CHAPTER 150: THE COLOR OF TRUTH

Most of the time, people chose the easiest path, and the easiest was denying the relationship and letting the media cool down.

"What if," Aveline said clearly, "the statement says we are in a relationship?"

The PR department had assumed Alaric and Aveline couldn’t be in a relationship and also assumed everything to be a coincidence.

Now they heard Aveline and watched Alaric and Edward, who were not offended. They again assumed the two were already in a relationship and everything that was circulating about Damien could be true.

The PR manager blinked. "Er... well..." He adjusted his collar as he composed himself. He was also prepared for that situation.

"If that’s the case, I must address a concern. With Ms. Laurent’s recent divorce, and the ongoing scrutiny... This could damage Ms. Laurent’s public image."

Aveline understood the gravity of the situation. But she didn’t want to deny their situation because she wasn’t ready to play hide and seek. And it would also give chances for others to pick on them again and again.

As she wavered between black and white, he chose gray, the color of truth.

He finally spoke, without looking away from her. "While one of our own is respectfully pursuing someone dear, we hope for patience as they navigate this Chapter privately."

He gave them the PR statement.

Everyone turned to him in shock and amusement and missed when Aveline’s cheeks colored and her lips curved into the softest smile.

While the PR manager was speechless to make any point, Edward hid his smile and gave his opinion. "As chairman of this company and as a father, I couldn’t be prouder of how this is being handled."

Irrespective of whether Alaric took action against the Astors, Henry was impressed hearing Alaric. He wasn’t only protecting Aveline’s image, he was letting the world know he was pursuing her.

He glanced at his daughter. Her look of composure couldn’t fool him when there was a faint blush on her cheeks.

Faint smiles to the blushes, if only they had been patient with Damien to see thorugh the true colors. Past is past, Henry brushed off his thoughts and looked at Alaric.

"In a world quick to judge, some second chances aren’t risks, because someone made it feel safe to try again." Henry came up with a counterstatement for Laurent Industries.

Aveline turned to her father. It wasn’t the type of PR statement the Laurents gave. But for her, her father was bending his rules and also accepting Alaric.

Edward nodded in approval. It wouldn’t only be a statement from the companies, it would also reveal their support for the couple. It also meant Henry wasn’t disappointed in his son.

When they were in sync, the PR manager had nothing to say against it. Nevertheless, he reminded, "While this approach should drive away random speculation, we must understand that Alaric and Aveline, Laurent and Lancaster will continue to be in the limelight. The media attention will intensify."

It could be both positive and negative. Edward had no issue. It would also warn the Astors to behave. "Not an issue."

Everyone glanced at Henry, who was patting Aveline’s arm.

Henry spoke, "Alright then, I will inform my team." Saying it, he went out to dial the PR manager of Laurent Industries.

"Meeting dismissed." Edward’s secretary announced when Edward stood up to leave.

Everyone began to leave, nodding and bowing at the couple with respect, but the couple stayed seated.

Alaric leaned forward, voice low and laced with amusement. "You were ready to announce it to the world... without telling me first?"

Aveline tilted her head with a teasing smile. "Well, I assumed you would say yes. Or were you going to keep your pursuit a secret?"

He chuckled under his breath. "Secret? Sunshine, I just told the vultures that I’m courting you." He meant the PR team, "If anything, you softened my image."

She agreed. His cold, distant image was softening.

But to her, that was real masculinity, strength that knew when to be gentle. Something she always admired in her father and now, Alaric.

Nonetheless, she raised a brow. "The press will say you’ve gone soft."

Alaric’s gaze didn’t waver. "Let them. I’ve survived worse reputations." One could even write an article on it. "If the worst they can say is that I love someone too openly, then I’ll take that softness, gladly."

Aveline bit her lip, that faint blush returning. "Good." She stood up as she added, "Because I don’t plan to hide."

....

As they exited the conference room, Aveline and Alaric walked side by side, making their way back to Edward’s office. The hallway ahead was quiet until they saw her.

Seraphina Astor.

She emerged from the elevator like she belonged there, heels clicking against the polished floor, dressed in an impeccably tailored cream suit that spoke of power, wealth, and perfectly curated elegance. Her hair was pinned back, her makeup sharp, and her eyes locked onto Edward’s office with purpose.

Alaric’s hand found Aveline’s wrist and pulled her to walk.

"Let’s go," he murmured, tugging her into the office before Seraphina could stop them there and start the drama for attention.

