"There's no shame in telling me the truth," Hugo Williams, the psychologist, pressed, his tone even. "You've been carrying this for too long. Let it out."

Aveline held herself steady with a calm mask. "There's nothing more," she murmured. "I've told you everything."

Hugo didn't look convinced. He leaned back, studying her like a puzzle he hadn't cracked. "You've told me the part of the story you're comfortable sharing. But those pauses, the guarded tone, they tell me there's more."

Silence stretched.

Aveline forced herself to meet his gaze smoothly and steadily. "There's truly nothing more," she repeated. "What more could happen in two months?" She could never tell him about the two years of marriage she had lived through before regressing.

He exhaled softly, then set his pen down. "I won't push you today. But I want you to think about something. Keeping it inside will only feed the illusions you see on the streets. They will come back stronger each time. And the more you refuse to face them aloud, the harder it will be to separate memory from imagination."

Her jaw tensed. She wanted to protest, to tell him she knew very well the difference between the two. But she bit her tongue.

If she knew so well, why was she so disturbed by imagining Damien?

Hugo rose, closing the notebook. "We'll continue this in our next session. I want you to come back. Same time next week, regardless of whether you see him or not."

His tone softened, just slightly. "Ms. Laurent, trust me enough to tell me everything then. No measured pauses, no half-truths. If you don't, you'll only be punishing yourself."

Aveline uncrossed her legs, grabbed her bag, and stood gracefully, smoothing her skirt as though nothing in her composure had cracked. "All right," she said quietly.

But as she reached for the door, her nails dug into her palms. She wouldn't be going there again.

Because she knew nobody would understand or accept that she had lived through two years before coming back. She opened the door and walked out.

Alaric was waiting in the lounge when Aveline stepped out. He ended the call on his phone as she approached. His voice was calm. "Did everything go well?"

Aveline wanted to just nod and brush off the topic, but she knew it would be a lie.

What else could she say?

A truth. Half of it.

"I still need to open up and tell him everything. So, next week." She stepped closer to him, and he wrapped his arms around her naturally.

Alaric didn't push her with questions. He assumed it must be difficult for her to recall everything and voice it out. His tone softened, coaxing her gently. "That's all right. Take your time."

His understanding made her feel guilty for not telling him the whole truth, but she didn't let it show.

"Let's go," he said.

She followed him out. They stopped by NexGuard and had lunch together. Alaric didn't force her out of her thoughts or try to discuss her recent experience. He quietly accompanied her.

Then she drove to Grace & Bloom.

All the way, she focused on keeping her eyes forward, not looking anywhere else. She didn't want to risk seeing someone and imagining Damien's face instead.

At Grace & Bloom, preparations for Cullen's 30th anniversary were already in full swing. Along with that, a new event had come in, a socialite's Ladies' Night booking for Sunday.

Aveline smoothly handled the meetings, confirming the venue, food and drinks, and other miscellaneous requests.

She was working on bookings in the evening when her phone rang, displaying 'Isabella De'Conti' on the screen.

After pleasantries, "I'm free on Friday and Saturday afternoon, for the tea you mentioned," Isabella said warmly.

Aveline's eyes twinkled at hearing it. She quickly agreed, "Amazing. Just give me a moment to confirm if my mother is free." Then she dialed her mother on the telephone on her desk.

After a quick conversation with Margaret, she spoke to Isabella, "Mrs. De'Conti, how about Saturday at Ivory Towers?"

"That's lovely." She paused with a hint of hesitation. "May I bring Edward along? His business trip was canceled," Isabella added. "He's free on Saturday."

"Of course," Aveline replied gladly.

They were about to end the call with goodbyes when another voice slipped through.

"Wait, Mom, I would like to talk to Ms. Laurent," Seraphina's hurried voice sounded in the background.

Aveline stilled, the phone still pressed to her ear.

"Ms. Laurent, I'll join the afternoon tea as well," Seraphina announced, then paused and added meekly, "Only if you allow it."

Aveline honestly wanted to decline, but she couldn't. At the end of the day, Seraphina was still part of the Lancasters. So, "All right," she agreed before she ended the call.

As soon as she hung up, she rushed back to NexGuard to pick up Alaric. He was still working, typing at his desk when she entered his office and blurted, "Alaric... I made a mistake."

