Echoes of Vengeance: The Sweet Wife's Perfect Revenge-Chapter 95: Moonlight & Bubbles

In Aveline’s bedroom,

His rich and genuine laughter was still ringing in her ears when Aveline smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Then she met her gaze and snapped back to reality. She was late. Quickly tying her hair in a messy bun, she hurried downstairs.

Alaric’s gaze lifted, drawn to the subtle whispers from the staircase. And then he saw her.

Aveline.

She smiled at the maid and descended the stairs like she belonged in another world. Draped in silk, the soft pleats of her ivory dress shimmered like moonlight. It cinched at her waist, fluid and commanding, but it was the silk scarf fluttering behind her like a breath of wind that struck him most.

The loose strands of her hair framed her delicate face, creating a gentle and inviting look. There was no jewelry competing for attention.

He didn’t blink. He couldn’t because she had never looked more dangerous.

Aveline looked at her grandmother, who approved with a warm smile. Then she had to speak to stop a certain someone from staring at her. "Mr. and Mrs. Vale, it’s wonderful to have you both here."

Giselle greeted her graciously, and her husband nodded in response.

Ryan Vale was a tall, fair, and strikingly handsome man with a commanding yet composed presence. He was a senior public prosecutor at the age of forty. Aveline had just heard he was emotionally guarded and intensely private.

She looked around and asked, "And your daughter?"

"I’m here." The sweet voice came from the entrance of the powder room.

Aveline turned to find a little girl with soft, wavy blonde hair, styled with delicate braids and star clips. Her clear brown eyes held pure innocence as she stood there in her cozy ivory knit dress, wearing a gentle expression.

Aveline smiled, waiting for the girl to make her way toward them. "Ms. Vale, you have beautiful hair."

The girl looked at her father before offering her hand. "Thank you, Ms. Laurent. I’m Elara Vale."

Aveline took the little hand and shook it gently. "I’m Aveline Laurent." She introduced herself warmly.

"Yes, I have..." Before Elara could complete her sentence, Aveline almost gasped when a hand covered the girl’s mouth and scooped her away.

Celeste and Aveline: "..."

They watched Alaric settle back elegantly with Elara on his lap. He whispered something that made Elara nod solemnly.

Giselle bit back her smile, knowing her daughter was about to say that she had seen Aveline before. Alaric’s secret was almost spilled by his niece.

Celeste had to break the ice. "Mrs. Vale, I heard you wanted a tour of the mansion. There’s still time before dinner, let me show you around."

The three left for the house tour. Though Giselle was born with a silver spoon, she admired the vintage-style house and learned about the history of the Laurents, asking questions out of genuine curiosity.

Ryan looked content simply accompanying his wife. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Downstairs, Aveline turned to the little girl. "Elara, would you like a house tour as well?"

Sitting back on the couch, Elara shrugged. "There’s no fun watching from a low angle, Ms. Laurent. I would rather play outside."

Aveline was used to all kinds of children from the orphanage, so she just smiled. "I have something special for you. Let me show you."

Aveline led Elara to the toy room, which was filled with different kinds of toys, mostly used whenever they brought orphanage children over for good food and fun.

Alaric leaned against the doorframe, watching the little girl and the young lady picking different toys and sharing jokes. He realized Aveline had a natural gift with children. Even his picky niece had melted under her charm.

Suddenly, the two little schemers turned toward him. Before he could brace himself, they began shooting at him... with bubbles, using bubble guns.

Alaric: "..."

If it had been anyone else, he would have been annoyed by the soapy bubbles, but these were two he couldn’t even pretend to be angry with.

"I know a game, I know a game!" Elara yammered excitedly, leading them outside. "Ms. Laurent, I saw you have maids. Could you call one, please?"

"Of course." Aveline signaled to the maid who was standing nearby.

Elara continued enthusiastically, "The maid will blow bubbles, and we have to pop the specific ones I choose!"

Alaric was stepping aside when Elara called out, "Uncle Ric, you’re playing too!"

Aveline giggled when she saw Alaric rendered speechless. "There’s someone you can’t refuse."

Alaric corrected her quietly, "There are two."

Aveline had a feeling she knew who the other one was, but she played innocent and oblivious.

Elara announced, "Let’s start!"

"The smallest one!" Picking a bubble at her height, she poked it and giggled. "I got it! Uncle got zero!"

Aveline burst into laughter.

Alaric protested, "Hey, that’s not fair!"

Elara snorted and pointed high. "The largest one!" She was walking backward and slipped.

Aveline, who had been watching Elara carefully, caught her while simultaneously seeing Alaric pop the bubble with a casual lift of his arm. The sight was so natural and effortless that Aveline couldn’t contain herself; she laughed until she had to sit on the grass.

She couldn’t believe this was the same cold and distant man she had met that first time.

Elara showed Aveline a thumbs-down. "Ms. Laurent, zero points!"

The next moment, all three began popping bubbles in their silly game, laughing their hearts out, often bumping and pushing each other playfully to reach the bubbles.

After the house tour, the couple and Celeste watched the three on the lawn. Celeste was used to carefree Aveline, and Elara was just a child, but watching the three of them enjoying themselves, their laughter filling the spacious lawn, the air romantic with bubbles floating everywhere, was something special. She missed Charles.

Elara’s eyes caught a particularly large bubble. "That big one!" Her voice rang out. "Ms. Laurent, jump... jump... jump!"

It was floating right above Aveline. She jumped as high as she could.

Alaric, eyes locked on the drifting bubble above, took a step and rose onto his toes. But just as his fingers neared it, Aveline leaped ahead of him, a blur of soft silk filling his vision.

She bumped into him mid-air. He reacted instinctively, his arm sliding around her waist to catch her. But the sudden weight on his toes and her momentum tipped his balance.

They fell.

Aveline instinctively gasped. The world tilted and then stilled.

She landed atop him, her palms braced against his chest, breath shallow and quick. Her face hovered just inches from his. Strands of her hair brushed his cheek, his cologne, woody and warm with hints of spices, wrapped around her like a spell.

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, the color deepening as she realized how close they were. Her lips parted slightly in surprise... or was it something more?

Alaric’s hand tightened gently at her slim waist, his gaze drawn to the curve of her mouth before flicking back to meet her eyes. His voice was low, barely above a whisper.

"Sunshine..."

Her breath caught. She felt his heart thundering beneath her palms, perfectly matching her frantic rhythm. The words escaped her lips before she could stop them: "You’ll make me sin."

His voice dropped even lower, eyes flickering to her lips before he forced himself to look away. "Don’t say things like that... not when you’re this close."

Neither moved. The bubble floated above them, forgotten.

Then Elara’s delighted shriek broke the spell: "You both missed it!"

Aveline blinked, reality crashing back. She pushed herself up quickly, brushing her hair back with a slow inhale. Her cheeks were still flushed pink.

Alaric sat up slowly, watching her with the faintest smile playing at his lips, like he had just discovered something unexpected and dangerously sweet.

"Time for dinner," the housekeeper announced, approaching the group.

Though Ryan didn’t have a clear picture of what had happened between Alaric and Aveline, he warned Giselle quietly, "Those two need to be careful before it’s too late."

Giselle crossed her arms, humming in agreement. She was happy for her brother, but as Aveline’s lawyer, she knew that something as simple as what had just happened between Alaric and Aveline could be used against Aveline if the divorce wasn’t mutual.

"Lina." Celeste’s stern voice cut through everyone’s thoughts like a blade.

Aveline realized the cost of being so carefree. She quickly followed her grandmother while the housekeeper escorted the others inside to wash up for dinner.

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fre(𝒆)novelkiss.com Only