Moments later, a gentle knock on the door announced her arrival, followed by the door opening with practiced poise.

"Dad," Seraphina said first, her voice smooth as velvet when she greeted Edward with a polite nod, then turned to Henry. "Chairman Laurent."

And finally, to Aveline, her eyes softening, as if she were a sister approaching an uneasy truce. "Ms. Laurent," she said with a brief dip of her head. "Before anything else... I would like to sincerely apologize for Dahlia’s behavior at the event. It was unacceptable, and I was horrified when I heard about it."

Aveline said nothing, her gaze cool and unreadable.

Horrified? Dahlia’s behavior at the banquet was worse than on the terrace. Why didn’t Seraphina address it there? Or later, when they met again?

Edward leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. "Seraphina. Dahlia wasn’t on the guest list. You invited her in the middle of the event. Why?"

Seraphina blinked, then gave a subtle smile, a touch regretful, entirely composed. "Dad, it wasn’t a planned invitation. Dahlia arrived in town unexpectedly and insisted on accompanying me."

Alaric was quick to make a note. According to Seraphina, Dahlia wasn’t in town.

Seraphina dropped her head slightly, "I thought... wrongly, it seems... that she would behave. It was a terrible miscalculation."

Well, she was aware they were going to look into the details, the moment she dialed Dahlia’s number. That’s the reason she left the trail when she could have hidden it.

Henry’s brows furrowed. "So she just asked you, and you agreed?"

"Dahlia is over-pampered by the Astors. I didn’t think refusing her would be worth the drama she would cause," Seraphina responded, carefully controlled.

"I genuinely believed she would know how to act in public. I didn’t think she would insult Ms. Laurent or find Alaric and her together on the terrace. But clearly... I misjudged."

She glanced at Aveline again, voice softening. "I understand how it must have looked. And I take full responsibility for not intervening sooner. But I swear on my name, I had no idea she planned anything disruptive. Had I known, I would’ve stopped it."

Her gaze brushed over Alaric as she added, "I would never think of disrupting my own event or troubling my brother-in-law."

There was just enough tremble in her voice to sound sincere. Just enough eye contact to seem honest. Just enough humility to make herself palatable to a room full of people who didn’t trust her.

Aveline didn’t respond immediately, her posture unmoved. But Seraphina wasn’t aiming for forgiveness, just doubt. Just a small crack in their certainty.

Edward exhaled, unimpressed. "Coincidence is a fragile defense, Seraphina."

"I know," she said, bowing her head slightly. "But I can only offer the truth I have. If I had meant harm... I wouldn’t be standing here trying to explain myself."

Alaric watched her silently, not buying the performance, but admiring the execution. She was playing her role to perfection if she wasn’t innocent.

Aveline finally spoke. Her tone was calm, but unmistakably firm. "You’re Alaric’s family. I don’t want him put in a position where he has to choose between peace at home or standing beside me in public."

Everyone turned to look at her, surprised, not at her grace, but at the fact that she was the one choosing to de-escalate.

Edward was pleased with Aveline’s move, whereas Henry could only sigh at how fast she goes soft for the peace.

Alaric wasn’t sure what to say but chose not to interrupt her.

"I won’t question your sincerity, Mrs. Lancaster," Aveline continued, gaze steady. "But it only takes one more incident to prove the opposite. I don’t care for theatrics, and I’m not someone you want to test twice."

It wasn’t a threat. It was a promise, dressed in silk.

Seraphina’s lips parted slightly, then curved into a polished smile. "Of course, Ms. Laurent. It won’t happen again. Dahlia will be here soon to apologize."

Right on cue, the door opened, and Dahlia stepped in with eyes lowered and a hesitant expression that didn’t match her usual arrogance. She paused just inside, clearly uncomfortable but coached.

"I... apologize," Dahlia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "For my behavior, for ranting at the media house manager. It was out of line."

Aveline didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. The silence was heavier than any scolding.

Seraphina gave a soft nod of gratitude. "Thank you for your kindness today. Truly."

Aveline returned the smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Let’s hope you won’t need it again."

Seraphina’s grip on the bag tightened as she softly nodded.

Henry’s eyes narrowed slightly, understanding the subtle power shift. Edward glanced between the women, then stood. "We’ll leave it at that."

As Seraphina and Dahlia left the room, no one said the word truce, but it hung in the air, tense and temporary.