Chapter 343

Aurora shot Lucas a glare. “What was that? You could’ve at least given me a heads-up.”

Lucas chuckled. “Who gives a heads-up before kissing someone? Wouldn’t that just ruin the mood?”

Aurora huffed and turned her back to him, focusing on her meal.

Lucas tried to coax her a few times, but she didn’t budge.

Still, the corners of his mouth stayed lifted the entire time. He could tell that this time, Aurora really wasn’t mad at him anymore. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be acting like this.

The thought alone lifted his mood.

As they ate, he reached over and placed another piece of food on her plate.

Aurora didn’t refuse. She simply picked it up and ate it.

That one small action made Lucas feel an overwhelming sense of triumph. He looked at her with even more affection, unable to hold back, and leaned in to place a feathery kiss on her cheek.

Aurora didn’t pull away.

The air around them seemed to fill with pink bubbles, light and sweet.

Lucas was now certain that Aurora wasn’t angry anymore. They’d made up. Otherwise, she would never let him kiss her like that. He knew her too well.

After dinner, the two of them lay down together in the lounge to rest for a while. They quietly savored this rare moment of peace.

But elsewhere, someone was far from calm.

Tessa stared at the photo frame on the table. Two little girls were smiling and clinging to each other. Her expression grew darker with each second.

Why? They had been the same growing up. Why was everything so different now? She couldn’t accept losing.

Tessa’s expression slowly settled into calm as her thoughts drifted to the man by Aurora’s side. She couldn’t explain it, but something about him didn’t sit right with her. There were moments when his presence alone made even their mother uneasy.

Tessa had noticed that clearly. And that was exactly why it struck her as odd.

She clenched her fists, her manicured nails digging into her palms, but she didn’t feel a thing. If their mother didn’t want her involved in company affairs, then she would force her way in. Why was Aurora allowed to take part while she was left out?

Tessa couldn’t accept it.

At the last banquet, their mother had let Aurora off far too easily. There was no way Tessa would just let that go.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she made a call and sent out a video.

“Yes, I want it posted somewhere it’ll be seen right away. And make sure the headline is explosive. Do it well, and I’ll pay you double.”

The man on the other end was hesitant at first, but her offer quickly won him over.

“You can count on me. I’ll handle it exactly the way you want, and I promise you’ll be satisfied.”

Tessa ended the call, pleased with his response. If nothing else, she trusted his efficiency.

“Aurora Walton, I’d love to see how you plan to talk your way out of this one.” Just thinking about Aurora’s sharp tongue made her blood boil. No matter what, if she could finally drag Aurora down this time, she’d feel vindicated.