Chapter 1244

And after all, Ian had been by Aurora’s side for so long without a single major issue.

She had even considered letting him take over as general manager for a while.

If she couldn’t find a suitable candidate, she had thought about keeping him in that position permanently.

But before the chance ever came, Ian had already handed in his resignation.

Grace truly hadn’t expected that. She assumed Ian had found a bigger platform for his career, but in the end, he still came to Aurora’s side.

Aurora was about to speak when Ian stepped in front of her.

“Boss, let me handle this.” He looked at Grace seriously. “Madam Grace, my resignation was my own decision. It had nothing to do with my boss.”

“So now you call her ‘boss’ so earnestly?” Grace gave a cold snort. “Ian, you’re a capable man. Back at Walton Corporation, I could already see your potential.

“I always believed you were worth more than being just an assistant. I even planned to promote you. But I never imagined you’d do something to disappoint me this much.

“You’ve now abandoned a company as large as Walton Corporation to come here. You must realize there’s no turning back from this.”

Her words carried both threat and intimidation.

Everyone present understood perfectly well what she meant: if Ian didn’t succeed under Aurora, he would have no way back. Grace might even blacklist him in the industry.

Aurora’s face darkened, her hands clenching tightly at her sides.

She never thought her mother would stoop so low.

Ian had done nothing wrong by following her, yet Grace was using the threat of blacklisting him in the industry.

How had she never seen this side of her mother before?

Of course, Ian understood the meaning behind Grace’s words.

But he showed not the slightest fear.

Adjusting his glasses with a faint smile, he looked straight at Grace. “Madam Grace, I understand perfectly what you mean.”

“No, I don’t think you understand.”

Grace spoke with utter seriousness. “If you truly did, you wouldn’t have thrown away such a promising future just to follow Aurora, who has no prospects, into a place like this.”

Every word out of her mouth was meant to belittle Aurora’s company.

She didn’t stop to consider that this was Aurora’s very first studio, and what she needed was encouragement.

Nor did it occur to her that, as a mother, she ought to be proud of her daughter’s achievement.

Instead, her words were nothing but criticism and disdain.

Ian, however, answered with firm sincerity. “Madam Grace, the boss is your daughter. When you speak of her this way, have you ever considered how she must feel inside?

“Besides, I’m an adult. Any decision I make is one I’ve thought through carefully. Even if it ends in failure, that’s my responsibility to bear.

“It’s my path, my fate–it has nothing to do with anyone else.”

Hearing this, Aurora lifted her head, staring at Ian in disbelief.

She never expected him to say such things. It shocked her deeply.

Back at the company, theirs had only been a superior and subordinate relationship. She had simply done what she thought was right.

But in Ian’s eyes, she had become the guiding figure, the benefactor of his life.