“We share the same blood, Aurora. We’re family. No one in this world could ever love you more than I do.”

Grace’s voice trembled with sincerity, and if one looked closely, there were tears glimmering in her eyes. Her gaze locked onto Aurora’s, unwilling to let go.

Seeing that, Aurora’s heart wavered for a moment. But then, the memory of what Grace had said to Lucas the night before echoed in her ears.

She quickly shook her head, trying to drive away those foolish, dangerous thoughts.

None of this was real. Grace was only using her. She couldn’t fall for it again.

From this moment on, Aurora regretted ever letting her mother learn who Lucas truly was. If Grace had never found out, none of this trouble would’ve happened.

“That’s enough. You don’t need to say another word.” Aurora turned her gaze away. “I know perfectly well who’s been good to me and who hasn’t. Saying more won’t change anything.”

Her voice turned cold. “I’m an adult, capable of making my own judgments. Words mean nothing to me. Actions do. And I’ve seen what you did to Lucas, heard what you said about him. With all that evidence in front of me, how am I supposed to believe you now?”

Grace’s lips trembled as she tried to speak. “But we’re family. I raised you, watched you grow up. Are you really willing to give up on that bond?”

Aurora suddenly shouted, her voice breaking with emotion. “I’ll say it again. It was you who gave up on that bond, not me! As your daughter, I’ve listened to your words my whole life. What more do you expect from me?”

Seeing her this way tore at Lucas’ heart. He pulled her into his arms, murmuring softly by her ear, “Alright, let’s go home. Don’t get so upset. It’ll only hurt you.”

Feeling the warmth radiating from him, Aurora’s heart softened.

She leaned into his embrace, surrounded by a sense of security she hadn’t felt in years.

With Lucas by her side, she felt unstoppable–there was nothing left in the world to fear.

Aurora steadied her breathing, then looked at Grace with a calm, steady gaze. “From now on, let’s just be strangers who happen to know each other well. Unless it’s something truly important, there’s no need for us to stay in touch. Honestly, I don’t see any reason to.”

After thinking it through, she knew this was the best outcome for both of them.

At that moment, Grace felt a sharp pain in her chest, as though her heart had been twisted.

But before she could respond, Tessa suddenly spoke up. “Sister, do you really have to be this cold? No matter what, Mom worked so hard to raise you. How can you treat her like this?”

Grace snapped back to herself at those words.

Tessa was right. She was the mother here. The elder. She had gone through so much to raise Aurora, and now her own daughter dared to accuse her? How could she possibly accept that?

Yet Aurora remained unmoved, ignoring their reproach entirely.

If this were judged by the world’s moral standards, Grace thought bitterly, people would probably already be condemning Aurora from every direction.

Chapter