In the following days, Aveline focused on her work, ignoring Damien's calls, while the news channels covered stories about Ashford, from their rise to their fall, with reports that the Ashford lineage would end with Damien.
Giselle appealed to the court to revoke Damien's absence on Tuesday, as the funeral had been completed.
On Thursday, sitting in a restaurant, Damien cursed Giselle when he received the call from the deputy chief of police, asking him to return to court.
Before he could vent, he saw Vivienne walking in, wearing a semi-formal suit layered with an overcoat to ward off the cold. There was something different about her, the spirit of a model was replaced with the confidence of a woman.
Damien hadn't bothered to look into her after prison, so he quietly studied her now.
She didn't flash him a smile or cower in fear at the sight of him. She just walked in, pulled the chair opposite him, and sat down.
"So?" Vivienne began. "How is prison treating you?"
