Lucas spoke with an air of nonchalance. "In that case, this deal..."He didn’t finish the sentence, but David and Peter weren’t fools. They caught the meaning instantly.They turned to Aurora at once. "Miss Walton, we accept all the terms you just mentioned. Did you bring the contract? We’re ready to sign now.""I did."Aurora was still a little dazed. Even with the contract in her hands, it felt somewhat unreal.The rest of the meal went down much easier for her. But for David and Peter, under Lucas’ silent pressure, every bite tasted like ash.Lucas, on the other hand, looked entirely at ease. He’d come here tonight for one reason— to back Aurora.She was his wife. He couldn’t bear to treat her harshly himself, so how could he possibly let a few nobodies get away with it.With that thought, Lucas sent a quick message to Desmond: Look into the Warren and Lowe companies. Create some trouble for them.Desmond didn’t quite understand, but he followed orders without question.They bar
Lucas noticed something was off with Aurora, so when Hank left, he didn’t stop him. Right now, her well-being took priority."You alright?" he asked, leaning down slightly, his voice low with concern.Aurora shook her head, trying to steady herself. "I’m fine. Maybe I just had a bit too much to drink."She pushed his hand away and took a few steps forward, but her body swayed, and she nearly collapsed.Thankfully, Lucas caught her just in time.He could tell she was only trying to act tough.Without another word, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her like a princess.Caught off guard, Aurora let out a soft cry. "What are you doing?""Taking you home, of course."Lucas gently placed her into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt with care.As he leaned in, he caught the strong scent of alcohol on her and noticed the warm flush on her cheeks. Unable to resist, he lightly tapped the tip of her delicate nose."You really are a little drunkard. Next time I’m not around, you’re
Aurora let out a soft "mm" and asked, "What is this?""Hangover tea," Lucas said, settling beside her and gently guiding her to lean against his broad shoulder. "You drank quite a bit last night. I figured your head would be killing you this morning, so I made this for you. Drink some—it’ll help."She looked down at the warm orange-yellow liquid in the cup, a quiet warmth blooming in her chest.Her eyes lingered on the sharp lines of his profile and the elegant curve of his nose, and her heart skipped a beat before she could stop it.As a potential husband, Lucas was everything a woman could ask for.Compared to Joseph, he was on another level entirely.Lucas tilted his head, puzzled. "What are you staring at? You need to drink it while it’s still warm, or it won’t work."Snapping out of it, Aurora gave a dazed nod and parted her lips slightly, letting him feed her the first spoonful.The moment it touched her tongue, her eyes widened in surprise.She’d expected it to taste bitter base
It was the first time Lucy had seen Aurora like this.Feeling a bit intimidated, she nodded. “Yeah, he looked like he was in a hurry to leave. Probably something urgent happened at home. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be in such a rush to resign.”Aurora sneered coldly at those words and didn’t respond.She knew perfectly well why Hank resigned.It was simply because he couldn’t bring himself to face her anymore. Besides, being caught between her and Tessa wasn’t exactly a pleasant position to be in.Aurora had already made up her mind. With the contracts signed by the two CEOs in hand, she headed straight to the chairman’s office.She knocked on the door, and only after hearing a response did she push it open.When she entered, she saw Grace wearing glasses with a rosary bracelet attached. Her presence was refined and commanding.Aurora greeted respectfully, “Madam Grace.”Only then did Grace look up, surprised to see it was Aurora.“What brings you here?”After all, despite being at the c
Stepping out of Walton Corporation, Aurora narrowed her beautiful eyes. The sun was shining bright, yet there was a lingering chill in her chest.She couldn’t understand it. The evidence was practically laid out in front of Grace, so why wouldn’t she believe her?A wave of frustration hit her. She never imagined that, in her mother’s eyes, her words would carry so little weight.If that was the case, then she’d investigate the matter herself.She refused to believe the truth couldn’t be uncovered.Aurora had come to a realization—no amount of arguing could compare to putting solid evidence in front of Grace.Just as she was about to contact a private investigator, her phone rang. It was her mother.She hesitated at first, unsure whether to answer. But in the end, she softened her stance.What if her mother had changed her mind?Her slender fingers slid across the screen. Before she could say a word, Grace’s anxious voice came through.“Aurora, whatever you’re planning, put it asid
Someone recognized Aurora and stepped forward to greet her.She responded with a slight nod, every movement graceful and perfectly measured.As she mingled among the elite, she seemed completely at ease like wherever she went, the spotlight followed.Even the CEOs couldn’t help but praise her.Across the room, Joseph stood watching her, his fists slowly clenching.That woman sure seemed to be doing well without him.How did she managae to dress like that? There was no way a broke college girl could afford an outfit like that.Beside him, Judy leaned in, her expression filled with concern. “Joseph, how do you think Aurora managed to afford that suit? You don’t think she rented it, do you?”At that, Joseph’s expression eased slightly.He turned to Judy with a rare look of approval. “You’ve got a point.”That was exactly what he’d been thinking.Judy tilted her head, feigning innocent confusion. “Wearing a rented outfit to something this important? If someone notices, how could she possibl
