The next day, the more Aurora thought about it, the more unsettled she felt, especially when she recalled the way Tessa had acted at the banquet, so aggressive and confrontational.
Unable to let it go, Aurora drove straight to the Walton estate after work. She wasn’t about to let this slide. Someone had to put Tessa in her place. She’d tolerated it once or twice before, but this time, Tessa had embarrassed her and her guest in front of everyone. Aurora had reached her limit. With the copied video in hand, she headed over without hesitation.
When she arrived, she saw Grace sitting on the sofa, just about to take off her reading glasses. She looked surprised to see her.
“Aurora? What brings you back?”
Of course, she already knew about what had happened.
Aurora glanced around the room but didn’t see the one she was looking for. “Mom, where’s Tessa?” she asked, her voice flat.
Grace’s expression sharpened. “Watch your tone. She’s your sister. How can you just call her by name like that?”
Aurora let out a cold laugh. “Sister? Please. I don’t have a sister who spends all her time trying to sabotage me.”
Grace’s brows drew together as she looked at Aurora. “What’s that supposed to mean? You show up like this just to talk in circles?” She sipped her tea calmly, composed and unbothered – a stark contrast to Aurora’s clear frustration.
Aurora stared at her for a moment, then dropped all pretense. “Fine. I’ll get straight to the point. If it weren’t for Tessa’s interference yesterday, I would’ve closed that deal much earlier. Because of her, I nearly lost the client.”
Aurora found a seat and crossed her legs, her expression laced with amusement as she looked at Grace. This time, she was genuinely curious – which side was Grace going to take now?
Grace met Aurora’s knowing gaze and faltered for a moment. Of course, she understood what Aurora was implying, but even now, it was hard for her to believe Tessa would really do something like that.
“Aurora, do you have any proof of what you’re saying?”
Without another word, Aurora stood up, no longer willing to entertain her mother’s blind loyalty. “Alright, Mother. If you want proof, I’ll show you.”
She’d seen this coming. Grace wouldn’t believe anything without seeing it for herself. That was why Aurora had already backed up the footage, just in case anyone tried to deny it later.
After watching the surveillance video, Grace’s expression turned grim. She never expected that the daughter she had always doted on could act like this behind her back.
Aurora, by now, had grown immune to the whispers and judgmental looks. They didn’t bother her anymore. But Grace cared.
After the video ended, there was only one thought in her mind – maybe she really had been too harsh on Aurora all these years. Otherwise, how could someone so shallow fool her so easily?
Grace’s tone hardened. “Aurora, I saw what happened. You were not at fault. It was all Tessa’s doing. That child is just too impulsive. She speaks without thinking, but she doesn’t mean harm.”
She deliberately emphasized the words “doesn’t mean harm.” Seeing Aurora’s flat reaction, Grace quickly added, “Don’t worry. I understand the situation now. I’ll speak to her myself.”