Chapter 118

Someone recognized Aurora and stepped forward to greet her. She responded with a slight nod, every movement graceful and perfectly measured. As she mingled among the elite, she seemed completely at ease; it was as if, wherever she went, the spotlight followed. Even the CEOs couldn’t help but praise her.

Across the room, Joseph stood watching her, his fists slowly clenching. That woman sure seemed to be doing well without him. How did she manage to dress like that? There was no way a broke college girl could afford an outfit like that.

Beside him, Judy leaned in, her expression filled with concern. “Joseph, how do you think Aurora managed to afford that suit? You don’t think she rented it, do you?”

At that, Joseph’s expression eased slightly. He turned to Judy with a rare look of approval. “You’ve got a point.” That was exactly what he’d been thinking.

Judy tilted her head, feigning innocent confusion. “Wearing a rented outfit to something this important? If someone notices, how could she possibly secure the project?” Joseph understood that well enough.

But right now, he had no interest in going over to Aurora and picking a fight. The real show would come later. He glanced at a message from Vanguard’s senior management confirming that everything was in place. A slow smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. “Let’s see how long you can keep this up, Aurora. After today, you can forget about that project,” Joseph thought.

Unaware of all this, Aurora continued discussing the project with several of Vanguard’s top executives. They had nothing but praise for her insights and professionalism.

“I didn’t expect Miss Walton to have such sharp insight at such a young age.”

“Exactly, you’re young and capable. The future truly belongs to your generation.”

Aurora gave a polite smile. “Thank you for your kind words. I’ve simply had the chance to learn from experienced mentors like all of you.”

As soon as she said that, the admiration in their eyes deepened. They hadn’t expected someone so young to be this modest and composed.

Just then, a voice came from the stage. “Ahem, ladies and gentlemen, the time is about right. Please return to your seats.”

Everyone turned to see the host stepping up—a face they all recognized as the lead coordinator for this project. He continued, “Thank you for attending Vanguard’s bidding event. I know all of you have prepared thoroughly for this project. Now, please place your bid proposals into the submission boxes beside you. We will compile everything shortly and announce the final result at the end of the banquet.”

The moment he said this, the entire room fell silent. Joseph’s eyes lit up with barely contained excitement. He clenched his fists again, unable to hide his anticipation. Perfect. It was almost time.

Judy noticed the shift in Joseph’s mood but obediently kept quiet, not asking any questions.

Before submitting her proposal, Aurora carefully double-checked the documents, making sure both the contents and her name were in perfect order, without a single mistake. Only after confirming everything was correct did she finally return to her seat. Walton Corporation was determined to secure the Vanguard project. Aurora had prepared for this moment for so long—it was time for all that effort to pay off.

Not long after she submitted her proposal, Joseph followed. As he passed by her, he muttered under his breath with a threatening tone, “Just wait and see who makes it to the end.”

Aurora let out a cold snort but didn’t respond. On an occasion like this, if he wanted to play the fool, there was no need for her to say anything more.

Chapter 119