She had spent so much time preparing for this project—her proposal aligned perfectly with Vanguard’s design philosophy.She’d double- and triple-checked every detail to make sure nothing could go wrong.There was no way someone like Joseph could derail it all with a few underhanded tricks.Aurora returned to her seat, watching as Joseph dropped his proposal into the submission box and turned back toward his own table.But… that knowing little smirk on his face unsettled her.Something about it didn’t sit right.She mentally went over the entire process again—her proposal, the submission, and every step. Everything had been in order.Feeing reassured, she let herself relax, quietly waiting for the results.As for Joseph? He was just a petty clown who was not worth her time.It took another ten minutes for everyone to finish submitting their documents.Then the coordinator stepped up and announced, “We’ll now move the submission boxes to the back. Our executive team will begin reviewing
Though suspicion lingered in her heart, Aurora forced herself to wait patiently.That was when Joseph approached with Judy by his side.“Still waiting around?” he said with a smug grin. “You might as well head out. You’re going to end up with nothing anyway.”“What’s that supposed to mean?”Aurora frowned. There was something different about Joseph today—something unnervingly smug, as if he was completely sure she wouldn’t win the bid.But the project wasn’t even under his jurisdiction. Where was all that confidence coming from?Judy, hearing his words and recalling all the little things leading up to this, finally pieced it together. He must’ve pulled some strings behind the scenes to sabotage Aurora.The two of them going head-to-head was exactly what she wanted. She couldn’t stand Aurora’s smugness either.Joseph lifted his chin arrogantly. “You don’t need to know what I meant. Just understand that there’s no way you’re getting this project. “And don’t say I didn’t warn you. We
With all eyes on her, Grace stepped proudly onto the stage.“Everyone, may I have your attention.”The crowd immediately quieted, curious to hear what she had to say.She turned her head toward Aurora, who was gracefully approaching, and extended her hand.Aurora understood the gesture and smiled—a soft, melting smile, like the first snow of winter giving way to spring. Then she gently placed her hand in Grace’s.Grace turned back to the guests and spoke with composure and pride.“Tonight’s business cocktail party was held for more than just celebration. I have two important announcements to make.”“First, I’d like to officially introduce the young woman standing beside me. This is the younger heiress of the Walton family and of Walton Corporation—Aurora Walton!”A collective gasp echoed across the hall.Some who already knew the truth reacted calmly, even remarking that the resemblance between Grace and Aurora was unmistakable.But those who hadn’t known were visibly stunned.“What?S
Grace gave Aurora a subtle look, gesturing for her to change into the gown that had just been gifted.Her current dress was soaked, and continuing to wear it was simply inappropriate for the occasion.Aurora agreed—she couldn’t go on like this. After offering a quick word of thanks, she followed the attendant to change.This time, Tessa didn’t follow.Her freshly manicured nails dug deep into her palm.But the pain in her hand couldn’t compare to the ache twisting in her chest.She had seriously underestimated her darling sister.So, Aurora had managed to climb into the good graces of the man behind Vanguard Group?All this time, she'd kept a low profile, hiding behind work and humility, only to come out with a move like this?“Fine. Let’s see who has the last laugh,” she thought.Grace, meanwhile, was feeling nothing but satisfaction. The timing of the CEO’s gift delivery couldn’t have been better—it was even more impactful than if he’d come in person.Now, everyone clustered around
At those words, the smile on Tessa's face completely cracked.Even Aurora herself was caught off guard.She didn’t have any real connection with the CEO of Vanguard Group—why would he be sending her anything?“Could there be a mistake?” she asked aloud, unable to stop herself.After all, she was just a low-level employee. She barely knew the man.Tessa’s eyes lit up with hope—maybe the gifts were meant for her? Maybe they had simply mistaken the two of them.But the bodyguard shook his head with unwavering certainty. “No mistake. The president gave clear instructions—these gifts are for Miss Aurora Walton.”Tessa nearly shattered her molars, her eyes burning with jealousy so intense it was practically visible.Around them, guests turned toward Aurora, their gazes filled with admiration and envy.Even her coworkers stood stunned, completely thrown off.The bodyguard looked to Aurora, his tone respectful. “Miss Walton, these are from our president. Please feel free to inspect them.”“The
