CHAPTER 148: THE FATHERS

At Lancaster Global Holdings,

The morning sun cast golden rays across the polished entrance of Lancaster Global Holdings as Alaric and Aveline arrived in front of the company. They spotted Henry and Edward greeting each other at the main entrance.

Alaric got out of the car while Aveline bit her lip, looking at the two men turn toward them. They weren’t officially dating, and arriving in a car together right in front of their fathers felt awkward.

She might have to reveal to them that they lived in the same building. It was a coincidence, but she doubted if her father would believe her.

Edward casually spoke, looking at his son, "He is on time." He turned to Henry and asked, "What about Aveline? Is she coming?"

Henry’s lips arched the second Alaric went around the car. So he pointed his chin at the car.

Edward turned back to find Alaric opening the passenger door and Aveline gracefully stepping out of the car. He smiled when he met Aveline’s eyes, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Though he didn’t care about her previous relationships, he just hoped this phase would go smoothly for this couple.

"Chairman Lancaster," Aveline greeted Edward.

"Chairman Laurent," Alaric greeted Henry at the same time.

The two glanced at each other, and she resisted her reaction.

Well, it became a bit awkward for the two men as well.

The tension broke when Aveline moved closer to Henry. "Dad..." She reached out and held his arm as they walked in first.

Alaric walked beside his father. Unlike the father and daughter duo who were having a fun conversation, the father and son were rather focused on serious topics.

"It’s the Astors," Alaric said plainly. But they had no proof.

Edward’s expression stiffened. The Astors were their in-laws.

Though he didn’t hold any prejudice against his children’s choices, and though everyone assumed having a political family as support would strengthen their business, handling a political family was a hassle.

And if they tried to hurt his other son, he wasn’t going to sit and watch.

"Did anyone see you two yesterday?" Edward asked, his voice hard, ignoring his employees’ greeting him.

Alaric just gave the names, "Seraphina Astor, her assistant, and..." He didn’t remember Dahlia’s name, so he added, "Her cousin."

After a pause, he continued, "She was saying some nonsense that I rejected her marriage proposal."

Edward’s expression turned dark when he heard the name Seraphina Astor, his daughter-in-law. He wouldn’t have bothered if it were anybody else from the Astor family, but Seraphina?

Edward glanced at Alaric and said under his breath, "The Astors came home with a proposal, of course, marriage."

Alaric didn’t react, but the flicker in his eyes was enough.

"They came in all pomp, offering their daughter like it was a business merger. Your mother and I... we didn’t think it was worth entertaining," Edward continued, keeping his tone light for the onlookers.

"We told them what we always intended to..." He glanced at Alaric again and added, "You’ll choose your own path."

They passed a marble column, the emblem of Lancaster Global gleaming above them. Edward greeted a board member with a firm handshake, exchanged pleasantries, then resumed, his voice dipping again just for Alaric.

"They weren’t happy. They suggested a blind date instead. Harmless, they insisted."

Edward scoffed quietly. "We didn’t want to insult them, but we also didn’t want you dragged into a political chess game. So we told them the proposal had already been rejected by you."

He stopped briefly as a group of international clients walked past, exchanging a few friendly nods. Then he resumed walking, slower this time.

"It wasn’t your rejection, not technically. But we knew how you would feel. And I’m not about to force my son into anything..."

He gave Alaric a sidelong glance, one corner of his mouth lifting.

"And watching you with her?" Edward murmured, looking at Aveline, who was making Henry laugh. "I’ve never been more certain we did the right thing."

When Aveline turned around, probably feeling their eyes on her, Alaric’s lips softly curled, though faint, it was enough to make her smile.

"You did the right thing." A blind date was the last thing he would want in his life.

A beat of calmness passed before Edward’s expression darkened. "Are you sure Seraphina is involved?" he asked gravely.

Alaric tilted his head, signaling Aveline to go upstairs before turning to his father. "That woman wasn’t on the guest list. She was invited during the party. I have the call log."

Edward didn’t believe in coincidences. And if Alaric was saying something, he knew he would have thought it through.

