Chapter 1243

Aurora’s heart warmed, her eyes misting as she looked at Megan.

But in Grace’s eyes, the sight was nothing but a challenge to her authority.

“What’s this? You two are so close that it makes me, your own mother, look like an outsider?” Grace demanded, her icy gaze sweeping over them both.

Megan was about to speak, but Aurora stopped her.

She stepped in front of Megan, her expression firm as she faced Grace.

“I know you and I share blood, but Megan is the family I chose, even without that tie. To me, the two don’t conflict.

“If you insist on pressing the matter, then as it stands now, I actually think Megan is more suited to be my family.”

Grace’s eyes widened in fury at those words.

She clutched her chest, staring at Aurora in disbelief.

But Aurora had no intention of backing down.

Grace could scold her, but dragging Megan into it was unacceptable.

Megan had spoken up for her–if she was condemned for that too, wouldn’t that be far too unjust?

Grace’s heart ached even more at this, her gaze turning sharper still. “So, in your eyes, what exactly am I as your mother?”

Aurora said nothing, standing silently by her side.

Megan, seeing her stay quiet, didn’t dare to speak either.

After all, just as Tessa had pointed out, she truly was an outsider.

Though she’d once been close to Grace when she was young, that was the past.

Now they were all grown, each with their own circles. If she tried to compare herself, it would only make her look childish.

Some truths were all too plain to see.

But Aurora’s thoughts were nothing like Grace’s. She had only started a studio; it wasn’t as if she had done something unforgivable.

And besides, Megan was only treated this way because she had spoken up for her. What wrong had Megan committed?

In the end, Megan was being mistreated simply because her mother disliked her.

So now, watching Grace speak with such self-righteousness, Aurora found it laughable, especially hearing those words.

All she felt was a deep chill in her heart.

Her gaze turned icy as she looked at Grace, the corner of her lips curling into a mocking smile. “Think whatever you want.”

She truly had no patience left.

Her mother’s scolding only left her colder.

Tessa, standing nearby, was secretly delighted to see Aurora so bold.

If Aurora could make Grace turn against her without Tessa even lifting a finger, then her purpose was already achieved.

She didn’t need to fight a battle–just a few words were enough to stir up such a spectacle.

Grace shot up from her seat in anger, just as she was about to speak, Ian walked up from the distance.

“What are you doing here too?”

The moment Grace saw him approaching, her expression darkened even more.

So, everyone had been keeping this from her? Her own employee, now openly working with Aurora after leaving Walton Corporation?

Before Ian could say anything, Grace turned her fury back on Aurora. “So even after resigning from Walton Corporation, you’re poaching our employees too?”

She had always acknowledged Ian’s talent, knowing full well how capable and skilled he was.