CHAPTER 126: MATRIARCHS AND RUINS

Aveline hadn’t arrived at the café seeking confrontation, nor had she entered expecting to be humiliated by Eleanor.

After hitting her, Eleanor said, "You’ve brought shame to the Ashford name. And I don’t care whose daughter you are, this war is not over."

Aveline didn’t flinch, despite the pain spreading from her cheek. She could walk away from there and let Eleanor do whatever she wanted. But she was neither that arrogant nor weak.

She pulled up a chair and sat down. The buzz in the cafe dulled. Their eyes flicked towards the glowing red mark on Aveline’s cheek, stark against her porcelain skin.

She didn’t touch it, she didn’t break down into tears or get angry. That unnerved them more than the slap itself.

Eleanor, still standing, looked down at Aveline, momentarily thrown by the girl’s calm poise.

Aveline merely stated, "Madam Ashford, the war began the day YOURGRANDSON began toying with my life."

Eleanor’s hand tightened around her cane, knuckles pale. Driven by her deep-rooted emotions toward the Ashford family, she watched Aveline distastefully.

Aveline crossed her legs and leaned back on the chair. Then she looked at the old lady, "After you ran away from here to be safe from your grandson, after what you just did to me, tell me who has a bit of honor in the Ashford family?"

A flicker of shame flashed through Eleanor’s eyes, quickly masked by fury. Her shoulders rose, chest tightening with the effort to control herself. "Aveline Laurent..." She snapped, hearing Aveline insult her outright.

Aveline didn’t stop. "Selene Ashford?" She asked but didn’t wait for a response. "She blackmailed a celebrity into marrying her with the video of their night. Does she have some dignity?"

Eleanor recoiled as if stung, her jaw clenching so tightly her earring trembled. She hissed, "What are you saying?"

"Maxwell Ashford? He hasn’t dared to step into the city or help his son. Does he respect the name Ashford?"

Eleanor’s gaze dropped, just for a second. A falter. She opened her mouth, but no defense came. The truth hurt more than the accusation.

Aveline shook her head. "Cassandra Ashford? I was wondering why you can’t stand her." She paused to watch Eleanor’s reaction.

Then she continued, "Of course, you can’t stand her because she wasn’t the bride you chose. She was the maid of honour who was f*cking your son right before walking the aisle."

A collective gasp rippled through the café. Eleanor’s face blanched. Her lips trembled, and her eyes narrowed in disbelief and rage.

Aveline shrugged, "Damien Ashford? The one who has no morals, no sense of humility, and a corrupt head to toe? He was bringing honor to the Ashford family, right?"

This time, Eleanor’s hands began to shake, her breath shallow. She had no answer. Only silence.

Aveline continued, "And Madam Ashford, you. Blaming me for your grandson’s deeds?"

Eleanor flinched, not at the words, but at the mirror being held up to her.

Aveline fetched her mobile and displayed Scarlett’s picture. "Scarlett Fournier. My best friend. He trapped her to get to me, forgetting she was a Fournier. A prodigy from law school. Daughter of Justice Fournier. Were you expecting her to sit quietly?"

Eleanor’s expression changed. She thought Aveline was attacking Ashford Holdings despite promising her she would only get her divorce.

Aveline opened the trending article of NexGuard, which had images of Vantex, red diamonds, and blood drops. "Your grandson cut off power in Emerald to steal them. If you want to save Ashfords, you should meet Chairman Lancaster."

Eleanor clutched her cane tightly, and for the first time, her legs trembled. Her world was cracking at the edges.

For one fleeting second, she saw the Ashford name crumbling, like her husband’s legacy being swallowed by scandal and silence.

Aveline again changed the screen, "If you want to save your grandson, kill this man. Because he supplied lead to Damien."

Eleanor’s composure collapsed into visible horror. Her breath hitched. She looked pale. Her lips parted, but she had nothing to say. She looked away from Aveline as if the truth would go away if she just refused to see it.

Aveline kept the mobile away and looked at pale Eleanor, "We, Laurents, haven’t even touched Ashfords."

That was never Aveline’s plan. She just wanted to destroy Damien, but he was taking his family and company with him, and drowning.

Was it her mistake?

"How did I shame Ashford’s name? Shouldn’t you be looking for your grandson?" Aveline asked.

The silence in the café was deafening. Eleanor looked like she might faint, her pride hanging by a thread.

"And the war? That doesn’t even scare me." Aveline stood up and grabbed her bag.

When she faced Eleanor, she looked into her eyes, "Bring it on, Madam Ashford. I wouldn’t have a reason to hold back, and I wouldn’t stop until Ashfords become history."

The moment Aveline turned away, onlookers resumed breathing. Eleanor slowly sat down in the chair Aveline had abandoned. Her hand reached up to cover her mouth, hiding the trembling that betrayed her composure.

Aveline didn’t just reveal their actions to defend herself; she was warning. If Eleanor played dirty, they would be getting smeared first. With the truth.

....

In the car, Aveline closed her eyes, letting the sting bloom across her cheek and deeper, in her chest.

She had admired Eleanor once. For all her pride and old-world beliefs, the woman had tried to protect her family and also offered her a way out of the relationship.

But that moment had passed, and the situation had changed.

Aveline hadn’t wanted things to end this way between them. Yet if Eleanor chose to stand on the wrong side of truth, to fight a war for the heir of Ashfords, to blame her for her grandson’s action... She wouldn’t spare the Ashfords.

She would protect what mattered, her family, her people, and herself, even if it meant losing those she once respected, even if it meant driving the knife in herself.

Even if it meant turning the Ashfords into ruins.