Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge
Chapter 128: Brownies and Battles

Chapter 128: Brownies and Battles

Alaric didn’t drive them to a restaurant. Instead, he pulled into a quiet lane tucked behind the city lights.

The car stopped outside a place with no signage, only warm lighting from within. A staff member stepped out with a small paper box as if they had been expecting him.

He collected the box and handed it to her without a word.

"What’s this?" Aveline asked, glancing at Alaric as he paid the young staff member without exchanging a word.

"Open it," he said.

Inside was a square of dark chocolate brownie with delicate gold flakes dusted on top. It looked almost too decadent to eat.

She took a bite, and her eyes widened. The chocolate center was molten in the middle, still warm, rich with the kind of depth that only came from obsession.

"Mmm," she said, stunned, savoring the taste, "I don’t know where this is from, but this is so delicious."

He didn’t gloat and was happy to see her dig in for another spoonful. He simply said, "Knew you would like it."

Aveline sighed at the rich, sweet taste. "This is the highlight of my day."

He deadpanned, "Here I thought it was me."

Aveline giggled and responded, "Thank you..."

Then he drove them farther out, past the highway, toward Velmora’s southern edge. Where city lights thinned and soft hills framed the skyline, a hidden garden café rested in a private courtyard. It was quiet, dimly lit with lanterns that floated above like fireflies.

Aveline hadn’t even heard of the place. She looked around curiously.

"Take them off," he said when he saw her hesitate to step onto the lawn.

She raised a brow.

"The heels. The grass is clean. Your feet deserve it," he said.

She did. Her relief was immediate. In her moment of distraction, Alaric took the heels from her hand as if it was the most natural thing to do.

She didn’t know what to say. If actions spoke louder than words, his actions never lied, never fell weak. Seeing him extend his other hand, she didn’t refuse.

She took his hand as they walked across the lawn. They reached a low wooden deck near a modern firepit, already lit. Warmth wrapped around them as they sat near it, the soft crackle filling the pauses in their conversation.

"So," she started, brushing her hair behind one ear, "what’s next for the mighty NexGuard?"

He shrugged. "Vantex is steady now. But I want to develop the AI wing. Defense is profitable, but innovation keeps the power. I want the company to shift from protection... to prevention."

"Spoken like someone who’s not hesitant to rule the IT security world."

"I’ve never been scared to rule," he replied, not arrogantly, just stating a fact. Then he looked at her. "What about you? Got your first event?"

Aveline leaned back slightly. "They come with requests to invite my father to the event or for me to promote their brand." And she had refused all of them.

Alaric reached into the overcoat she was wearing and fetched an envelope. "You might like this."

She had no plans to host an event because of their connection. Anyway, she pulled the card out and smiled, looking at it. It was an invitation to participate in the floral art exhibit with a VIP pass.

She reached for her phone, pulled up an email, and displayed it to him.

Alaric: "..."

She had already registered for the floral arts exhibition. It looked like he was too late to impress her.

Aveline giggled, looking at his expression. Her gaze narrowed playfully. "You were stalking me, weren’t you?"

He met her eyes without guilt. "I’m not a stalker," he deadpanned.

She laughed anyway. "Then how do you know so much about me?"

He tilted his head with mock innocence. "I pay attention to details. It’s a business skill." Then his lips curved slightly.

She laughed softly, brushing her feet against the grass tips. The night felt gentle. Her chest felt lighter than it had in days.

By the time Aveline checked her watch, it was almost midnight. The fire was still crackling, their dinner half-eaten on the bench. "We should leave."

He merely hummed in response.

...

They didn’t speak much on the drive back.

The night had slipped into something quiet and unspoken. Aveline sat with one leg crossed under the other, the brownie box still resting on her lap like a keepsake.

She watched the streetlights blur past the window, the hum of the engine lulling her into thought.

When the car stopped in front of Blackwood Residence, she didn’t move for a moment. The engine ticked softly in the silence.

Alaric looked over. "We’re here."

"I know," she said, but made no move to get out.

Her fingers traced the edges of the brownie box, then she looked up at him. "Thank you. For the night... for the brownie."

He didn’t reply right away. He just watched her with the same gaze he wore when he thought she wouldn’t notice—thoughtful, a little heavy, like he saw further than he was supposed to.

Then, quietly, "I like this version of you more."

She tilted her head, looking at him.

"You don’t even realize it, do you?" he murmured, his voice like a secret meant only for her. "The way you feel everything so deeply and still keep going... It wrecks me, Sunshine. I don’t ever want you to hide that from me."

Aveline blinked, caught off guard by the softness in his voice. Her fingers curled over the coat draped over her shoulders. He wasn’t asking her much, just to be real. That made her heart melt her guards like a snowflake on palm.

Her cheeks flushed before she could stop it. She broke eye contact. "That sounds dangerously close to admiration, CEO Lancaster."

He leaned slightly toward her. "You noticed."

Her heart kicked against her ribs. For a second, she wanted to reach out. Say something. Do something. But her hand only hovered above the door handle.

"I should go," she whispered.

He didn’t argue. He just nodded once, slowly.

She stepped out into the still air and shut the door behind her. But as she reached the entrance of the residence, she paused and turned to look back.

Alaric was still there. Still watching her.

But from across the road, a man sat in his parked car, watching them through the windshield. One hand on the wheel. The other tapped his ring against the gearstick.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Aveline Laurent," he muttered, his voice laced with menace. "Well played. Now... let’s see how you’ll handle what’s coming next."