“If this is a private matter, then why bring it up here?”

As soon as those words left her mouth, everyone turned to Aurora with questioning eyes. Right—why had she brought it up? Was it just to show off?

Even John began to feel something was off. Was Aurora really this calculating?

Grace had already left halfway through the banquet after receiving a phone call, which was exactly why Tessa Walton had chosen to stir up trouble in front of so many people. Had Grace been present, she might’ve held back.

But now that she was gone, the fire that had been smoldering in Tessa’s chest flared up again. She was determined to sabotage Aurora’s deal.

John’s gaze shifted to Tessa, then settled on Aurora. If what Tessa said was true, maybe he needed to reconsider the collaboration. Businesspeople had their own scheming, sure, but laying it out so plainly like this?

John found it foolish. If Aurora truly operated like that, she’d only slow down progress down the line.

Aurora met John’s gaze and instantly understood what he was thinking.

Tessa nearly burst out laughing. “See? Aurora, you’ve just been lucky no one called you out till now. But without your polished veneer, you’re nothing."

Julian had been watching Tessa closely the whole time. When she’d spoken earlier, surrounded by so many people, he hadn’t missed the smugness and arrogance on her face.

Aurora turned to John, her expression apologetic. “Mr. John, would you be willing to hear my explanation?”

Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, John finally let out a sigh. “Go ahead.”

When he first arrived from overseas, John hadn’t taken the time to fully understand Aurora. But one thing he was certain of—she couldn’t possibly be the kind of person others were making her out to be.