Stepping out of Walton Corporation, Aurora narrowed her beautiful eyes. The sun was shining bright, yet there was a lingering chill in her chest.

She couldn’t understand it. The evidence was practically laid out in front of Grace, so why wouldn’t she believe her? A wave of frustration hit her. She never imagined that, in her mother’s eyes, her words would carry so little weight. If that was the case, then she’d investigate the matter herself. She refused to believe the truth couldn’t be uncovered. Aurora had come to a realization—no amount of arguing could compare to putting solid evidence in front of Grace. Just as she was about to contact a private investigator, her phone rang.

It was her mother. She hesitated at first, unsure whether to answer. But in the end, she softened her stance. What if her mother had changed her mind? Her slender fingers slid across the screen. Before she could say a word, Grace’s anxious voice came through.

“Aurora, whatever you’re planning, put it aside for now.”

Aurora’s gaze turned cold. Her heart sank completely. She was just about to argue when Grace, as if sensing her thoughts, spoke again.

“You can blame me if you want, but this came up suddenly.”

“Vanguard just announced they’re moving the bidding date up. I called you the moment I got the news.”

Aurora slowly clenched her fists. After a few steady breaths, she composed herself.

“Understood, Mother. I’ll put the bigger picture first.”

Grace sighed. “At the end of the day, we’re still family. This project affects Walton Corporation, and I hope we’re aligned—united on the same front.”

“All right.” Aurora relented. It was a step back on both sides. And with that, the matter was left unresolved. After hanging up, she had no energy to dwell on anything else.

The Vanguard project was like her baby–there was no way she would let her proposal fall apart now. With those thoughts racing through her mind, Aurora made her decision and headed back to Walton Corporation to prepare for the upcoming bid.

Someone Tessa had planted in the company quickly informed her that Aurora had gone to see the chairman. With a loud bang, Tessa flung her phone to the ground, shattering it into pieces. She knew all too well that after this incident, her image in Grace’s eyes would definitely take a hit. But so far, Grace hadn’t sent her a single message, which meant, for now, Grace was still on her side.

That evening, Tessa prepared Grace’s favorite soup, under the pretense of helping her recover her health. Grace looked at her—so sweet, so innocent—and felt more certain than ever that Aurora had to be mistaken.

“Tessa, that’s very thoughtful of you. Your health hasn’t been great. Just rest at home and take care of yourself.”

Tessa lowered her eyes obediently and nodded, playing the perfect, well-behaved daughter. Seeing this, some of Grace’s doubts eased.

When the time was right, she would need to talk to Aurora and make her understand that she’d misjudged Tessa. They were family, after all, and families should stay united.

Soon, the day of Vanguard’s bidding event arrived. Aurora showed up in formal business attire, her makeup subtle yet flawlessly done, accentuating her already striking features. The tailored light-colored suit hugged her figure perfectly, giving her a refined and poised silhouette. Her hair was neatly swept up, revealing a smooth, elegant forehead. Even just standing there, she carried a quiet grace—but the slight curve of her red lips hinted at a bold, radiant confidence. Her presence and beauty drew attention the moment she walked in. People all around were whispering, trying to figure out which company she was representing.