The corridor outside Alaric's bedroom was hardly used, a place nobody visited in Alaric's absence, except for maids to clean.

Seraphina and Nicholas's footsteps were muted by the narrow, plush carpet. Neither of them spoke, trying to compose themselves. Then, a sudden scream split the silence.

"Ahhh…" Aveline's voice, raw and unguarded.

"You are so fast… Wait…" She cried out. "Oh my god... Ahh... Alaric..."

Before they could think further, there was a warm burst of laughter. Alaric's unrestrained, joyous laughter, the kind they had never heard from him.

"You cheated!" Aveline cried. "It was my first time trying this game!" She broke into half-sobs, tangled with Alaric's deep, amused laughter.

Those sounds tightened Nicholas's fists. His blood surged hot with humiliation and rage. To him, they were mocking everything, the Astors and him.

He took a step forward, ready to barge into the room. But Seraphina grabbed his wrist. Her voice was low, controlled. "No. Not like this. You can't win against them with rage. They'll use it against us."

Nicholas's jaw clenched, the fury still blazing in his eyes. But something in Seraphina's poise forced him to yield. They had picked a shortcut to start the fire. It had burned them instead. If a long game demanded swallowing their pride, then so be it.

When both were composed, they knocked on the door.

'Knock, knock…'

Moments later, the door opened. Aveline stood there, VR headset resting on her head. Her face that had been lit with laughter a moment earlier now stilled, turning aloof as her gaze landed on them.

Behind her, Alaric loomed, headset in hand, his expression sharpening instantly. The light in his eyes turned cold, the corners of his mouth flattening into disdain.

Before he could shut the door on their faces, Seraphina spoke, looking at Aveline. "Do you have a minute?" Her voice was stripped of arrogance, stripped of the pride that had been her armor.

Aveline hesitated. Her gaze flicked toward Alaric. He didn't speak, letting her make the decision. Obviously, he would shut the door of his world to them, much less a room.

Aveline calmly nodded in response to Seraphina. She removed her headset and took Alaric's headset from him to set it aside.

Seraphina and Nicholas entered.

The room carried the faint hum of the VR console still running, the echo of Alaric's laughter hanging like smoke in the air.

To Seraphina, it was suffocating. To Nicholas, it was a mockery. Yet both forced composure onto their faces.

Seraphina drew a breath, then spoke first. "We owe you both an apology." Her words were carefully measured.

Her voice carried none of the practiced elegance from before. It was stripped bare, soft enough to disarm anyone.

Nicholas followed, each word dragged from his throat like gravel. "It may not matter to you. It may never matter. But we were wrong."

Aveline's eyes narrowed slightly, doubt flaring beneath her calm. She folded her arms and tried to read them and their new game. She would be an idiot if she believed people changed so easily. So she didn't offer them comforting words.

Alaric stood silent, expression unreadable. He watched them as though judging a performance staged poorly.

Seraphina continued, despite the weight pressing down on her. "We know you won't believe us. You don't have to forgive us. That isn't why we came. This… is only the beginning. The first step of change, even if it feels… hollow to you."

Aveline's lips parted slightly, as though ready to speak, but she didn't. She only looked at Seraphina with a gaze that was both cool and impossibly sharp.

An apology so soon… almost too soon. What game are you playing this time, Seraphina? Aveline couldn't help but wonder if this was a distraction.

The air between the four of them hung heavy with suspicion circling like wolves.

Yet Seraphina and Nicholas did not falter. For the first time, they chose to bow their heads with bruised pride.

Before Aveline could speak, the housekeeper arrived and dipped her head when she met Aveline and Alaric's gaze.

"Lunch is prepared. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster asked me to invite you four," the housekeeper reported.

Aveline nodded softly, and Seraphina responded, "We'll be there soon."

When Seraphina turned back to the couple, Aveline spoke, "The change after the apology is what is necessary." She didn't give them the chance to speak. "We shouldn't make Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster wait."

Aveline leaned on the door frame and watched the couple leave. "Chameleons are slower than them in changing colors," she mumbled to herself, but Alaric heard her.

"Do you think they would come around?" Aveline asked Alaric, who went to grab their phones and her bag.

"Yeah, just how we could fix spoiled milk," Alaric responded, placing his hand on her lower back to give her a gentle push.

Walking beside him, Aveline moved closer instead, causing him to wrap his arm around her. "So mean… But we could make cheese out of spoiled milk."

Alaric paused, surprised, and spoke when she turned to him, "You know something about cooking."

Aveline pouted before punching his stomach. Nevertheless, she confessed, "I have only read it somewhere."

And he burst into laughter. He couldn't believe what she confidently said about spoiled milk was something she wasn't even sure about.

