Aurora was far more difficult to deal with than he had imagined. Cold sweat began to form on his forehead, and his lips trembled as he struggled to speak. Aurora didn’t waste any more words and turned to leave Chuck's office. The crisp sound of her high heels striking the marble floor echoed like a relentless hammer against Chuck’s heart, each step intensifying his frustration. He sat in his chair, shaking with rage. Why? How could a broke college student dare to flaunt her power in front of him? The more he thought about it, the more suffocated he felt. He suddenly stood up and stormed out of his office. Aurora had just reached the employees’ workspace when she heard hushed whispers. "Aurora Walton? Why is she here? Didn’t she resign?" "Who knows? Maybe she’s back to beg Mr. Mills for her job." A few employees exchanged mocking glances, their voices dripping with scorn. Aurora ignored the gossip and was about to head to her desk when someone suddenly yanked her
The office fell into an eerie silence, as if time had frozen. Everyone stood in stunned disbelief, their eyes fixed on the scene before them. Chuck lay on the ground, clutching his waist in agony, groaning as he struggled to get up. Aurora dusted off her hands and looked down at him with a cold smirk. “Chuck, did you really think I’d let you push me around again? Let me tell you, I’m not someone you can mess with.” Chuck’s face twisted in pain, but his eyes burned with fear and hatred. He never imagined that the seemingly delicate Aurora could be so formidable. He tried to prop himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. The sharp pain rendered him immobile. His expression contorted in rage, his voice shrill like a cornered rat. “Aurora Walton! You’ve lost your mind! How dare you hit me! I’ll sue you!” Aurora sneered, her toe pressing lightly against the back of his hand. Her voice was laced with disdain. “Sue me? Go ahead. Let’s see who goes down first.” The icy gl
Meanwhile, at the Walton estate. In the lavishly decorated living room, Grace was elegantly enjoying her breakfast, a faint smile of contentment on her face. Suddenly, the shrill ringing of the phone shattered the peaceful morning. "Hello?" Grace answered. "Madam Grae, bad news! There's trouble at the company! Miss Aurora beat up Chuck Mills! The office is in complete chaos! You need to come immediately!" Ben’s panicked voice trembled with distress, his anxiety palpable even through the phone. Grace’s expression darkened instantly, her well-maintained face creasing with wrinkles as her brows furrowed in fury. She hung up, abandoning her untouched breakfast, grabbed her handbag, and rushed out of the villa. The Waltons were one of the most prestigious families in Ravenshore, and Grace had always been meticulous about maintaining her reputation and image. Now, Aurora had caused a public scene by attacking someone at the office—an incident that had already spiraled out of
Aurora slammed her foot down on the accelerator, and the black sports car shot forward like an arrow, leaving a trail of exhaust in its wake.One hand gripped the steering wheel tightly while the other roughly wiped her face.Grace’s furious expression and harsh words lingered in her mind, refusing to fade."You’ve completely disgraced the Walton reputation!""Do you even respect me as your mother?"Each word stabbed into her heart like a poisoned needle, sharp and unforgiving.Aurora bit down on her lip and pressed the gas pedal even harder.Right now, all she wanted was to escape from everything. Escape from that suffocating house. Escape from a mother who had always favored Tessa and treated her with nothing but indifference.By the time she pulled up in front of Megan’s apartment, her palms were slick with sweat.Megan lived in a high-end apartment complex in the city center. Aurora parked her car with practiced ease and rang the doorbell."Aurora? What are you doing here at this h
Lucas drove straight to the nearest pharmacy without a second thought.He bought every single anti-inflammatory and antiseptic medication available, stuffing the car’s trunk until there was barely any room left.By the time he arrived at Megan’s apartment, Aurora was sitting on the couch, cradling a cup of ice water, her expression dull and fatigued.Lucas strode over to her, his usual composed demeanor replaced by deep concern. The moment he saw the redness and swelling on her face, a sharp pain stabbed through his chest."What happened? Who hit you? Does it hurt?"His voice was so gentle it was almost unrecognizable—nothing like the commanding and decisive Lucas that people in the business world knew.Caught off guard by his sudden concern, Aurora instinctively turned her head away, avoiding his gaze."It’s nothing, just a small bruise.""Small? This is what you call small?!" Megan exaggeratedly shouted from the side."Look at her face! It’s swollen like a balloon! If I hadn’t iced
Aurora’s heartbeat quickened even more, and her face burned as if it were on fire. She turned away, lowering her voice. "It’s really nothing, just a small injury." "Small injury?" Lucas’ one carried a trace of restrained anger. "Your face is this swollen, and you’re still calling it ‘just a small injury’? Tell me exactly what happened." Left with no choice, Aurora recounted everything that had happened at the company. As Lucas listened, his expression grew darker, his aura turning ice-cold. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and called his assistant. "Look into a man named Chuck Mills." His voice was sharp, authoritative, completely different from his usual calm and composed demeanor. Aurora watched him, her emotions tangled. "Lucas…" She tugged lightly at his sleeve before sighing and shaking her head. Her voice carried a hint of exhaustion. "Let it go. There’s no need to stir up more trouble. I’m fine, I didn’t really suffer any losses." She didn’t wan
Outside the RestaurantJoseph stood with his usual air of nonchalance, his gaze lazily sweeping over Aurora Walton.A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, playful yet mocking.One arm wrapped around Judy’s waist, while his other hand idly flicked a lighter, the small flame briefly illuminating his fingers before vanishing. His entire demeanor exuded a careless arrogance, as if nothing in the world could truly hold his interest.However, when his gaze landed on the man sitting across from Aurora, something in his expression shifted.A flicker of intrigue flashed in his eyes.He couldn’t see the man’s face, only a broad back and a composed posture.But that upright stance, coupled with the sheer presence emanating from him, was enough to make Joseph pause.Whoever this man was, he was no ordinary figure.Judy followed Joseph’s line of sight and quickly took notice of the man sitting across from Aurora.Though she could only see his back, an unsettling feeling crept into her chest.Th
Inside the restaurant, Aurora and Lucas’ dinner remained undisturbed by the commotion outside. "What are your thoughts on Vanguard Group’s hot spring resort project?" Lucas asked casually, elegantly slicing his steak. Aurora set down her fork, her expression turning serious. "Vanguard Group plans to develop a high-end hot spring resort that combines wellness, leisure, and entertainment. “I’ve drafted an initial concept that integrates modern architectural design with natural landscapes to create a space that’s both contemporary and Zen-inspired." Lucas raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh? Let’s hear it." Aurora retrieved her tablet from her bag, pulled up her design proposal, and handed it to him while explaining her vision in detail. Lucas skimmed through the concept as he listened to her analysis, his gaze filled with admiration. He had to admit that Aurora’s design philosophy was unique, and more importantly, it held strong commercial potential. "Your concept is creativ
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