But Tessa wasn’t about to let things go that easily.
She suddenly spoke up, her voice sharp. “Mom, why don’t we just settle it right here? Everyone saw what happened. There’s no use trying to cover it up.”
Only then did the crowd come back to their senses.
“She seduced someone else’s husband. How is she in the right? We all saw it—she needs to give us an explanation.”
The woman in the red dress was especially persistent. “I can’t stand women like her. You’re young and beautiful. You could’ve done anything with your life, and you chose to be a mistress?”
Her anger flared so badly, she even looked ready to yank off her shoe and hurl it straight at Aurora’s face.
Megan’s chest tightened at the sight of the madwoman’s actions.
“You lunatic, what nonsense are you spouting all day long?”
“Lunatic?” The woman sneered. “Fine. If you think I’m a lunatic, then I’ll be one.”
She wasn’t afraid of anything now. Even being blacklisted didn’t matter to her anymore.
Grace had initially planned to let it slide, but the voices were getting louder, more vicious. Some of the guests she was entertaining had already exchanged knowing glances with her. This clearly couldn’t be brushed aside anymore. This had to be dealt with publicly.
She turned and shot a sharp look at Tessa. If not for her, Aurora could’ve left quietly. There wouldn’t have been any need to deal with this mess here and now.
But it was too late.
Tessa noticed her mother’s glare, but she didn’t care. As long as she could bring Aurora down, she was willing to pay any price.
Grace took a deep breath, her expression grave as she turned to Aurora. “Aurora, I want you to tell me the truth. Did you really do something like this?” Did she seduce her sister’s fiancé?
“Mom, you don’t believe me either?”
Grace let out a long sigh. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, but look around—so many people are watching. If I blindly take your side without asking questions, wouldn’t that be unfair to everyone else?”
“I didn’t do it.”
“Then why would all these people say such things about you?” Grace’s brows furrowed, her tone growing sharper. “Sometimes you need to reflect on your own actions. You can’t just shift the blame onto others every time something goes wrong. Why is everyone picking on you? You must have done something to make people talk.”
Aurora’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Grace. Was this really her mother? How could she so quickly side with others, not even trying to see things from her daughter’s perspective?
“Mom, I told you it wasn’t me. Why would you say this to me in front of everyone?” Her voice trembled with hurt, and as she met Grace’s gaze, her eyes reddened at the corners. She looked like a wounded puppy—fragile and pitiful.
Grace hesitated. “Then explain why they’d say all this. Have you met with Julian recently?” She thought back to what she had seen at the villa. If things kept going this way, it would definitely be a problem. Those two were completely incompatible!
Watching her mother’s expression, Aurora felt her heart sink. She thought Grace had changed, that she would finally stand up for her and protect her. But now she realized that her mother had never changed. She was still the same woman from her memories.