Aveline smiled with him, both smoothly hiding their thoughts behind it.

In the dining hall, the lunch was rather quiet, other than Isabella talking to Aveline. The Lancasters were barely surprised when she revealed they were living together.

After lunch, Edward finally broke his silence. "Be careful." It was a warning to Alaric. He didn't believe in the Astors quietly accepting the situation.

Edward merely nodded at Aveline in acknowledgment before he walked away with Isabella in tow to send him off.

Be careful. Alaric realized why his father chose a diplomatic solution rather than fighting it off.

With Aveline's viral video, the fall of the Astors would directly tie to the Laurents, Aveline Laurent to be precise.

It wouldn't just attract the attention of authorities; it would also grab unnecessary attention from the media, politicians who had benefited from Lucien Astor, and the enemies of the Astors.

His chest tightened. He didn't want his actions to hurt Aveline in any way. She had lived and grown up away from the limelight. But she was in the limelight for all the wrong reasons from the moment she started fighting Damien.

He snapped out of his thoughts when cold fingers glided into his hand.

"What's wrong?" Aveline asked. She had called him out twice, but he hadn't answered her.

"Let's go," Alaric said, rising from his chair. He pulled the chair out for her and ignored Nicholas and Seraphina while Aveline acknowledged them with a nod.

They were in the hallway when they caught sight of Isabella at the entrance, fixing Edward's blazer lapel and saying something that eased the tension on Edward's face. He kissed her forehead and got in the car.

Isabella watched the car drive away before a sigh slipped from her lips. She turned around to find the two prepared to depart.

A gentle, motherly smile appeared on Isabella's face, but Aveline noticed she didn't direct it to Alaric for longer than a second. Isabella wouldn't have treated her well if she didn't like Alaric.

Then why was there a distance between Alaric and Isabella?

Though her first meeting with Isabella wasn't really amazing, Aveline didn't find Isabella a threat or malicious. It only made her want to learn about Alaric's childhood more and more.

Unfortunately, Alaric didn't seem to be ready to speak about it.

Hold your horses, Aveline Laurent. Aveline reminded herself to be patient to avoid suffocating Alaric.

Isabella extended her hand and held Aveline's soft and delicate hand. "I wish the situation was much better for your welcome to the Lancaster family mansion. If you have time on Sunday, we would really love to host you."

Aveline wouldn't want to visit the Lancaster mansion anytime soon, at least until this day wore off a bit from her memory.

"I read somewhere that you love afternoon tea. I would like to invite you for afternoon tea at... Grace and Bloom," she awkwardly added. "The penthouse will be under renovation for some time."

Isabella was surprised that Aveline knew about De'conti's traditional afternoon tea. She nodded in understanding upon hearing about the renovation.

Aveline continued, "I'll try to arrange things to the best of my abilities and understanding. But you will have to teach me if I miss something." Because she never attended such events.

"Afternoon tea!?" A surprised voice echoed from inside. "De'conti's style?"

Isabella's expression stiffened for just a bit, but she looked composed. Aveline's jaw clenched as she turned aside and watched Seraphina step out.

"If you don't mind, Ms. Laurent, maybe it could be a new beginning for us?" Seraphina's question lingered.

Aveline honestly wanted to avoid having Isabella in her space.

Seraphina's face dropped, and an awkward smile appeared on her face. "It's alright if I make you uncomfortable."

Aveline felt goosebumps upon hearing Seraphina.

'Was Seraphina trying to make her a villain? What was with her act of playing the naive woman?'

Aveline didn't put on an act of being a good woman. Instead, her voice was sharp. "You could definitely join us if you didn't mind being uncomfortable."

Seraphina didn't let her expression falter. She gave back with spirit, "With you being the host, I'm sure you don't let your guests be uncomfortable."

Aveline smiled. "You haven't met my mother. She is quite the storm."

Without giving Seraphina a chance to retort, Aveline turned to Isabella. "Let me know when you are free."

Nicholas tried when Alaric was about to leave, "We should…"

"Sunshine," Alaric cut him off and ignored him flatly as he guided Aveline to the car.

Nicholas watched the Rolls-Royce drive away and turned to Isabella. "Mom, he…"

He didn't get to complain when Isabella said, "You know him." And she walked inside without nursing his ego and irritation.

Nicholas glared at Isabella's back and turned to his wife with barely contained frustration. "Did you see that? She used to always reprimand Alaric and take my side. Now she acts like she doesn't even care about what he does to me."

Seraphina felt no less stung by Aveline's behavior. But she stayed calm.

Her voice was steady and calculating. "We need to stay patient for this long game, Nick. Let them think they have won for now. It'll make their fall so much sweeter."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.