CHAPTER 162: THE WRONG WOMAN

Seraphina’s words struck the air, sharp and unyielding. "Tell me, Aveline... are you willing to lose everything you were born with... just to protect him?"

"No," she breathed, low and sharp.

Seraphina’s smile widened, triumphant. She had orchestrated this moment. The slap, the sting, the humiliation... it was all supposed to peel Aveline apart piece by piece until she gave up on Alaric. "Smart girl. I knew you..."

"No," Aveline repeated, her voice cutting through Seraphina’s satisfaction like a knife. "I’m not willing to lose everything I was born with."

Seraphina unconsciously braced herself, looking into Aveline’s eyes that blazed with a fire that made the campfire seem dim.

Aveline continued, "But I’m also not willing to lose everything I chose." Her poise remained untouched.

Seraphina: "..."

Even the music from outside seemed to fade, reflecting Seraphina’s shock.

The silence grew heavy around them, the tension sharp enough to slice through the air.

Aveline stepped forward, her presence commanding, the tension crackling in the air. "You made one mistake, Seraphina Astor." Her voice was deadly calm. "You assumed I would choose my family over Alaric."

She tilted her head, a cold smile playing on her lips. "But you see, when someone threatens what’s mine, I don’t choose. I fight for everything."

Seraphina’s confident expression wavered for the first time. Wasn’t Alaric just pursuing her? Why was Aveline standing up for Alaric?

Her mask cracked under the weight of Aveline’s words. The flicker of disbelief in her eyes betrayed what her lips would refuse to admit.

"If your twisted mind is thinking of turning my parents or brother against me and Alaric," Aveline gently patted Seraphina’s cheek, "...hard luck."

"You see, they didn’t just indulge me because they have money. They built the most loving and secure home for me." She could depend on them without a second thought.

Seraphina’s posture stiffened, shoulders squared in defiance, but her knuckles whitened as her fists tightened. For the first time in her life, she was facing a person who didn’t fear her parents, but it wasn’t out of disrespect. It was trust and belief in pure form.

Aveline grabbed a tissue and patted Seraphina’s wet hair as she continued, "Sweetheart..." Though she sounded soft, her tone was anything but sweet. "If you’re planning to scare Alaric by threatening that you’ll trouble me until he leaves me, don’t even think about it."

She stepped closer. Her voice dropped, low and dangerous next to Sera’s ear, "Because he will burn you and your whole world to the ground." It wasn’t meant to threaten Seraphina, Aveline believed Alaric could do it.

Stepping back, Aveline pretended to dust off Seraphina’s wet jacket. "He’s only quiet because I asked him to be."

Aveline wiped her hands with a tissue. Around them, the bystanders grew restless, whispers rustling like dry leaves once they identified who they were.

"You want the Lancaster empire?" Aveline asked. Her laugh was soft but chilling. "You want to destroy Alaric? You want to use my family as collateral damage?"

She flashed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Then you’ve just declared war on the wrong woman."

Seraphina’s hands seemed to tremble slightly. Aveline was just young and spoiled. How was she so confident? So fearless?

She swallowed the lump in her throat. No, there was nothing to fear about Aveline or her threats, was there? She tried to lift her chin and stand proud and unaffected.

"Here’s what’s going to happen," Aveline continued, her voice dropping to a calmness that somehow carried more weight than any shout.

"You’re going to discover that the Laurents didn’t build their empire by backing down from threats. And you’re going to learn that protecting someone doesn’t make me weak, it makes me dangerous."

She leaned in, close enough that only Seraphina could hear her next words. "By the time I’m done with you, you’ll wish you had settled for being the youngest President of the country. Because that dream?" She straightened up, her smile turning predatory. "...isn’t going to be easy anymore."

Seraphina opened her mouth as if to retort, but the words stuck in her throat. And that hesitation was enough to show she was losing miserably.

Aveline turned to leave. She moved with unhurried grace, every step a quiet declaration that she had already won.

But she paused at the door, looking back over her shoulder. "Oh, and Seraphina? Next time you want to threaten someone..." Her eyes glinted with something far more dangerous than anger. "Make sure you’re not standing in a public place where everyone can witness your confession."

The weight of Aveline’s parting words lingered, echoing louder than any raised voice could have.

As if on cue, two phones in the cafe lowered slightly, their owners having captured every word of Seraphina’s threats.

Seraphina remained frozen, standing in the shadow of Aveline’s composure, the sting of humiliation settling deeper than the slap she had delivered.

Aveline’s smile was the last thing Seraphina saw before the door closed behind her, leaving Seraphina alone with the consequences of her own plan and her underestimation of Aveline’s resolve.

Mike Wilson, wrapped in warm layers, stood up, casting one last look at Seraphina as he walked out.

After what Damien had pulled on her, Aveline would be an idiot to meet someone so far from the city without backup.

Seraphina’s face drained of color as she looked at everyone gossiping.

The plan had been simple. Push Aveline until she snapped, then let the world see the spoiled Laurent girl crumble. It had worked at firs, the slap, the red cheek, the gasps.

But then, somewhere between Aveline’s silence and her first cutting words, the game had shifted without Seraphina’s awareness.

Seraphina realized, too late, that she was no longer the puppeteer but the puppet. Each retort she had prepared dried up. Each insult she wanted to spit out tasted like bitter medicine on her tongue. And worst of all, she could feel the people watching her.

Now, using Aveline’s violence would come at a hefty price. Her image, her character, and her career were at stake.

Her gaze drifted to the Maserati driving away.

Only one person had ever outsmarted her, seen through her plans, and become more dangerous the more she was hunted.

It was her.

Aveline Laurent.