Aurora remained calm. "Don't worry, I’m done with Joseph. But since I’ll be taking over the Walton family, my marriage should at least be stable. I’d rather choose someone I don’t dislike." Grace had never approved of her being with Joseph. Part of it was her disdain for Aurora allowing emotions to cloud her judgment.The other reason was that the Hunt family was a direct competitor to the Waltons. Though the Hunts weren’t as powerful as the Waltons, they were still considered rivals. In truth, when it came to marriage, Grace wasn’t overly controlling. She wasn’t as invested in Aurora’s affairs as she was in Tessa’s. Her sharp gaze swept over Aurora, assessing her for a moment. "Fine, you can choose whoever you want to marry, but a bet is a bet. Don’t let me down, Aurora." Aurora nodded. Grace had other matters to attend to and turned to head upstairs. Now, only Tessa and Aurora remained in the living room. Though they were sisters in name, their relationship had a
For the first time, Aurora found it hard to reconcile the man before her with the one in her memories—the man who once comforted her, over and over, when she was temporarily blind. Back then, after the earthquake, Joseph had saved her, staying by her side and reassuring her as they waited for rescue. That was why she had been devoted to him for so long. But she never imagined that the man who accompanied her through the darkness would turn out to be so arrogant and cruel. "Aurora, a woman should have more self-respect," Judy said with a sigh, her expression one of helpless understanding, as if she were generously tolerating a clingy, unreasonable ex-girlfriend chasing after her boyfriend. Aurora was just about to set the record straight when, suddenly, someone leaned in and whispered something to the manager. The manager’s expression shifted. He turned to Joseph, his tone polite yet firm. "Apologies, Mr. Hunt, but your membership invitation has been revoked. You are no lo
When he mentioned Megan, Aurora’s lips curled slightly. If she really went through with this marriage, she couldn’t imagine how Megan would react. But then again… Lucas’ face alone made it hard not to waver. She needed to marry someone she didn’t dislike, someone with good character. Honestly, Lucas was the best option. Aurora’s red lips curved into a smile as she blinked playfully. "Lukey, I don’t think I have a reason to say no." "Then tomorrow at 10 a.m., at the city hall," Lucas said, meeting her gaze. Aurora nodded. It seemed he had other matters to attend to, as he turned to leave. But just as he was about to step away, he paused. His brows furrowed slightly, his tone casual but pointed. "About Joseph Hunt…" "It’s over," Aurora lowered her gaze, recalling Joseph’s arrogance earlier. "Don’t worry, I’m not the type to go back to an ex." Only then did Lucas turn and walk away. Aurora watched his retreating figure, feeling an odd sense of disbelief. She was
It was an unrestrained kiss—deep and intense. She gasped softly, but he captured her breath entirely, feeding it back into her lips. Instinctively, she clutched the hem of his shirt. Only when her legs grew weak did Lucas finally stop. He gazed down at her, his voice low and husky. "Did you really think you could just walk away after sleeping with me? Mrs. Carter, your skills are still lacking."Aurora was never one to back down. The corners of her red lips lifted slightly before she suddenly pressed a kiss to his Adam’s apple. Feeling his body tense for a brief moment, she pulled back half a step, her lazy smile carrying a hint of provocation. "Mr. Carter, you're not that impressive either." Lucas' gaze darkened slightly, but Aurora knew when to stop. After exchanging contact information with Lucas, she moved into his home. The house was in a prime location. Before moving in, she mentioned registering the marriage to her mother, though she hadn't brought up Lucas. Gr
He wanted to take back all the gifts he gave her after a breakup?Aurora couldn’t help but laugh at Joseph’s pettiness.She had always thought he was just a little sleazy, but she hadn’t expected him to be this cheap and stingy.Thinking about how she was once with a man like that, she felt utterly disgusted.When she returned to her new home, she immediately started digging through her things, determined to gather up every single gift Joseph had ever given her.Just then, Lucas walked in."What are you looking for?" His voice was calm and indifferent as he glanced at her.Aurora paused, then casually replied, "Settling debts from a breakup. My ex wants all his gifts back. I've never met a man this desperate for scraps in my entire life."There was a hint of frustration in her tone, her striking face carrying traces of annoyance.The next second, her phone chimed.A bank notification popped up, informing her that $40,000 had been deposited with a memo stating it was a gift.Lucas cast
Aurora hung up abruptly before Megan could finish speaking.Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting trace of amusement in Lucas’ gaze.Megan’s shocked outburst echoed in her mind, and for some reason, a hint of embarrassment crept in, especially when her gaze, entirely by accident, landed on his collarbone.He was dangerously tempting.Her ears burned. She cleared her throat. "Do you need something?""It’s late. I saw you were still up." Lucas’s lips curved slightly, the usual coolness in his features softening just a touch. "Chatting with Megan?""Yeah, just small talk," she replied vaguely.Lucas’ gaze flicked to the faint redness on her ears, and suddenly, he spoke. "Shouldn’t Megan be calling you her cousin-in-law now?"Aurora choked at the thought.That did make things… a little complicated.Lucas’ lips curved into a subtle smirk. He leaned down, his fingers tilting her chin upward, his voice low and smooth."It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t. But, Mrs. Carter… it’s
