Chapter 165

Aurora’s anger ignited the second those words left his mouth.

Without hesitation, she slapped Joseph hard across the face, her voice sharp and cold. “What the hell is wrong with you? This is still Walton Corporation, and you think you can throw a fit here? Whether I talk or not is none of your damn business. Try worrying about yourself.”

The slap caught Joseph completely off guard. Before he could react, Auron had already snatched her phone back.

He clutched his cheek, momentarily stunned, not even sure where to look. Rage overtook him. “You bitch! You actually hit me!”

Aurora raised her chin defiantly. “So, what if I did? You brought it on yourself.”

Joseph couldn’t stand the smugness in her expression. Grinding his teeth, he snapped, “You think you can just cut me off like that? It’s not gonna be that easy! Aurora, we were together for three years. Don’t forget, I’ve seen everything. You’re not afraid I’ll send it all out?”

His threat made Aurora pause, eyes narrowing as she looked at him. Whatever grace or charm he used to have was long gone—there wasn’t a trace of it left on that face. All she saw now was someone ugly and desperate.

“Yes, three years,” she said, her voice calm and steady. “Which is exactly why I know what you do and don’t have on me. Keep this up, and I will call the police.”

For a moment, Joseph froze. That piercing look in her eyes cut through the haze of his anger, snapping him back to reality. Right, he didn’t actually have anything on her, nothing that could truly hurt her.

Trying to salvage something, he reached out to tug at the sleeve of her coat. People nearby, heading home from work, had started to notice the two of them. From a distance, it looked like a spat between a couple.

One woman even stepped over, concern written all over her face. “Sweetheart, I’ve been watching for a while now. Your husband’s been trying to talk to you this whole time. I always say—married folks shouldn’t go to bed angry. Better to just talk it out and let it go.”

Joseph immediately jumped in, nodding like crazy. Finally, someone who got it. That passerby’s words were music to Joseph’s ears, and he couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

“Exactly,” he said quickly, jumping on the moment. “You’re just upset with me, Aurora. It’s not worth hurting yourself over it.”

Just moments ago, he was making threats. Now, he was switching to sweet talk. Aurora had seen Joseph’s two-faced nature plenty of times before, but somehow, he still managed to surprise her.

She turned to the woman who had tried to intervene, her voice sharp and every word clear. “This is between me and him. Maybe worry about your own life before getting involved in someone else’s.” At that, the small crowd quickly dispersed, murmuring to themselves before scattering in all directions.

Aurora turned back toward Joseph, who flashed her the same familiar smile she’d once known so well. To be fair, Joseph had never been bad-looking, and paired with that practiced smile, it almost made her pause and feel like they were back in the past. But the moment passed in a heartbeat. She knew better. There was no going back.

Joseph began reminiscing aloud, painting a picture of their old days together. “Aurora, I still remember how you took care of me when I was in the hospital. You cooked for me, stayed by my side.” His voice grew softer, eyes clouding with emotion. “And I just kept thinking—how could someone be so kind? I told myself I’d treat you preciously for the rest of my life.”

Aurora felt a wave of disgust rise in her chest.

“Can you not bring up the past?”