"Alright, I’ve been missing your cooking, too," Aurora said to Lucas.

The two of them, without even realizing it, carried with them the warmth of home.

Leonard, standing nearby, suddenly felt a little out of place.

He blurted out, "Aurora, have you really thought this through?"

Aurora and Lucas both stopped in their tracks; even Megan looked puzzled.

The three of them turned to Leonard, leaving him slightly embarrassed.

Aurora curved her lips into a smile. "Leonard, what I said up there wasn’t a joke. I meant every word. From now on, whether you continue working with Walton Corporation or not, that’s entirely your choice. You don’t need to take me into account."

A strange unease stirred in Leonard’s chest. "But… she’s still your mother. You really don’t care anymore?"

Aurora’s eyes flickered, unsure how to respond.

Megan quickly cut in with a playful exclamation, nudging Leonard. "Oh, come on, don’t bring that up again. What matters is that Aurora’s happy. The rest can wait for later."

Lucas stretched out his arm and drew Aurora into his embrace. "Megan’s right. Whatever you decide, we’ll stand by you. Your health and happiness matter most."

Megan, rarely agreed with by Lucas, felt a rush of excitement. "Lucas, you actually agree with me for once—I don’t even know how to react. There’s nothing wrong with what you said. Naturally, I wouldn’t correct you."

Lucas shot her a sideways glance, finding her a little ridiculous.

Seeing this, Leonard let the matter drop.

Just as Megan had said, there was no point pushing further.

Aurora was an adult with her own decisions and goals.

Her thoughts shouldn’t be confined.

In good spirits, Aurora declared, "Alright then, no more formalities. Tonight, it’s my treat."

Megan pumped her fist in the air. "Hooray, long live Aurora!"

The group left the club in high spirits.

Chapter 1147

+15 BONUS

Aurora wore a pale blue gown, her arm linked with Lucas in a matching suit. Their figures together looked like a prince and princess straight out of a fairy tale.

They walked away decisively, not once looking back.

The unity of the four of them was made plain for all to see.

The guests could only sigh in astonishment.

What they thought would be an ordinary banquet had turned into something no one could have imagined.

They had certainly witnessed enough drama for one night.

The shareholders glanced at Tessa and Grace still standing on stage and shook their heads. "Foolish, utterly foolish."

"At her age, how could she still make such a mistake?"

Other executives echoed the sentiment. "Exactly. Aurora brought so much profit to the company. How could they let her walk away?"

The murmurs all around pressed into Grace’s ears, and guilt weighed heavier in her heart. Looking at the chaos before her, she felt lost for the first time.

Tessa’s eyes brimmed with tears. "Mother, what should we do now? Should we try to persuade my sister to come back?"

She spoke against her true will.

"Shut up!" Grace snapped at Tessa for the first time. "Do nothing now. Stay quiet and keep still."

Her composure shattered, Grace had no patience left for Tessa.

Startled by the outburst, Tessa’s face showed her helplessness.

The shareholders kept chattering, but Grace cut them off with one last line: "The banquet ends here"—before leaving the hall.