"That won’t be necessary," Aurora said coolly. "He doesn’t like those kinds of events."And she meant it.Lucas always seemed distant and unattainable, refined yet indifferent—he truly wasn’t suited for such social gatherings.Tessa’s smile deepened.Of course, she heard about Aurora’s sudden marriage.But the fact that it was handled so discreetly only made her more convinced that Aurora’s husband wasn’t worth showing off."What a shame," Tessa said, feigning regret. "Your brother-in-law was hoping to meet him."Aurora turned to Grace, her tone calm. "You once said I got married because of the Walton family’s traditions. “In your eyes, it doesn’t matter who my husband is, so I’d rather not let Walton family affairs interfere with him."Grace frowned slightly but remained indifferent. "Your sister was just being considerate. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. There will be opportunities in the future."Aurora’s expression remained unreadable.She truly didn’t want the Walton family'
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
Early the next morning, Aurora strode confidently into Walton Corporation's headquarters, refreshed and ready.Today, dressed in a sharp, tailored white suit, she looked stunning and radiated an air of fierce determination. Being forced out meant nothing—Aurora would never suffer humiliation quietly.Her high heels clicked firmly on the marble floor, each step echoing through the lobby, announcing her presence. Without hesitation, she headed straight for Chuck’s office. No one dared block her path, not even the receptionist at the front desk.With a loud bang, Aurora flung the office door open, startling Chuck, who sat casually sipping his coffee with his legs crossed.Seeing Aurora, a brief flicker of shock crossed Chuck’s face before settling into a disdainful smirk.“Oh? If it isn't Walton Corporation’s former employee. What brings you back here?” he sneered mockingly, his eyes filled with contempt.Ignoring his insults, Aurora marched straight to his desk, slamming down a thick
Lucas just smiled without answering, instead placing a tender barbecue rib onto Aurora’s plate.“Try this one. It’s delicious too.”Aurora stared at the food on her plate, her heart filled with mixed emotions.She'd been with Joseph for three years, yet he never even knew what foods she liked.And Lucas, whom she'd married impulsively, was already this attentive to her preferences.The stark contrast stirred a bittersweet feeling in her heart, leaving her both touched and a little sad.She recalled dining out with Joseph in the past. He always chose dishes that suited his own taste, never once asking what she wanted.One time, she'd mustered the courage to say she wanted something spicy, only for Joseph to frown and respond, “Why eat spicy food? It’s bad for your skin.”Thinking back now, Aurora could only scoff inwardly. Bad for her skin?Yet here was Lucas, carefully placing all her favorite dishes in front of her.Being treated this considerately felt unfamiliar yet wonderfully co
Aurora glanced nervously at Lucas, who returned a look as if urging her not to run away, but to confront the situation directly.Gathering her courage, she reluctantly lowered the window and stared at Joseph in confusion. “Joseph, do you need something?”Joseph’s eyes fell upon Lucas in the car, momentarily stunned, then his expression twisted into something even uglier. He scrutinized Lucas up and down, but due to the poor lighting in the parking lot, he could only make out the man’s vague profile.Joseph turned to Aurora, his tone dripping with mockery. “Aurora Walton, you’ve already found yourself a new sugar daddy so soon? No wonder you dared speak to me like that at the banquet. Turns out you’ve latched onto someone wealthy!”Judy quickly echoed, “Aurora, even if you’re a broke student desperate for money, at least find yourself someone decent. This guy doesn’t look like much.”Aurora felt anger surge to her head instantly. She gave Joseph and Judy a freezing glare, her voice ic
Inside the banquet hall, Aurora elegantly raised her champagne glass, chatting amiably with a prominent business tycoon.She appeared utterly unaffected by the earlier incident, still radiant and captivating.“You're remarkably accomplished, Miss Walton—achieving so much at such a young age. Truly impressive,” the tycoon praised sincerely, his gaze filled with admiration.Aurora smiled modestly, raising her glass in acknowledgment. “You flatter me. I’m merely doing what needs to be done.”She took a small sip of champagne, the golden liquid swirling gently within the crystal glass, reflecting the subtle smile at the corners of her eyes. Yet, the warmth in her smile never reached her eyes, only highlighting their profound, midnight depth.Unfortunately, the elusive CEO of Vanguard Group had not made an appearance tonight after all.A scheduling conflict? What a waste of an evening.As the banquet neared its end, the air grew heavy with the mingled sweetness of champagne and perfume.Au
“An ordinary employee?” Aurora laughed lightly, her eyes shimmering with subtle contempt.“Joseph, perhaps you’ve misunderstood what ‘ordinary’ means? Even if I were serving drinks here, I'd still be a hundred times better than some spoiled heir who relies solely on his family’s shadow, only capable of dragging down the family business.”Joseph’s face turned livid. He pointed a trembling finger at Aurora. “You... you... how dare you!” Never in his life had he been humiliated like this.“How dare I?” Aurora didn’t retreat. Instead, she stepped closer, her gaze piercing him like a blade.“Who was it that once vowed to love me forever, only to rush into the arms of his first love the moment he turned around? “Who wrote that laughable breakup list just to get rid of me? Joseph Hunt, tell me, who's really out of line here?”The guests around them began whispering among themselves, their curious eyes drawn to the scene.Joseph’s face burned as if he had been slapped hard several times.