He paused, looking up. He was all ears as she began.

"I planned afternoon tea with our mothers at Ivory. Since your father was free, I thought of inviting my father too. It would be a new experience for them. But..." Her expression twisted faintly. "Seraphina invited herself. Now I don't know if I should change the venue or decline her. If I decline Seraphina, won't your parents feel bad?"

Alaric leaned back in his chair, his hands still on the desk. He raised a brow and gestured for her to come closer.

She walked over.

He had seen her gloomy in the afternoon, and now that she had something to keep busy with, she was restless and overthinking, too.

The moment she stood close, Alaric pulled her onto his lap. "My place belongs to you as much as me. Do whatever you like." He clarified this first, in case she was hesitant.

Then he spoke about Seraphina. "If you change the venue because of someone, it means you're letting them affect you. Why should we?"

Aveline bit her lip, listening to him.

He added, "If it's manageable, invite your brother. Maybe your friend..."

"Giselle and her family," Aveline completed, her lips twitching. Then she blinked. "Alaric Lancaster, now it feels like a family meeting before the wedding." It was supposed to be just their mothers having a peaceful time.

He laughed at her bewilderment. "Then we should invite your grandmother Celeste too," he teased.

She slapped his arm with a pout. Wedding? That still gave her goosebumps.

"Are you all right having so many people at your... Our place? I don't want to make you uncomfortable." She didn't want to ignore his preferences.

His gaze softened. "If you're there, no issues. If you aren't, I'll throw everyone out."

Her giggle escaped before she could stop it. She hugged him quickly, but before he could wrap his arms around her, she hopped off his lap and ran toward the couch.

"I need to research afternoon tea," she declared, grabbing her iPad. "Decide the courses and décor."

Alaric: "..."

He leaned back, watching her already focused, scrolling with interest. She looked happy, arranging events and learning new things.

He was trained in royal etiquette. But he was curious how she would manage to learn and arrange everything in a day.

Then his eyes narrowed at his screen when he looked away from her. If Seraphina or Nicholas pulled any stunt that day, he wouldn't hesitate for a second. He would throw them out.

Better yet, kick them off the terrace. He was tempted to do that.

....

In the Lancaster estate,

In the living hall, Isabella clenched her teeth, glaring at Seraphina walking away after forcing herself into the tea ceremony.

Seraphina had been acting amiable and guilty in the past days. She hadn't stepped out of the mansion except once. However, Isabella had noticed Nicholas and Seraphina were avoiding each other.

Isabella's secretary stepped forward. "Madam, should I..." She didn't get to complete her words.

Isabella lifted her hand, stopping her secretary. They could avoid Seraphina, but it would give her a stage to talk about dividing the Lancasters. And it was time Seraphina learned Alaric wasn't in hell, he wasn't dependent like Nicholas, and his empire was growing strong.

Isabella murmured to herself, "Get me suitable villas and apartments for those two to live in."

The secretary responded before she left, and Isabella went to her room to freshen up.

In Seraphina's bedroom,

Seraphina was leaning back in her chair with a victorious smirk on her face. She had almost thought she might miss their afternoon tea.

As soon as she heard Isabella speaking to Aveline, she managed to get herself invited.

When her father called to learn about Aveline's situation, she also updated him about Saturday's afternoon tea at Ivory Towers.

Her father's voice was sharp with warning. "Have you lost your mind? You'll only humiliate yourself if you show up there, Sera. Isabella and Edward will see right through you."

Nicholas, who had heard the conversation from the door, added dryly, "Not to mention Aveline's parents. They would drown you in humiliation."

Seraphina only hummed, unbothered, a slow smile curving her lips. "Which is why I'll get ahead of them. I'll apologize before anyone has the chance to sneer. Let them think I've turned over a new leaf."

Her father's voice deepened with dissatisfaction. "And what then? Sit meekly like a guest in her house?"

"Oh, no," Seraphina said lightly. "Afternoon tea is a perfect stage. All it takes is one remark to remind her of Damien, and peace will slip from her mind like sand through fingers."

Nicholas studied her, unimpressed. He didn't want to drown with her.

Seraphina set her glass down, her gaze turning sharp. "If Aveline thinks she can settle in as the perfect lady of the house, I'll make sure she never has a moment's peace."

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