Chapter 313

“You should be asking Julian Hayes about this, not interrogating me here in front of everyone,” Aurora said, her voice rising with each word, anger and frustration lacing every syllable.

Grace had only meant to deflect public scrutiny, to smooth things over temporarily. But Aurora’s rebellious tone ignited a fire in her chest.

“Is this how you speak to your mother?” Grace switched to guilt-tripping. “Don’t forget who gave you everything you have now.”

That hit Aurora hard. She didn’t even know how to respond for a moment. After all these years, Grace still hadn’t changed, not even a little. The realization chilled her.

“So in your eyes, I’m just a tool to make money, is that it?” she asked, her voice cracking with disappointment.

Tessa almost couldn’t contain the smile creeping onto her face. How perfect. Let them keep fighting. The worse this got, the better it was for her. She’d reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

Grace looked at Aurora, visibly shaken. She hadn’t expected the confrontation to cut this deep. But before she could say anything, Tessa chimed in with mock concern.

“Sis, that’s not fair. We’re family. Talking about being used like that—it’s hurtful, don’t you think?”

At first, Grace didn’t think much of it. But hearing Tessa say it aloud suddenly made it all sound so reasonable. If Aurora truly saw herself as nothing more than a tool, what did that say about Grace’s role, her authority? Where did that leave the respect she was supposed to command as chairwoman of Walton Corporation?

In an instant, Grace made up her mind. She couldn’t afford to let Aurora continue unchecked. There were too many eyes watching.

Tessa saw the shift in her mother’s expression and knew instantly that she’d won this round. She could finally breathe easy. That settled it. There was no need for Tessa to waste energy sparring with Aurora anymore. Grace could handle everything from here.

“Hmph. You’re far more trouble than your sister ever was,” Grace said sharply, turning her back on Aurora. “I’m done wasting my breath. What matters now is one thing—are you the person they’re talking about or not? Did you do it?”

“No!” Aurora’s voice shot up sharply. “How many times do I have to say it before you’ll believe me? I told you already that it has nothing to do with me!”

Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to breathe through the rising fury, her gaze cold and sharp. “You’ve truly disappointed me, Mother.”

Seeing her like that, Grace’s temper flared. She raised her hand, about to slap her across the face.

“You’re completely out of control!”

Aurora stood still, watching her mother’s hand rise, but made no move to dodge. So be it. What was the point of resisting? It would only give these people more to laugh at.

Tessa watched with trembling excitement, barely able to contain herself. She pressed her hand over her mouth, stifling the laugh threatening to escape. With so many eyes watching, she had to stay composed.

At first, the onlookers felt uncomfortable. But the longer they watched, the easier it became to justify. If even her own mother was ready to strike her in front of everyone, then surely Aurora must have done something wrong.

Grace hadn’t meant to go this far. She just wanted to teach her a lesson. But the more Aurora defied her, the more it stung.