CHAPTER 160: COLD FIRE

At six in the evening,

The netizens didn’t take long to connect the video uploaded by Grace and Bloom with the video of a young lady getting slapped.

Because the faces were blurred, but the outfit of Aveline remained the same.

Media houses were quick to gather the information that Oscar Astor was detained on criminal and civil charges, with video proof and statements from the employees of Grace and Bloom.

However, they didn’t use the actual names of anyone. Oscar Astor became MR. O, Aveline became Ms. A. The speculation about the woman slapping Ms. A was a heated topic, and she became Mrs. P, aka the wife of a politician.

It was clear as day how Oscar vandalized, and Aveline simply filed a complaint. As a result, she was slapped by one of the women of the Astors.

The news went out of hand as Aveline wanted and planned. There were debates and discussions. People were uploading videos on social media about how politicians think of themselves as powerful and take advantage.

As if it wasn’t enough, the business field stepped back from supporting politicians and chose not to be in the limelight.

Alaric relentlessly dialed Aveline on his way to Grace and Bloom but failed to reach her. She wasn’t answering his calls.

He rushed inside, ignoring the media at the entrance. However, the receptionist, who was wrapping up for the day, awkwardly responded, "Ms. Laurent left early today. She gave us off till Sunday."

Alaric couldn’t help but look at the darkness inside, as if it was reflecting what Aveline was going through, what Aveline was feeling.

He could only nod at the receptionist and leave from there. Innumerable questions were shot his way by the media, but he ignored them and got in the car.

He raced against time, dialing Aveline’s number again and again. The Ivory Towers’ manager reported to him that Aveline hadn’t returned. Thus, he arrived at the Blackwood residence and restlessly stood at the door.

He asked the butler when he opened the door, "Sunshine?"

The butler’s expression mirrored the house owner’s mood. He didn’t respond immediately; instead, he announced his arrival, "Mr. Lancaster is here."

Then he stepped aside as he responded to Alaric, "Ms. Laurent hasn’t arrived."

Charles, who arrived at the entrance, informed Alaric, "She said she will come here after work." He was no less on edge.

After work? But she had left warly from work.

Alaric wanted to find Aveline, not sit and wait, but he stepped inside. He was feeling like he had helped Aveline get out of her marriage and now had shoved her into another nightmare. So he entered there, to face the disappointment and loathing of the Laurents.

He saw Henry rubbing Margaret’s back to calm her down, but she was on fire. She was enraged, muttering against the Astors and their audacity.

Charles constantly checked his phone as he pointed at the couch for Alaric to sit. "Mom, do you have Scarlett’s number?"

"I have it." Alaric responded instead. And he dialed Scarlett’s number immediately.

It was answered after a few rings, and Alaric spoke, "Alaric here. Where is Aveline?"

[Err... She dropped me home and left... I think...] Her voice trailed in hesitation. [You should give her time.] With that, she sighed and ended the call.

Alaric’s brows furrowed. He could understand if she was angry, if she didn’t want to talk to him or meet him. After all, everything in her life had turned upside down again, and this time, he was the reason.

Still, he wanted to meet her. He wanted to make sure she was safe. He wanted to know why she was causing an uproar and if she needed help.

"Alaric?" Charles’ voice broke him out of his thoughts.

He looked up to find the three of them looking at him. Strangely, they didn’t blame him but were waiting to know about Aveline.

"She doesn’t know," he uttered.

They sighed, worried and helpless, but held on to their patience because they knew Aveline was going through more trouble than they were feeling.

Margaret’s voice cracked upon hearing it, her fury slicing through the air. If Aveline was insulted in public, then the Astors had just declared war on the Laurents.

’Where are you, Sunshine?’ Alaric was barely holding back.

...

At a cafe,

A Maserati came to a halt in front of a cafe far from the city center. Irrespective of the cafe being deserted, there were people enjoying their evening around the bonfire, singing and dancing, cuddling due to the cold.

The air was light, and the sound was jovial. But it didn’t affect the person who stepped out of the car. Aveline’s expression was colder than the winter breeze. Her eyes narrowed, brushing over the crowd and halting at the woman who was sitting inside the cafe.

Her heels clicked against the pavement as she made her way inside. She wasn’t in a good mood to nod at the waitress who greeted her upon arrival.

She headed straight for the woman, who casually shifted her focus from a file to her. Without missing a beat, Aveline flung her hand.

’Pak.’

The woman’s head was thrown aside at the impact.

Silence followed. Everyone froze inside the cafe. Nobody dared to move or utter a word. But Aveline wasn’t done yet.

As soon as the woman flexed her jaw and turned to her, holding her calm, Aveline flung her hand yet again.

’Pak.’

A sharp sound echoed in the cafe. The slap had landed harder than the last time. Gasps filled the cafe, and this time, the woman’s expression changed drastically.

Redness glowing into crimson on her cheek, she hissed, "Aveline Laurent."

By the end of her words, Aveline swung her hand at her other cheek.

’Pak.’

The waitresses and the cafe owner hesitated to interfere. They didn’t look like just anybody by the way they had dressed. So they weren’t sure what to do.

"Congratulations, Seraphina Astor," Aveline sneered. "You have successfully found my weakness and stepped on my nerves." She gave fake, soundless claps.

Seraphina closed her eyes and tried to breathe to stay calm, but she failed. She lifted her hand to vent her anger.

’Splash.’

Aveline was quick to grab the glass of water and splash it on her face without a hint of mercy.

Seraphina froze, water rolling down her face

"Seraphina, I never started a battle, and I don’t intend to lose any battle." Aveline bit out every word like spewing poison.