Judy was seething with rage.She originally assumed Aurora would fall into miserable obscurity after leaving Walton Corporation, yet here Aurora was, appearing radiant and dazzling, her every gesture filled with effortless confidence.Judy gripped her wine glass so tightly that her nails almost pierced her palm."Don't tell me she's latched onto some rich guy," Judy remarked sourly, her voice dripping with scorn and jealousy.Joseph gave a dismissive snort. "Her? Other than that pretty face, what else does she have to offer? She's probably nothing more than a high-end social climber who's already been passed around and discarded by those big shots. Anyone with eyes can see right through her.""Exactly," Judy echoed. "Who knows what tricks she pulled to sneak into an event like this."The envy in Judy's eyes was almost tangible.She expected Aurora to be in dire straits after leaving Walton Corporation.Yet here Aurora stood, as elegant and radiant as ever.She had to do something to
Aurora, once plain and uninteresting in Joseph’s eyes, now sparkled like a diamond, so dazzling it nearly blinded him.Even though he despised her, Joseph couldn't deny how stunning she looked tonight. He felt an unexpected itch in his chest—a restless stirring he struggled to suppress.But quickly, that faint attraction turned into annoyance and resentment.She was clearly trying to catch his attention. After all, she'd always been like this.“What is Aurora doing here?” Joseph muttered quietly, his tone laced with disbelief and irritation.Beside him, Judy chimed in with feigned concern, “I wonder whose attention she's trying to catch dressed like that? Honestly…” She let her words trail off, though she couldn't hide the smugness in her expression.The more shameless Aurora appeared, the more Judy’s own image of elegance and gentle dignity stood out in comparison.However, Aurora paid no attention to their whispers. Instead, she confidently mingled with other guests, her every mo
Lucas simply smiled mysteriously without directly answering her question. Instead, he stepped closer, gently wrapping an arm around her waist.“It’s beautiful. It’ll suit you perfectly.”Aurora felt warmth rush to her cheeks from his sudden display of affection, her heartbeat speeding up involuntarily. She looked up, meeting Lucas’ deep gaze.“Oh, right,” Lucas said, as though suddenly remembering something. He reached into his pocket and took out a delicate little box. “This is for you.”Aurora accepted the box, opening it to find a dazzling diamond necklace sparkling brilliantly under the lights.“This is too much…I can’t accept it!” Aurora exclaimed in surprise, never expecting such an extravagant gift from Lucas.But Lucas only smiled, gently pushing the box back into her hands. “It’s just a small gift. There will be many more in the future, Mrs. Carter.”He paused briefly, and a subtle tenderness flashed through his eyes. “Don’t overthink it and just accept it.”Aurora was abou
“Aurora, you look pale. Did you realize something?” Megan immediately noticed the change in her friend’s expression.Aurora took a deep breath, suppressing her suspicions for the moment.“It's only a hunch right now. I don't have any proof.”“So what’s your plan?”“I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. But first, I need to make sure Chuck leaves Walton Corporation.”A cold glint flashed in Aurora's eyes. She was not someone who'd let others walk all over her.Just then, the waiter arrived with their dishes, interrupting their conversation.The table was filled with beautifully plated dishes, the rich aroma drifting into the air, but Aurora had completely lost her appetite.She distractedly moved the food around her bowl, her mind continuously replaying images of Tessa and Chuck.Picking up a piece of pork ribs, she chewed mechanically, barely tasting anything.Seeing Aurora's state, Megan tactfully dropped the topic about the company, shifting the conversation to lighter subjects