CHAPTER 172: HUMILIATION

The room was quiet after Aveline’s words. She had said it clearly that the situation was beyond apology.

Seraphina didn’t dare to respond. She was well aware of what Aveline was pointing at. And this time she wasn’t going to fall into Aveline’s ploy.

Lucien leaned back slightly, his tone smooth when he broke the silence. "Miss Laurent is dramatizing the matter," he said. "One public outburst, and suddenly it is painted as though the Astors are misusing the power. Surely, I haven’t started using it yet." The threat beneath his words was apparent.

Alaric’s expression didn’t change, but something cold settled in his eyes as he turned to Lucien. His voice was quiet, almost casual. "You haven’t started using it yet," he repeated, letting the words hang in the air.

"Would you take action, President Astor?" The question carried no heat, only a dangerous stillness. "Because I haven’t started either."

Edward knew that if both parties didn’t take a step back, there would be a war. So he stayed calm and steady, like a man used to settling storms. "Let us not forget who we are," he said, looking at both sides. "We settle matters as dignified families should, not as men fighting in the street."

The reminder wasn’t just about manners. It was a quiet warning to Lucien that Lancaster carried more weight in their name.

Isabella rose gracefully, her voice carrying the practiced calm of years spent managing delicate situations. "President Astor," she said softly, her tone holding gentle reproach, "When it was time for an apology, the situation was... aggravated instead." Her eyes moved to meet his directly. "Let us not forget that."

She turned then to Aveline and served her the coffee the maid brought. Her expression was thoughtful but firm. "Miss Laurent, the way this situation is being stirred..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "It won’t end nicely for anyone involved. Shouldn’t we handle this more carefully?"

Lucien’s jaw tightened at Isabella’s words, his composure cracking slightly. He had expected support, not gentle condemnation.

Aveline studied Isabella for a moment, recognizing the diplomatic skill behind the seemingly simple question. Edward and Isabella were good at their skill, their calmness and measured words almost convinced her to give in, to forgive and let it pass.

Almost.

Aveline didn’t flinch when she spoke. Her reply was calm, precise. "This isn’t just about my pride. Their actions have affected more than just me... my family. My forgiving the unruly Astors would mean letting my parents down, wouldn’t it?" She paused, her gaze steady.

"Would the Astors have stayed quiet if Seraphina Astor was in my position?" She asked.

The words landed clean. A quiet strike, and it hit the truth Seraphina had been hiding behind.

Seraphina pursed her lips for a moment. Her voice carried elegance but cracked at the edges. "Miss Laurent seems to imagine herself at the center of every minute. Perhaps insecurity makes one so sensitive." Her attempt at grace was brittle and too pointed.

Nicholas lost his restraint too, his voice cutting loud through the room. "No one cares for Laurent. Yet you walk around as if you matter and dare to compare yourself to my wife."

His aggression ruined the Astors’ careful front.

Edward’s gaze snapped to Nicholas, cold and sharp enough to silence him without another word. "Nicholas."

The single warning settled Nicholas in a corner.

Then Edward’s eyes returned to Aveline. His tone stayed formal, but the weight in it was unmistakable. "Miss Laurent, I understand your position."

His pause lingered, deliberate, as he raised his hand to stop Lucien from interrupting him. "How do you suggest resolving the situation?"

It wasn’t protection, but it wasn’t dismissal either. A balancing line, one that made Lucien’s jaw tighten.

Aveline held her ground, unshakeable. "Then let’s start with the one who began all these."

Seraphina stiffened. She didn’t want this in front of the Lancasters. But she could see it, Aveline was going to rip every mask off her face.

Lucien was impressed by Aveline. The more they tried to bury the situation, she meticulously led the situation to steer in her way to dissect Seraphina’s plan step by step.

Before anybody could utter anything, Aveline leaned back and crossed her legs. "I only have one condition. I want the truth, the whole truth. One lie..." Her eyes zeroed in on Nicholas, "You’ll see how much I matter." The confidence in her tone was unbreakable.

Alaric eased back, his arm resting behind her. A simple action of his in support of her.

In the car, she had asked him to let her handle it. And he knew why. She didn’t want him to be an enemy in their family, and she didn’t mind being an antagonist.

He didn’t care about all that, but he had only agreed on a condition. If their visit dissatisfied him even a bit, she shouldn’t stop him from doing anything against the stors.

"Dahlia Astor...." Isabella didn’t get to complete her words when she noticed Aveline subtly shake her head.

Isabella grasped and turned to Seraphina, and Edward uttered at the same time, "Seraphina..."

Nicholas wanted to interrupt, but he could only look hatefully at the youngest ones in the room.

