldn’t help but perk up his ears to hear Aveline’s giggle. She had checked with him twice to make sure he could handle it and didn’t need any assistance.

He wasn’t sure how that made him feel. Wrong for not being recognized for what he was good at, or happy to see her bond so strong with Scarlett, despite their past relationship.

Anyway, he was glad he was capable of protecting his sister and avoiding putting stress on Aveline.

He got downstairs and heard, "Bro, let’s go for dinner. It’s Linnie’s treat."

Aveline: "..." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She didn’t even know she was treating them. Anyway, she played along. "Yeah, you guys had a long day." She addressed Gabriel and his team, "Let’s grab a good meal."

Gabriel wanted to refuse but failed to do so when Scarlett ushered Aveline into the car and announced, "Follow us."

.....

At a fine dining buffet restaurant,

Aveline learned about the cases against the Prestige law firm and asked, "So, what will be the end of this?" She needed to know for Damien’s downfall.

Gabriel responded to her, "There won’t be a Prestige anymore. Clara Reeve’s career would come to an end, along with the associates who supported her. If Reeve is smart, she would save herself from a long prison sentence by implicating Damien Ashford."

Aveline nodded while her mind continued to plan. If Damien lost the law firm, he wouldn’t have legal support at Ashford Holdings. With Project Crown in shambles, the board wouldn’t take it easily.

When he would try to use his money from shell companies, he would find out those accounts were empty, thanks to her father, Henry.

She wasn’t sure of Alaric’s plan. So by the end, she wanted Damien behind bars. She tilted her head, "Manipulate Clara Reeve to implicate Damien."

Gabriel didn’t refuse her or ask why. He simply nodded. Probably that was the least he could do for her.

She turned to Nate to find him spoiling Scarlett, so she fell quiet. Nate was working on the very case Charlie Harmon escaped. He was doing what he was good at, corporate espionage.

After dinner, Aveline signaled the manager for the check. "Miss Laurent, Mr. Fournier has already paid for the meal." The manager said.

Aveline glanced at the man who was instructing his team. The man was always about work. Anyway, she nodded at the manager and prepared to leave.

That’s when she noticed Isabella returning downstairs from the private room. Their eyes met with a knowing look, reminding them of the morning. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

–––––

In the morning,

The white Cadillac halted in front of Bloom & Grace just as Aveline admired the bouquet Alaric had sent. Coral-hued dahlias still danced in her fingers when the car door opened.

Oddly, Aveline expected Damien.

Instead, Isabella de’Conti was sitting in the car. She didn’t utter a word, just stared at Aveline as though she was studying Aveline.

If Isabella had arrived moments earlier, she could have met her son. Was it a coincidence?

From the first time they met, Aveline could see the difference in Isabella.

No, Isabella’s elegance was untouched, her presence was regal. But the warmth she had once shown Aveline during the NexGuard event was nowhere in sight.

Before Aveline could speak, the front passenger door opened. A woman stepped out briskly, Isabella’s secretary.

"Miss Laurent," the woman said politely, "Mrs. Lancaster would like to speak with you. Please take the car." She gestured inside for Aveline to sit.

Aveline didn’t move. She wasn’t afraid of Isabella, but she wasn’t foolish either. No one meets like this without a reason.

Instead, her eyes met the secretary’s. "Ten minutes," she replied calmly. "I’ll get my bag. I’ll follow in my car."

The secretary hesitated to interrupt Aveline. After all, Aveline wasn’t just any girl.

Even Isabella didn’t react, only observing in silence.

Aveline turned and walked inside. She had no intention of being stranded or outmaneuvered. Her mother had once told her, ’Never serve yourself to anyone on a platter. Set your own table.’

’Even if it irks royalty,’ Aveline thought.

....

After 20 minutes,

The café was too quiet, having been emptied in advance. Isabella waited at a table like she owned the world and resented anyone else daring to sit in it.

Parking her car, Aveline entered, poised and unhurried, and took the seat across from Isabella without invitation.

Isabella wasted no time. "I’ll be direct," she said, folding her hands on the table like a verdict being read. "I don’t like you as Alaric’s partner."

Aveline blinked once. She never imagined being rejected before she even dated. But here she was, disapproved of by the mother of the man.

"Since meeting you, he’s been reckless. Impulsive. He makes decisions with emotion rather than logic. That’s dangerous for him and his future."

Aveline wasn’t expecting Isabella to say something like that when she had given up her royalty to marry Edward Lancaster.

"I see," Aveline murmured. Her voice didn’t rise. "You’re worried about your son being led by affection."

Isabella corrected her, "I’m worried about him ruining himself."

There was a beat of silence before Aveline tilted her head ever so slightly.

On one hand, Damien wanted her to build his empire. On the other hand, Isabella was disapproving of her to avoid Alaric ruining his empire.

"You’re speaking to the wrong person, Mrs. Lancaster. That opinion should be directed at your son, not me."