With that thought, Lucas’ gaze swept toward Tessa, who instantly felt a chill crawl down her spine.Meeting his eyes, she unexpectedly flinched.And when she realized she had, Tessa nearly laughed out loud.She was a proud heiress of the Walton family.How could she possibly feel intimidated by some nobody?Straightening her back, she was just about to speak when a new wave of commotion erupted outside."What? The CEO of Vanguard Group is here?""Seriously? I need to go see for myself!"The crowd buzzed with excitement, and even Tessa’s heart skipped a beat.Sure, Julian was already impressive—but who didn’t crave more power? Who didn’t want the best?Self-preservation was human nature. Of course she wanted the best option available.She craned her neck with the rest of the crowd, eyes fixed on the entrance.Even Aurora felt a twinge of surprise.She murmured, "Didn’t expect the CEO to show up in person. He never makes public appearances."Lucas glanced at her, watching her lost in th
But Tessa wasn’t about to let Aurora off the hook so easily, not when her plan had just fallen apart.She quickly caught up, still clinging to her act of concern as she reached for the zipper at the back of Aurora’s dress. "Sister, let me help you. I’ll come with you. This hall is huge. It’s better if we look out for each other."As she spoke, she naturally moved in closer, her right hand inching forward.Aurora saw right through her. She sidestepped without hesitation, irritation flickering in her eyes. "I said I’ve got it. I don’t need help."She’d already arranged for someone to wait in the dressing room. The moment she put the dress on, something had felt off.So, she played along, just to confirm her suspicion that it was her dear sister who’d tampered with it.Judging by Tessa’s urgency, she had guessed right.Meanwhile, the dance continued behind them, but the subtle tugging between the two had already begun to draw attention.Aurora noticed the curious stares and didn’t want t
Aurora gave a slight nod and stepped into the room to meet with Grace.Grace's eyes lit up at the sight of her—Aurora looked absolutely radiant. Her delicate features, touched up just right, gave her an almost ethereal beauty. Grace felt a deep sense of satisfaction."Don’t be nervous tonight. You need to perform well during the opening dance."Aurora nodded. She understood how important the opening dance was—it was the first step in putting her in the public eye."By the way, has Lucas arrived yet?"Aurora recalled the message Lucas had sent her and explained, "Almost. He’s on the way. He just texted me.""Good. You know how we do things in the Walton family. It wouldn’t make sense to have you officially step in without that."Aurora nodded again, fully understanding. Then the two of them walked together toward the banquet hall.By the time they stepped out, most of the guests had already arrived.Grace felt a wave of pride and joy in her heart. These people all knew Walton Corpor
Hearing that the Chairwoman was looking for Aurora, Joseph stood frozen on the spot, completely caught off guard.His eyes widened, mouth slightly agape, and his voice shot up in pitch, making him look rather ridiculous. "You’re the second heiress of the Walton family?"Aurora raised an eyebrow and nodded without hesitation. "What, are you shocked?"It was almost laughable. After three years together, he still had no idea who she really was.The hall manager also looked at Joseph in surprise, wondering why this man was making such a fuss.Joseph’s overly loud voice had drawn attention, and soon the area became a small spectacle.Thinking back to those three years with Aurora, Joseph remembered how plain her clothes had been, how she lived in a rented place until he couldn’t stand it anymore and let her move in with him.How could someone like that possibly be the rumored second heiress of the Walton family?When he finally processed everything, his expression shifted from shock to disd
As soon as those words were spoken, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd."Is that true?"Someone voiced their doubt. "Exactly. The CEO of Vanguard Group never attends events like this. No one has even seen what he really looks like.""That’s just what I heard. Who knows if it’s true or not.""If he really shows up at this party, Walton Corporation’s status will be on a whole different level."Everyone nodded in agreement.Who in Ravenshore hadn’t heard of his decisive methods?Not to mention his standing in the city—he was a force above the elite families.Upstairs on the second floor, Tessa watched the scene below. Her beautiful features twisted slightly with frustration. She knew all too well what the purpose of this event was.But why?They were both heiresses of the Walton family, so why was Grace so biased?The resentment in Tessa’s heart was about to overflow.She turned and saw a row of rooms on the second floor. When her eyes landed on the one labeled “Dressing Room,”
Aurora stood to the side with a constant smile on her face. This time, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.She had passed Grace’s test. What came next was the real challenge.Once the excitement died down, Grace looked at Aurora with a smile in her eyes. “Aurora, come to my office.”Aurora was a little surprised but simply replied, “Okay,” and followed her mother out.“The Chairwoman’s definitely going to reward her with something.”“I think there’s a good chance she’ll get promoted.”“You’re probably right. We’ve all seen what Aurora’s capable of.”“Exactly. Aurora’s ideas played a huge role in securing this project!”No one in the department thought otherwise. Everyone genuinely felt happy for her.As Aurora followed Grace into the office, she understood that her mother was about to honor the bet.But ever since what had happened last time, there was still a thorn in her heart.“Madam Grace, what do you need from me?” Aurora shut the door behind her and looked calmly at Grace