The room fell silent.

Only after Grace’s figure disappeared from sight did the chatter erupt.

“Who would’ve thought Madam Grace wasn’t thinking straight?”

“Exactly, casting aside the clever daughter and propping up the sickly one.”

“If it were me, I’d treasure Aurora like a jewel. With a mind like hers, she could feed my family for generations.”

“What a pity. But if someone won’t cherish her, what can be done? After all, she isn’t ours to keep.”

The shareholders’ expressions grew darker. Meeting each other’s eyes, they resolved to unite and confront Grace.

“Throwing away a diamond and keeping the glass.”

Hearing their words, Tessa’s heart burned with resentment.

A bunch of old fools–what did they know?

Did they really think the company couldn’t run without Aurora?

What a joke.

She was determined to see for herself if Walton Corporation could survive without her.

Tessa followed Grace out of the banquet hall.

For a moment, the guests were left confused.

What was the point of this banquet, anyway? Merely to announce the termination of cooperation with the Hayes family?

And after that, the matter of Aurora being the heir–was it simply brushed aside?

Everyone began to speculate inwardly, doubting Aurora’s words. After all, a company as large as Walton Corporation brought in different profits each year.

Handled properly, the benefits would be immense.

Given such prospects, they didn’t believe Aurora would truly walk away.

Could it really be just to spite her mother?

From the shadows, Joseph watched the scene, his lips curving faintly.

Chapter 1148

He beckoned to his secretary, leaning in to whisper a few words.

The secretary suddenly understood. “So, should we go to him now?”

“In a while. Let’s first see what happens with Aurora.”

“Alright, I understand,” the secretary answered respectfully.

After the secretary left, Joseph’s smile deepened.

He hadn’t expected Aurora to show such nerve, announcing her resignation in front of so many guests.

Even if she wanted to return to Walton Corporation later, it wouldn’t be easy.

After all, it had been witnessed by everyone present.

Joseph took out Judy’s photo, a shadow flickering in his eyes.

Once he wrapped up his business at home, he would head overseas to find her.

“Judy, you’d better wait for me.”

Meanwhile, far abroad, Judy was busy with matters at her studio.

Though she had moved the company from home, much still remained unfinished.

On top of that, following Kenneth around every day to build connections meant she had fallen behind on the studio’s work.

Judy frowned, realizing that the life she was living now wasn’t what she had imagined.

It was different from what she had once pictured for herself.

Pressing her lips together, she felt a wave of frustration.

Since arriving overseas, she hadn’t even rented a place, still living in Kenneth’s home.

That too weighed heavily on her mind.

And lately, there hadn’t been any major fashion shows abroad where she could expand her reach.

Without the right opportunities, she stayed where she was for now.

At first, Judy felt uncomfortable about it, but Kenneth reassured her, saying, “It’s fine. The house is big enough, and it’s just you here anyway. No one else ever comes by.”