Aveline's mind swirled with numerous thoughts. A rush of calculations and questions all at once as she watched Vivienne Sinclair saunter toward her.
With each step, the woman exuded confidence, flashing a smile that could make any man weak in the knees.
But Aveline?
She felt sick. Her grip tightened around the steering wheel as her mind reeled.
Did Vivienne know Damien was married?
If she did, how could she openly sleep with a married man? She didn't lack money or looks.
If she didn't… then Damien was cheating on her too.
Aveline inhaled deeply, forcing herself to think logically. She had to find out where Vivienne stood in all of this.
Was Vivienne her enemy, and Damien a victim?
So she has to find out without revealing her intention through direct questioning. Without exposing her storm of emotions that surged within her at the sight of the woman.
Vivienne came to stop in front of the car, knocking on the driver's side window.
Aveline's stomach twisted. Vivienne wouldn't block her path if she weren't fully aware that the Lamborghini belonged to Damien Ashford.
She hadn't met Vivienne before she regressed. The events, meetings and appearances were changing as she was changing the future. She couldn't help but wonder if Vivienne knew that she and not Damien was behind the wheel.
Now that she was changing the course of her life, were Damien and Vivienne changing their plans too?
Numerous questions and theories began drowning Aveline when another knock on the window snapped her out of her thoughts.
It wasn't time to think but learn the situation and act fast. She can't keep depending on the events that happened before she regressed. She has to tackle the battle as it comes.
Determination flickered in her eyes as she unlocked the door and smoothly pushed it open. The momentary fear and confusion she had felt a mere seconds ago disappeared behind an icy, unreadable expression.
She stepped out gracefully.
The moment Vivienne saw her, Aveline caught it.
Vivienne's lips parted slightly, her pupils dilating for a fraction of a second before she clenched her jaw. Shock. Recognition and a second of hesitation before it was buried beneath a smooth mask of a top-class socialite.
"I'm sorry," Vivienne said quickly, her voice controlled, practised and perfect, "I misidentified the car as my friend's." Then, with a rehearsed grace, she turned to leave.
But unlike the sultry, confident strides she had taken before, her steps were long. She was escaping.
Aveline's lips curled slightly. Well, Vivienne wasn't there to announce her control or love over Damien, but it was a pure coincidence.
Slipping her sunglasses down her nose, Aveline spoke, "Excuse me."
Vivienne stilled.
Aveline continued, her voice smooth and deliberate, "You forgot something."
Vivienne turned as if she were on a runway, the movement deliberate and her expression meticulously crafted to perfection. Her gaze flickered downward for a moment, scanning the pavement as if she had truly dropped something, before she met Avelie's eyes.
Aveline saw it. The flicker of hesitation to meet her eyes.
Aveline took a slow and measured step forward. Then another step. Each step was intentional, and each movement calculated.
She was studying Vivienne the same way Damien studied her countless times before.
And Vivienne, who had seemed so untouchable before, was nervous.
Why would Vivienne be nervous of Aveline?
This wasn't a hard situation to manage, was it?
Unless Vivienne already knew exactly who Aveline was.
Now the real question was, did Vivienne know her as Damien's wife or just a Laurent?
Aveline's gaze flicked towards the restaurant entrance, where her team had gathered and observed the situation. She lifted her fingers in a small gesture to send them inside the restaurant.
Nodding, they headed inside, but Mike remained.
Aveline turned her focus back to Vivienne, who had subtly glanced behind to see who she was cueing.
Anyway, Aveline gestured toward the dashcam of the Lamborghini. "I have it recorded." Her voice effortlessly poised, "Before I consider suing you for the emotional distress you have caused, you should apologize again. Properly."
Vivienne's jaw tightened. "You…" Viviene took a step forward, anger flashing in her eyes. Then, she quickly stopped herself.
Vivienne's expression shifted again, perfectly controlled. Her voice was smooth as silk, forced through clenched teeth, "I'm sorry for misidentifying your car and suddenly blocking your way. I will compensate you for any distress caused, without the involvement of law."
With a hint of sincerity, her words were robotic.
She turned, walking swiftly back toward her car.
But Aveline wasn't done yet. Though she strongly believed Vivienne was aware of her presence as Damien's wife, just in case she was reading wrong, she pulled another move.
She sauntered right behind Vivienne, her heels clicking against the pavement.
Vivienne felt it. Her shoulders tensed, ever so slightly.
Aveline smirked and knocked on Vivienne's car window.
Vivienne's head snapped toward her, annoyance clear. "What is it now?" She hissed, anger seeping through her tone.
Aveline tilted her head, her expression innocent. "Your card!" She held out her hand, "I should know who to sue."
Vivienne's expression turned ugly. Being unrecognized was more insulting to her than apologizing twice to Aveline.
She grabbed her handbag, pulled out a card, and practically shoved it into Aveline's hand before rolling up her window.
Aveline flipped the card between her fingers. Just as Vivienne could shut the window, Aveline spoke again, "Ms. Sinclair."
Vivienne stiffened as though Aveline was going to announce the battle.
But Aveline gestured toward the Lamborghini with a single finger. "Take another look." She tilted her head, "That's the only car of its kind in this country. It belongs to one man." Her lips curved as she slowly uttered her next words, "Aveline Laurent. Wife of Damien Ashford."
Without waiting for Vivienne's reaction, Aveline turned and walked to her car. She had to ignite the fire to burn Damien. If he could use their mothers, she could use her opportunity.
An eye for an eye.
Shaking in rage, Vivienne watched as Aveline moved with the kind of grace that made Vivienne's own fury feel raw and uncontained. But beneath that anger, a flicker of fear sparked that she refused to acknowledge.
Fear that she might lose hold of Damien. That Aveline wasn't just a temporary obstacle but a real threat.
The moment Aveline parked her car and disappeared into the restaurant, Vivienne's hand slammed against the steering wheel. Her breath came in ragged, "You bitch."
Her trembling fingers grabbed her phone and dialed a number. The second call connected, and she screamed into the receiver.
"Damien Ashford, how dare you give your car to that bitch?" Her voice shook with fury as she continued, "You are supposed to tie that bitch in that villa so she never sees the daylight. Are you getting chummy with her? If you have fallen for that slut–" Her voice cracked, venom laced between her sobs, "Then let's break up." And she ended the call.
The tires screeched as Vivienne sped out of the parking lot. Little did she know, Aveline hadn't gone upstairs but just stood behind the stairwell, listening.
A slow smirk curled at the corner of her lips. The words didn't wound her. They only confirmed one thing.
Vivienne Sinclair knew exactly who she was.
Aveline couldn't understand what Damien and Vivienne were truly after.
If they loved each other, why hadn't they gotten married? Why hadn't they joined forces to elevate Sinclair Lifestyle or target Laurent Industries directly?
That's the right approach.
Instead, their twisted games dragged her between them, ruining her life in the process.
But one thing didn't add up.
If Vivienne truly loved Damien, how had she allowed him to marry another woman, even if only for a short-term scheme?
Was she not afraid of losing him?
Or worse- Was Damien just another piece in Vivienne's grand game?
Because Damien's love may be blind, but Vivienne's greed for power never was.