Chapter 1381

He kept his head down in front of Lucas, dared not say another word, and no longer showed up in front of Lucas and Aurora. He knew he was unworthy.

This scene fell into Aurora’s eyes, making her thoughtful.

Lucas lowered his gaze toward her. “What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“I was just thinking, I never expected my husband to be so impressive,” Aurora didn’t hold back her praise.

“Not really. What I said just now was true. I’m not even familiar with those people.” A hint of coldness flashed in Lucas’ eyes. “Besides, if just anyone could show up and call themselves my relative, the line would stretch clear across the ocean.”

“Why are you so arrogant?” Aurora pinched Lucas’ nose.

Even in such a public setting, Lucas didn’t get upset. Instead, he let her make such small gestures, finding them sweet, like a couple declaring their claim on each other.

“But that’s the truth.” His eyes grew colder. “Some people may be here for the family banquet, but there are those I can’t even name, and yet they still crowd around me. They’re only after wealth.

“Other than that, I can’t think of any other reason or excuse.”

Aurora glanced around at the hall, filled with clinking glasses and people dressed to impress.

Some she’d seen before in financial reports, but when they faced Lucas, they bowed and scraped.

That alone showed how strong the Carter family’s power was, with depths even she had not yet seen.

Soon, Lucas took Aurora’s hand, and together they crossed the banquet hall to where his parents sat.

When Diana saw Aurora, her eyes lit up with delight, and the fatigue on her face vanished in an instant.

“Oh, Aurora, you finally came.” Diana eagerly stepped forward and wrapped her in a warm hug.

“Mom, I missed you too.”

Aurora warmly returned the hug.

The sight of the two embracing sent a heavy shock through the others.

Why was this woman calling Diana “Mom”?

What was their relationship?

The sharp ones quickly connected it to how Aurora had always been at Lucas’ side. Could it be that the two were already married?

But why hadn’t they heard a word about it before?

Not even the slightest whisper had surfaced. Could it be that Lucas had been hiding her away all this time?

Keeping her concealed so no one discovered the truth?

But what good would that do him?

The rest of the Carter family speculated wildly, their minds spinning, unable to figure out what he was really up to.

How could this group possibly guess Lucas’ thoughts?

He had his own rules and ways of doing things.

No one expected that this might be proof of him hiding her away.

After all, not a single word had leaked before.

Yet some wondered if Lucas had simply brought someone out to fend off the matchmaking pressure from the elders, like pushing forward a stand-in.

With a mind like Lucas’, was there anything he couldn’t pull off?