Other than that, she hadn’t done anything else.

Thinking of this, Tessa grew even more confident.

“Mom, don’t you trust me? I’ve already sworn—I really don’t know anything.”

Aurora, standing to the side, clapped her hands in mock applause.

“Well done. My dear sister, your stubbornness hasn’t changed one bit since childhood.”

Tessa clenched her fists, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Aurora, can you stop trying to drive a wedge between us? I may be your sister, but that doesn’t mean I can keep tolerating you again and again.

“I’m a living, breathing person first, and your sister second. My patience has its limits.”

Aurora was momentarily startled, then arched a brow, her lips curling into a faint, amused smile.

She hadn’t expected Tessa to play the victim so skillfully—this reversal of roles was almost impressive.

“If I have proof, what excuse will you use then?”

As Aurora spoke, her eyes stayed fixed on Tessa’s every move, waiting to see how she would keep denying it.

Panic flashed through Tessa’s heart, but she forced herself to stay composed. “I have no idea what proof you’re talking about, and I don’t understand what you mean. If Mom hadn’t told me about what’s online, I wouldn’t even know.”

Grace still didn’t quite understand the full situation, but she did know the part Tessa mentioned.

So, she nodded in agreement.

“Yes, Aurora, what Tessa said is true. I know about that part myself.”

Grace tried to defend Tessa, but Aurora cut her off sharply.

“Mom, before you defend her, maybe you should take a look at what I’m holding and then decide if she deserves it.”

As she spoke, Aurora pulled an envelope from her bag.

Grace looked at the envelope, not quite understanding what it was, but Tessa’s heart tightened instantly, as if an invisible hand had gripped it hard.

What could be inside? What kind of evidence could she possibly have?

No one could know about what happened between her and Aaron. After all, Aaron was part of the Carter family—he had his own means.

But at this moment, Tessa seemed to forget that Lucas was the one who truly held power in the Carter family, not some distant relative.

In Ravenshore, there wasn’t a single person he couldn’t investigate if he wanted to.

If he set his mind on digging into someone’s background, it was effortless, especially when it came to a minor branch of the Carter family.

A cold sweat broke out along Tessa’s back, yet she forced herself to stay calm. “That file of yours… could it be something you forged just to slander me?”

Aurora let out a cold laugh. “I’d never stoop that low.”

With that, she handed the documents straight to Grace.

The moment they landed in Grace’s hands, Tessa’s heart jumped into her throat. She wanted to stop her, but there was nothing she could say that would make sense.

Aurora’s eyes stayed fixed on her the whole time, and seeing the panic on her face, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, well, didn’t think there was anything in this world that could scare you, Tessa.”