Chapter 59: Trust
In the cafeteria of Springfield,
The hospital cafeteria looked out of place with the two men seated in sharp business suits, backs straight, shoulders squared.
A waiter hovered nearby, unsure whether to approach them. To inform them, it was a self-service cafe. But the air was so tense around them that he gave up and backed away.
Alaric had every reason to strike, to uproot Damien and end it once and for all. But that wouldn’t help Aveline. She needed to vent, to get over the man she trusted and dreamed of a future with.
If he did it for her, she would be left with nothing but grief and questions. She had to tear Damien apart herself.
Henry, on the other hand, was different. He would rather lie on the chopping board than watch Aveline suffer another hit.
Alaric didn’t expect anything less from Henry. So he wasn’t there to answer Henry’s question. Maybe soften the tension.
"Sun-" he paused, biting back the word on his tongue.
He hadn’t kidnapped Aveline yet. So, no need to get strangled by her father yet.
"She came to me," he said simply. "Your daughter visited me."
Though he had been the one laying the groundwork, it was Aveline who stepped forward, walked into the den, and made the first move.