Chapter 306

Rachel quickly noticed the look of resentment on Tessa’s face. Though their relationship wasn’t always smooth, Tessa had always been generous. The perks of sticking by her were undeniable—designer pieces fresh off the shelves and gifts handed over without a second thought. That was enough for Rachel to play along, even if she knew she was being used. As long as it didn’t cost her anything significant, she didn’t mind.

“Rachel, here’s what I need you to do…”

As Tessa finished explaining, Rachel’s eyes lit up. “Knew it! You’re brilliant, Tessa. This is nothing like what I would’ve thought of!”

Chapter 307

She looked at Tessa with genuine admiration, surprised that behind all the style and flair was someone who actually had a brain—and a sharp one at that, especially when it came to Aurora. Tessa’s intelligence just seemed to skyrocket whenever Aurora was her target. Rachel’s gaze turned almost worshipful.

“Alright, go take care of it,” Tessa said with a soft cough, motioning for her to move. “Don’t just stand there.” The longer they waited, the more uneasy Tessa felt. She didn’t want to risk anything going wrong.

Watching Aurora still basking in attention, Tessa’s heart twisted with bitterness. Why was it that Aurora always drew people in so easily? Why couldn’t it be her? She clenched her fists, unsure how to make sense of the unfairness of it all. But one thing was certain–she wasn’t going to let Aurora keep stealing the spotlight.

“Aurora, let’s see how long you stay on that pedestal.”

Soon after, Rachel returned with a smug smile, looking at Tessa with pride. “Don’t worry, it’s all done.”

Tessa gave a satisfied nod. “Good. Now we just wait and see how everyone at the banquet reacts.”

This time, she was determined not to lose. She clenched her fists so tightly that her freshly manicured nails dug deep into her palms. Her expression twisted, sharp and almost menacing.

It was the first time Rachel had ever seen her like this. Normally, Tessa was the picture of grace–gentle, polished, even generous with those around her. This side of her was frightening. Rachel felt a flicker of fear creep into her chest. She didn’t know how to respond.

“Um… Tessa,” she said hesitantly, “your face… are you okay?”

She genuinely didn’t know what to make of this version of Tessa. It unsettled her, because if Tessa could turn this vicious over Aurora, what would happen if one day she turned that same cruelty on her? That thought alone made Rachel instinctively step back.

Tessa noticed the shift and frowned. “Rachel? What’s wrong? You look like you’re scared of me.”

Rachel quickly shook her head. “No, no, not at all. I just remembered I haven’t passed the message to a few people. I’ll go now and finish up.”

Tessa paused for a moment, then nodded with a bright smile. “Alright, I’ll be waiting for your good news.”

Her voice was sweet, her smile gentle, like a breeze in spring. Gone was the cruel expression from just seconds ago. But Rachel couldn’t shake off the unease. She had seen the transformation with her own eyes, and she couldn’t forget it.