Chapter 20

Aurora took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. “Yeah… Chuck Mills. He’s the one who fired me.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly, studying Chuck with a glint of coldness flashing through his gaze. A moment later, the fitting room door opened, and a woman stepped out. Aurora recognized her instantly. She was Linda Falls, her former colleague from the project team. Dressed in a red dress with perfectly done makeup, she looked completely different from the simple, modest style she usually wore at work. The moment Linda saw Chuck, she beamed, slipping her arm through his.

“What do you think, dear? Do you like it?” Chuck’s gaze raked over her, lingering in all the wrong places. “Not bad. Sexy. Let’s go with this one.” Aurora froze. Linda… and Chuck? Linda had been her colleague at Walton Corporation, completely unaware of Aurora’s true identity. But now, seeing the way Linda was practically fawning over Chuck, Aurora couldn’t help but feel unsettled. What was their relationship? Had Linda gotten involved with Chuck to climb the corporate ladder? The thought sent a wave of disgust through her. Lucas, having observed the subtle shifts in her expression, gently patted her shoulder. His voice was calm, reassuring. “Don’t waste your energy on people like them. They’re not worth it.” “Let’s go.” Lucas spoke again, his tone firm. Aurora nodded and followed Lucas out of the mall. Once they got to the car, she settled into the passenger seat. Since handing over the evidence of Chuck’s embezzlement and harassment to her mother yesterday, Grace’s attitude had remained frustratingly vague. The uncertainty gnawed at her. She absentmindedly traced her fingers along the seatbelt, her gaze fixed on the blur of city lights rushing past the window, lost in thought. “What’s on your mind?” The low, steady voice pulled her back to reality. Lucas turned slightly toward her, his gaze gentle, laced with quiet concern. The soft glow of streetlights filtered through the car window, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across his sharp features, making him look even more striking. Aurora withdrew her gaze, letting out a soft sigh. “Just thinking about the company.” At her words, silence filled the car.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Lucas’ apartment. Aurora reached for the door handle, ready to step out, but before she could, Lucas caught her wrist. She looked up, slightly startled. “Do you need my help with Chuck?” His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight behind it. Aurora shook her head. “No, I can handle it myself.” “I will return to Walton Corporation, but when I do, it won’t be quietly. Aurora Walton never walks away without a fight.” Lucas studied her for a moment before reaching out, his fingers grazing her cheek in a slow, deliberate motion. His voice was gentle, yet firm. “You don’t have to hold back. Do whatever you want, and I’ll be right behind you.”

Two days later, Aurora learned from the project manager that Chuck was still strutting around the company as if nothing had happened, completely unaffected. Her heart sank at the news, rage simmering in her chest. She expected her mother’s indecisiveness to lead to this, but she hadn’t thought Chuck would be this brazen. Taking a deep breath, she gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white. Then, without hesitation, she slammed her foot down on the gas. The car shot forward like an arrow, speeding toward the Walton estate. The mansion basked in the warm afternoon sun, yet it felt cold and lifeless, a stark contrast to the fire burning inside her. Stepping through the ornate gates and into the grand living room, she was greeted by the glow of a crystal chandelier, its colorful reflections glinting off the marble floor–luxurious yet utterly devoid of warmth. The air carried a faint scent of lilies, fresh and elegant, but even that did nothing to soothe the storm raging within her. Aurora took a deep breath, forcing herself to rein in her fury. She didn’t bother with pleasantries. Her tone was sharp and direct. “Mom, have you handled Chuck yet?” Grace set down her teacup with a sigh, already knowing why her daughter was here. “This isn’t so simple. After all, Chuck once saved Tessa’s life…” “Saved her?” Aurora repeated coldly, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “And that means he gets a free pass? That he can do whatever he wants? That he can embezzle company funds and sexually harass employees without consequences?”