Chapter 1389

It seemed this woman had some skill. She barely arrived, yet she already had the old man utterly charmed.

Philip waved to his assistant, who immediately stepped forward and handed over a small box.

“Here, child, give me your hand.”

Aurora had a suspicion of what it might be and was about to decline, but the old man spoke first.

“You’ve been married to Lucas for nearly a year, and none of us even knew. Consider this my way of making it up to you.”

He opened the box, revealing an imperial-emerald jade bracelet.

The piece gleamed, flawless and translucent, its weight and value unmistakable at a glance.

Gasps rippled through the room. No one had expected him to be so generous—giving away something this precious at a first meeting. They could hardly believe their eyes.

Aurora’s eyes widened. “Grandpa, this is far too valuable. Besides, Mom has already given me the family’s heirloom bracelet.”

She meant only to decline another extravagant gift.

But her words drew another collective gasp. The heirloom itself had already been passed to her. That could only mean one thing—her position as the lady of the house was firmly sealed. From now on, no one could dismiss her.

Who would have thought that on her very first appearance at a family banquet, she would stand on such solid ground?

Philip, however, pretended to be displeased.

“If you say that, then I’ll be upset. What she gave you is one thing. What I’m giving you is entirely another.”

He pressed the bracelet firmly into her hand. “This is my gift to you. That one marks your place as a Carter daughter-in-law. They’re not the same, do you understand?”

Aurora parted her lips, ready to refuse again, but Diana cut in quickly.

“Father, she’s just overwhelmed with joy.” Diana gave the answer for her. “Aurora, thank your grandfather.”

Lucas added, “Go on, Aurora. Once Grandpa gives a gift, he never takes it back.”

With so many voices urging her on, Aurora finally accepted the gift.

“Thank you, Grandpa,” she said sincerely, her eyes brimming with emotion.

She had once thought life in such a powerful family would be difficult, but now she realized she had worried for nothing.

This family carried itself with dignity and grace—so different from what she had imagined.

The old man patted the back of her hand warmly. “Good girl, seeing you makes me happy. What’s your name?”

“Grandpa, my name is Aurora Walton.”

Philip repeated the name silently in his heart, his gaze calm.

But among the crowd, her name set off ripple after ripple of whispers.

“I thought I recognized her…”

“Of course, she’s the second heiress of the Walton family!”

“Isn’t she the one who announced she was stepping away from Walton Corporation not long ago?”

“That’s right. She said she wouldn’t run her family’s business anymore and went on to start her own studio.”

“Who would have thought she’d become our matriarch? And Lucas kept it hidden all this time. We never even heard a hint of it.”

“Keep your voice down. Don’t let those words reach Lucas.”