Chapter 1142

The guests below the stage saw everything clearly.

At that moment, Aurora stood on stage watching mother and daughter together, and she felt like nothing more than an outsider.

Grace noticed it too, but she simply didn’t care.

Tessa was deeply moved, tears welling in her eyes as she threw herself into Grace’s arms. “Mom, thank you."

“I know my health has been poor all these years, I’ve been a burden to you. But now that you’ve given me this security, I promise I’ll live well from here on.”

“Silly child, what are you saying?” Grace patted her back. “You’ll always be my daughter. How could you ever be my burden? You’re my little darling.”

Leaning against her mother, Tessa wore a perfectly composed smile. But in the corner of her lips, where no one else could see, she flashed Aurora a triumphant grin.

“So, what if you’re the company successor? In the end, you’re still working for me. After all that effort, your shares are only five percent higher than mine.

“And in the end, it’s all for nothing. Did you really think having the title and the fame would win you our mother’s favor? What a joke.”

Lucas was about to lose his composure. He made a move to step onto the stage, but a hand caught his sleeve.

He stopped, puzzled, and followed the tug with his eyes.

It was Megan, looking up at him with a sly grin.

She pointed toward the stage and whispered, “Lucas, wait. I just saw Aurora signal us not to act rashly.

“She must already have a plan in mind. If we step in now, wouldn’t that only make things harder for her?”

Hearing this, Lucas lifted his eyes again.

And right then, his gaze met Aurora’s. In that instant, he understood.

She was telling him to hold back, not to interfere.

Lucas realized she was right. This was, after all, the Walton family’s banquet. If things turned ugly here, there’d be no way to save face.

And in the end, this was still an internal matter of the Walton family.

“Let go.”

With just those two words, Megan immediately released her grip.

She didn’t need him to say more – she knew for certain he was speaking to her.

Only heaven knew how terrified she’d felt a moment ago when she’d dared to reach out and stop him.

If it hadn’t been for Aurora, she never would have gotten so close to her cousin. Normally, she wouldn’t even dare to think of it.

Megan shrank back, withdrawing her hand with lingering unease.

Leonard had seen the whole exchange and could barely hold back a laugh.

Weren’t they cousins? Why was Megan so afraid of Lucas?

And besides, wasn’t her action the right thing to do?

If she hadn’t reminded him, Lucas would have gone up there and ruined Aurora’s moment. Wouldn’t that have wasted all her efforts?

Leonard thought to himself that Megan had actually done something good.

Whether Lucas appreciated it or not was another matter altogether.

Lucas didn’t go up on stage–he stayed where he was.

But his eyes never left Aurora, watching her intently, waiting to see what she would do next.

If the time came, he would support her without hesitation.

On stage, the mocking curve at Aurora’s lips grew sharper.

The guests exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what she was about to do.

Even Lucas narrowed his phoenix eyes, wondering what Aurora’s next move would be.

After all, Grace hadn’t discussed any of this with them. None of them had been prepared, leaving them completely in the dark about what she was planning.

Chapter 1143