Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge-Chapter 201: Echoes Before the Fall

Theodore sat in his office, his gaze fixed on the muted TV hanging on the wall. The news channels were rolling clips and images of the Cullen anniversary event back-to-back. The reporters gushed ceaselessly with praise, admiration, and exclamations of how flawless the execution had been.

And all of it had one name attached - Aveline Laurent.

Did he have a hand behind the channels glorifying the Cullens and Aveline Laurent?

Yes.

But it was also to bring down Aveline Laurent. However, it wasn’t happening yet, running his patience thin.

His phone buzzed on the desk. Without glancing at the caller ID, he snatched it up and placed it to his ear.

[Chairman Marston!] a joyful voice rang out, rich with satisfaction. It was the CEO of Cullens Architect.

[I had to call you personally. This event is immaculate! Truly, I don’t think we’ve ever had such perfection. Every guest is praising us nonstop, and it’s all thanks to Ms. Laurent and her team. Astonishing work! It only happened because of your recommendation.]

Theodore’s jaw tightened. "Is that so?" he replied flatly, his voice clipped.

"Yes, yes!" the CEO continued, oblivious to Theodore’s motives. [But tell me, why aren’t you here yet? You must see this with your own eyes. Come, join us!]

Theodore’s lips curved into a practiced lie. "I’m already on my way. Just a minor delay."

[Good, good! I’ll be waiting,] the man said before hanging up.

Theodore ended the call with a sharp press of his thumb, fighting his urge to smash the mobile against the desk. His teeth clenched, his fury barely contained. He couldn’t allow Aveline another stage, another chance to bask in glory. Not again.

He dialed another number, his tone dropping to a venomous growl the moment the line connected. "Why isn’t there any problem yet?" he roared.

On the other end, a man stammered, [S-Sir, I didn’t get the chance. The security...]

"You listen to me," Theodore hissed, his voice like a whip. "If I don’t hear news of the disaster in half an hour, I’ll kill every single one of your family members. Do you understand me?"

A strangled, terrified [Y-Yes, sir!] came back before the call ended.

Theodore didn’t pause. He didn’t believe the man could do it. So he dialed another string of numbers, his voice turning even darker.

"Attend the event. Find a chance. Blow it out of proportion. I don’t care what it takes. If it comes down to it, kill everyone in there."

[Yes, sir. The work will be done,] came the chilling reply. Theodore cut the line, his eyes burning with malice.

.....

At a hotel across the city,

Aveline curled onto the bed, naked under the sheets, exhaustion etched into every curve. She looked at Alaric, her voice raw and dramatic. "I just want to cuddle you and sleep the evening away. Nothing else."

Alaric laughed. He brushed her damp hair from her forehead, teasing, "Then why not? Everything’s already arranged, you could skip the event entirely."

Temptation tugged at her, but Aveline shook her head firmly. "No. It’s the first big event. I can’t let my staff feel burdened. Small decisions are smoother when I’m there. I’ll stay until dinner is served."

He didn’t press. Instead, he scooped her up, carrying her into the ensuite, helping her shower, his hands lingering, his teasing constant.

Then she dressed quickly in a sleek, trendy burgundy suit. On her way out, she leaned down, kissed him softly, and murmured, "Don’t wait for dinner. I’ll come home late."

She didn’t realize she had forgotten yet another meal.

.....

At the event entrance, Aveline pulled her mask higher as the walkway swarmed with reporters. The guards recognized her immediately, waving her through.

Cameras flashed, requests for photos rose in a chorus, but she didn’t pause, and they weren’t surprised.

Even when Cullen’s representative urged her to sign the interactive photo wall, she declined politely. She was not a guest but an event manager. They asked her because she was a Laurent, and Laurents drew the line.

She moved quietly through the event spaces, meeting her team, sliding on her intercom earpiece. Everything ran smoothly, just as planned.

[Ms. Laurent, CEO Cullen asked for you multiple times. He’s in the main hall,] Tara’s voice rang in her ear.

"Noted," Aveline replied, striding toward the hall.

There, she spotted the CEO laughing among businessmen, openly crediting her company with every compliment tossed his way. When he shifted from that group, she stepped before him. "CEO Cullen, my team said you were asking for me. Is there any problem?"

