After opening the car door, Alaric saw the floral bouquet on the passenger seat. He had planned to give it to Aveline in the car. He grabbed it and returned to the office instead.
As he walked into the silent second hall, he heard Aveline's soft voice that barely reached him: "I'm scared."
Scared?
He had just learned the previous day how she had swallowed down humiliation and faced everything alone. Now what was she scared of?
Before he could take another step, she continued, "Scared that good things disappear when I reach for them. Scared they'll label me... question me about Damien, about my divorce. And..."
Alaric was confused. Who was she scared of? Who were 'they'?
Aveline hesitated, then added, "His mother met me."
Whose mother? It couldn't be Damien's mother questioning her about Damien, then...
Isabella?
Alaric froze. A velvet dagger stabbed straight to his chest at the thought of it.
