Aurora glanced at the list before speaking slowly and deliberately."On November 8, 2022, I took care of you when you had a high fever, so the standard caregiver rate is $120.“On November 23, I made three round trips to deliver urgent documents for you. It’s twelve kilometers in total, which comes to $60.“From 2022 to 2024, I cooked and delivered homemade meals and nutritious soups for you every single day for three years. That comes to $16,600."Her expression remained calm as she read each line aloud, but in her mind, flashes of the past three years played out.She had wasted three years on a man who was never worth it.She had poured time and effort into him, learning to cook, making soups, delivering meals day after day, all for someone who never truly appreciated it.And now, here they were—settling old debts in front of an audience.At first, Joseph listened with an air of indifference. But as Aurora continued listing item after item, his brows furrowed, his expression darkeni
Joseph clenched his jaw, his eyes locked onto Aurora with barely contained rage.Beside him, Judy had gone pale.As more people gathered, Joseph finally gritted his teeth and spat out, "Bank transfer."Aurora remained unfazed, her expression calm as she pulled out her phone and opened her banking app, holding it up for him.The moment the transfer notification appeared, she glanced at the screen, then let out a soft chuckle, amusement flickering in her eyes."Much appreciated, ex-boyfriend."It was not so bad.After wasting three years of her life, she still walked away with $22,700.Joseph’s face was as dark as a storm cloud as he stormed off. Judy, sensing the weight of the stares around them, hurried after him, flustered.In the bright, upscale restaurant, Lucas’ gaze landed on Aurora from a short distance away.Beside him, his business partner followed his line of sight, curiosity flashing in his eyes.Then, with growing interest, the man’s gaze naturally settled on Aurora."Lucas
Lucas froze for a moment before a slight smile appeared on his face.Suddenly, he wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning down, his voice cool and laced with laziness. "Rora, I've never pursued anyone before. Whether it's infatuation at first sight or feelings that grow over time, give me a chance. Let’s turn this act into something real, alright?" Rora was her childhood name. When she was young, her family loved calling her that. She hadn't expected Lucas to bring it up again. How did he even know about it? Aurora’s heart trembled slightly as she met his gaze. Her red lips parted, but she couldn't bring herself to refuse. She lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly before she finally spoke. "Alright." …Meanwhile. After leaving the restaurant, Joseph dragged Judy away with a dark expression. There was quite a crowd inside, all eager to watch the drama unfold. Someone even recorded the moment Aurora confronted him and later uploaded the video onl
She remained calm, but there was an undeniable presence about her—nothing like a fresh graduate just entering the workforce. Chuck frowned, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind. Was she somehow connected to the Walton family? But Tessa had never mentioned anything about it. The brief hesitation quickly vanished. He let out a cold laugh. "Walton Corporation has no use for trash like you." Aurora said nothing. She simply picked up the documents and turned to leave. Not long after, the termination notice was officially issued. When the project manager heard about it, he was completely stunned. Others might not know Aurora’s true identity, but he certainly did. She was the Walton family’s heiress. Had Chuck lost his mind? Grinding his teeth, the manager stormed over to Chuck. "Do you have any idea who Aurora Walton is? You just fired her? Are you trying to get yourself kicked out of Walton Corporation?" "She’s just another college graduate," Chuck sneered. "What
That evening, Megan invited Aurora out for some shopping, helping her pick a gown for Vanguard Group’s event the next day. By chance, they ran into Judy and Joseph. Judy glanced at Aurora with a soft smile. "You’re in quite the good mood, Miss Walton. Even after getting fired, you still have the energy for a shopping spree." Beside her, Megan’s face turned pale. What the hell? The Walton matriarch’s younger daughter fired from Walton Corporation? Aurora narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze shifting to Joseph as she spoke in a calm tone. "This was your doing?" "You should know your place," Joseph said with disgust. "Aurora, I never wanted to make things difficult for you, but you just couldn’t stop clinging to me." As Aurora’s best friend, Megan knew all too well the mess between the two of them. She rolled her eyes. "Are you out of your mind? You are a spoiled piece of leftovers no one wants, yet you think Aurora is desperate for you? Get over yourself.""Oh really
His voice was deep and smooth, sending a shiver down Aurora’s spine as her heartbeat stuttered. "Lucas…" She blinked up at him, hooking her arms around his neck. "I remember you promised me that if I wasn’t ready, we’d take things slow." That night in the attic, the atmosphere had been too perfect. She wasn’t able to refuse him. Lucas had coaxed her in a low voice, assuring her he would never push her into anything she didn’t want. Now, he let out a soft chuckle. Tilting her chin up, his gaze remained cool and composed yet laced with undeniable temptation. "So… you don’t want to?" His breath, warm and teasing, brushed against her ear. A tingling sensation spread through her, making her shudder. It felt like a feather had swept across her heart. Heat curled through her body, something unfamiliar and impossible to ignore. Grinding her teeth, Aurora thought, “So much for his aloof, unattainable act.” This man was a menace. After a brief pause, she tightened her
Aurora couldn’t take it anymore and quickly cut Megan off. "Alright, alright, I got it! Hanging up now!" Before Megan could respond, she ended the call. Then it hit her. Lucas heard everything Megan had just said.She suddenly felt like she couldn’t even look at him. However, Lucas didn’t press further. He simply watched her with a knowing smile, his amusement clear. Aurora needed a drink to calm her down.She pushed him aside and sat up, straightening her slightly disheveled clothes. Trying to maintain her composure, she reached for the water on the table and took a sip, hoping it would cool the heat rising in her face. Lucas watched her with growing amusement, his gaze deepening. Then, he stood and stepped closer, leaning down until they were at eye level. "Why is your face so red?" Aurora’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. Avoiding his gaze, she frantically searched for something—anything—to focus on. Her eyes landed on a magazine sitting on the coffee table.
With broad shoulders, a lean waist, and sculpted muscles, his build was unmistakable even beneath the suit.Aurora suddenly remembered Megan’s words: "That body, that face, that build… my cousin is in a league of his own."Now, looking at him, she realized Megan hadn’t exaggerated at all."What are you thinking about?" Lucas set breakfast on the table and took a seat across from her.Aurora snapped out of her thoughts and quickly shook her head. "Nothing.""Drink this," he said, handing her a warm glass of milk. "It’ll get cold soon."She took the glass and sipped, though her mind was elsewhere.Stealing a glance at Lucas, she found herself thinking that this man really was something.As she drank, the warmth slid down her throat, yet her thoughts wandered.This whole situation—suddenly being married, sitting across from a man, sharing breakfast— was a first for her.Even after three years with Joseph, she never spent the night at his place and experienced anything like this.It was s
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