She wasn’t going to let him use the event as if he knew her or the Laurents. So she was quick to jump to the point.

His smile faltered for just a moment. Then he smiled broadly, signaling a waiter before handing her a champagne flute.

"Problem? None at all. Quite the opposite. Ms. Laurent, you have done a phenomenal job. Choosing you was the best decision we ever made. From now on, all our events, every launch, every ceremony of Cullens are yours."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping slyly. "Of course... you’ll give me a huge discount, won’t you?" He chuckled shamelessly.

Aveline’s eyes betrayed nothing. Her lips curved faintly under the mask. She wasn’t going to drop the price just because he was promising her many events. However, he didn’t have to know it yet.

"It’s an honor for Grace & Bloom, CEO Cullen. Please, enjoy the evening. I’ll get back to work." She stepped back, nodded politely, and walked away. She smoothly set the untouched flute back on the waiter’s tray as she maneuvered through the crowd.

"Wasn’t that Aveline Laurent? That suit’s a limited edition," a woman whispered.

"A woman of class," a man murmured admiringly as they watched her glide away.

"Damien Ashford was stupid enough to lose her," another man muttered darkly.

Nearby, Julian Fox, Damien’s friend, stiffened, turning away as she passed. Kian Vale knew she wouldn’t spare them a glance, so he smirked at Julian’s reaction. "Aveline Laurent signed with the Vales to lease her cargo ship."

Julian gaped. "What?!" She had a yacht, but a cargo ship?

"Dad said her net worth rose by a billion recently," Kian continued. "She has an entire team managing her assets now."

"What the hell is she doing running an event management company?" Julian was baffled.

"Earning pocket money, I suppose," Kian drawled, though envy glinted in his eyes as he watched Aveline’s retreating figure.

In the second hall, Aveline paused to watch employees cheer, applauding as teams received rewards. The atmosphere was bright, felt natural, and was better than the main hall.

Then her earpiece buzzed again. [Ms. Laurent, you need to visit the kitchen. There’s chaos here.]

"Coming," she replied, hurrying through the hall.

Inside the kitchen, chefs bickered fiercely. "We need more counter space! Starters are in demand!" one shouted.

"And what about dinner prep? Do you expect us to serve raw food?" another barked back.

Aveline stepped between them. "Enough. There are six counters. Take three each. Get moving." Her authority snapped the tension, and both sides grudgingly agreed.

Then suddenly, darkness filled everyone’s vision.

Aveline froze. The emergency UPS should have kicked in instantly, it was enough to run the entire event without disturbance. But nothing flickered on.

Screams erupted in the hall. Panic spread like wildfire. People shouted, chairs scraped, glasses shattered.

Aveline snapped out of it, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Stay calm! Turn on your flashlights and remain where you are!" She rushed out, flashlight in hand, repeating the command to guests.

Her staff echoed her words across the halls, but the chaos was deafening. Barely anybody heard them.

At the electrical room, she found Nolan already there. "Where’s the electrician?!"

Nolan pointed at the floor, his expression grim. "Ms. Laurent..." The two main cables were falling apart.

Aveline dropped to her knees, studying the severed cables. The deliberate cuts were obvious. It was clear sabotage.

The electrician ran in, panting. "I just went to the restroom for a minute, what..." He froze at the sight, then cursed under his breath, pulling on gloves and grabbing tools with the help of the flashlights the other two were holding.

Nolan and Aveline exchanged a single, grim look. This was no accident. Someone wanted the event destroyed.

Was it just electrical sabotage?

The lights flickered back on, momentarily calming the crowd. But before relief could settle, a thunderous crash ripped through the air.

Chaos returned tenfold.

Aveline and Nolan bolted out, only to be swept back as terrified guests fled from the venue. Nolan dashed for the fire engines and ambulances waiting outside, already calling for more backup.

Aveline tried to push inside, shouting into her earpiece, "Use the emergency exits! Get everyone out safely!" But no one responded. The screams drowned everything.

She tried again, only to be slammed aside by fleeing bodies. She nearly fell, but the electrician caught her arm, pulling her away.

"It’s dangerous to go in!" he had to scream to make his voice audible over the chaos.

Shaking and breathless, Aveline tried to steady herself and think about what could have gone wrong, but...

Boom.

The sound tore through the night.