"Is Aveline aware of it?" he asked as they entered the elevator.

"She doubted at first," Alaric responded.

That made both father and son look at each other. They realized Henry didn’t arrive there to discuss PR but to know if he should handle the Astors or if they were going to do something about it.

Edward knew this was very sensitive, for Alaric and Aveline, and for the future of the Laurents and Lancasters.

....

Inside Edward’s office,

The air shifted, cooler, heavier. The city skyline stretched wide behind the glass wall, but no one was looking at the view.

Edward walked behind his desk without taking his coat off. Alaric quietly helped Aveline take off her jacket and seated her near the window while Henry remained standing, his arms crossed.

Alaric signaled the secretary to leave before he stepped inside and stood by the desk with his father, facing Henry.

There was no polite clearing of throats when Henry started. "I’ve instructed every Laurent-backed fashion and jewelry line to blacklist the Astors," Henry said flatly.

Aveline blinked. "What?"

Edward didn’t react. Alaric’s jaw clenched slightly. He knew Henry never shot half-arrows, it was just his first move.

"I’ll handle their scheme," Henry added as he sat down. "But they won’t walk red carpets in our designs or hold pieces from any Laurent label. Not until they remember how to behave."

"That’s..." Aveline paused, searching for the right word. "That’s a lot. Just for a few gossip pages and a poorly staged moment?"

She tried to keep her voice calm. She had thought they were talking about PR, maybe to give clarity about her relationship with Alaric.

How could she forget Margaret had witnessed everything at the banquet?

Henry’s gaze pinned Aveline before she could finish the thought. "It’s not about the gossip, Lina," he said coolly. "It’s about how they treated you."

Aveline looked at him, her lips parting, but no words came. He didn’t give her the space to argue anyway.

"I agreed not to fund or recommend your business. That doesn’t mean I’ll stay quiet if someone treats you like a disposable piece."

Her throat tightened. There was nothing to say to that. And even if there was, he wouldn’t have let her dodge it.

Henry turned to Edward next, folding his arms again. "Chairman Lancaster, I’m here because we have a problem that touches both our families. I don’t care for political games. I came to ask, What are you doing about the Astors?"

Edward tilted his head slightly. He didn’t interrupt and continued to listen.

Henry continued, his gaze flickering toward Alaric. "Let’s not pretend it doesn’t matter. They’re your in-laws, technically. But Aveline and your son clearly have... mutual interest."

Aveline’s lips twitched slightly. Where was this going?

Henry didn’t flinch. "And I’ll say this directly," he went on, his eyes fixed on Alaric. "I don’t want another man by my daughter’s side who doesn’t know how to protect her. If you hadn’t taken action against the Astors because they are your family, I’ll be disappointed." His voice was clear and his intention clearer.

Aveline subconsciously stood up. No, it wasn’t just about the Astors. It was about Alaric. It was about her. It was the fear Damien left behind. It was the experience that made Henry ready to be vocal and blunt instead of thinking of something as a process to learn.

"Sit, Lina." Henry’s tone was gentle yet unyielding.

Aveline looked at her father. She wanted to speak for Alaric. She understood Henry’s protectiveness, but holding Alaric responsible for taking action when they weren’t even in a relationship felt beyond what was reasonable.

He wasn’t obliged to protect her when she hadn’t even promised herself to him.

Her gaze shifted to Alaric, who dipped his chin, asking her to sit. She swallowed hard as she sat down.

Why was she a bystander when they were discussing everything that started with her?

Yet, she sat there. Not because she felt inferior, but because it wasn’t her time to speak yet.

Doubting Alaric?

Edward hated it. Because Alaric was the one who had pulled restraining orders on his own mother to keep Aveline away from her.

Here they were talking about Seraphina, whom Alaric hardly knew. Would he be quiet?

Edward, who wanted to take action on it, sat down and chuckled. Henry needed to know Alaric wasn’t a bystander when it involved Aveline.

"Disappointed?" Edward mused. "You won’t get that chance, Chairman Laurent." His confidence in Alaric was absolute.