Lucien’s voice cut through sharply. "This is going too far." His protective instincts flared as he looked at Edward. "My daughter did nothing wrong. How could you, as an in-law, let an outsider insult your daughter-in-law?"

Those words didn’t yield the result.

Edward’s response was measured, but his words carried undeniable authority. "The moment Alaric chose Aveline..." He paused, letting the weight settle. "She became part of this family as much as Seraphina."

He wasn’t supporting Aveline because she was a Laurent or Alaric’s choice. He was supporting because Aveline was the survivor of the situation.

His gaze moved between them all. "I wouldn’t let anyone here bear unfairness." Another pause, heavier this time.

"We are all aware that everything started with Seraphina." His tone grew firmer. "Despite knowing this, Aveline chose to forgive. Now..." His eyes settled on Seraphina. "It’s time for Seraphina to come forward instead of hiding behind Dahlia Astor."

Lucien had no comeback for it. He could only clench his teeth and look away.

Seraphina had no choice but to speak with wounded pride. "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have invited Dahlia." Her curt response didn’t earn her forgiveness.

Aveline turned to Edward and pointed at Seraphina for her. "And I’m expected to forgive the one who can’t tell the whole truth."

She nodded to herself, "No problem." She turned back to Seraphina and asked, "Why did you invite Dahlia Astor?"

Seraphina again hid the whole truth, "To enjoy the party."

Aveline quietly fetched her mobile from her bag, dialed a string of numbers she had received, and turned on the speaker.

[Hello!? Who is speaking?]

"Hello, Miss Astor, this is Aveline Laurent."

[You!] Dahlia’s voice crackled through the speaker, sharp with indignation. [Haven’t I apologized already for my actions? What more do you want?]

Seraphina could only clench her teeth and pray Dahlia wouldn’t reveal anything.

"I have a question," Aveline said calmly. "Why were you invited to Seraphina Astor’s party?"

There was a pause, then Dahlia’s voice came through, resigned. [Seraphina called me. She said Alaric was at the hotel. Then she... she sent me to find him on the conference room floor.]

"And then?" Aveline probed, her eyes on Seraphina.

[Then I found you and Alaric on the terrace. My anger spiked, and I spouted nonsense. I was so angry that I revealed everything to one of my friends who works at a media agency.]

"Thank you for your honesty, Miss Astor." Aveline ended the call.

The silence in the hall was heavy. Edward wasn’t surprised. Lucien and Nicholas also felt the embarrassment of Seraphina.

However, Seraphina gritted her teeth, her face flushed with humiliation.

Aveline’s voice was thoughtful when she spoke again. "It’s no sin for a person to meet another person." Then her expression shifted to confusion, and she turned to Seraphina. "When you knew Alaric was with me, why did you invite Dahlia to meet Alaric?"

After a pause, her voice grew sharper. "I’m sure you know Dahlia quite well. So did you also know she was going to ruin my reputation?"

Seraphina snapped back, her composure finally cracking. "How would I know what Dahlia Astor would do? I’m not responsible for her actions!"

Aveline nodded, but not in acceptance, in disappointment. She turned to Alaric, who got the cue and quietly dialed a number. His voice was calm when he spoke into the phone. "Bring her in."

Seraphina’s head whipped toward the door, her eyes widening as she watched her secretary, Mora, being escorted in by Alaric’s assistant, Ezra Kane.

Mora didn’t dare look Seraphina in the eyes, her head dropped low in shame.

Ezra had done his work thoroughly, evidence of Mora’s husband’s embezzlement of government funds, proof of the illegal job placement that bypassed all merit-based selection.

Thus, Mora had no choice but to cooperate when faced with her husband’s crimes and her own complicity.

Aveline’s smile was soft, almost gentle. "Mora, I would like to know what you did on the night of the party and also in the morning."

Mora swallowed the lump in her throat, her voice was barely above a whisper. "I... I fed more information to the media. Against you, Miss Laurent. To ruin your reputation." Her hands trembled as she continued. "I also informed Mr. Oscar Astor about Miss Dahlia’s actions on Mrs. Lancaster’s orders."

She paused, gathering courage for the final blow. "Then I learned about the meeting at Lancaster Global Holdings with Chairman Laurent, Mr. Lancaster, and you, Ms. Laurent. That’s how Mrs. Lancaster arrived on time. And... and we forced Miss Dahlia to come there too."

The revelation hit like a thunderbolt. Isabella’s face went pale, her composed facade cracking for the first time that day.

Edward clenched his teeth, his jaw working silently. He had known Seraphina was involved, but not this deeply, not with such calculated malice.

As Seraphina’s father-in-law, the shame cut deep, and he felt the weight of apology he owed to both Alaric and Aveline settling heavily on his shoulders.