As for Grace, Tessa planned to test the waters and see where she stood.

When Grace got off work, Tessa showed up right on cue, carrying a bowl of soup.

“Mother, are you in there?”

Grace, hearing the voice, took off her long-chained reading glasses. “Mm, come in.”

Looking up, she saw Tessa walking in gracefully with a warm smile on her face, holding a steaming bowl.

“Mom, you’ve been working so hard lately, especially after everything that happened at the banquet. I made some soup to help you recover.”

Grace glanced at the milky white soup—it was clear it had been simmered for quite some time.

Seeing that, a hint of warmth softened her eyes.

“You really put thought into this.”

She took the bowl and tasted a spoonful, nodding in approval. “It’s very good. The flavor is rich.”

Tessa moved behind her and began massaging her shoulders. “As long as you like it, I can make it more often.”

“No need. That’s what the housekeeper is for. Once in a while is more than enough.”

Just as Tessa was about to insist, Grace gently covered her hand and said with a calming tone, “If you do this too much, I’ll start to worry about you. You need to take care of your health too. Your well-being matters most.”

Tessa felt a wave of warmth. She leaned forward and hugged Grace from behind.

“Alright, Mom. I understand. You’ve always been the kindest to me. I was immature before… I hope you won’t hold it against me.”

Grace patted her hand with a composed smile. “A mother loves both her daughters the same. You and Aurora are both my flesh and blood. There's no reason to compare.”

Tessa studied her mother’s face closely, trying to gauge how much of that was real.

Sometimes, she’d put on an act for so long, she could hardly tell where the performance ended and the truth began.

“Mom, I always knew you were the best. You’re the strongest woman I know.”

Grace couldn’t help but laugh at her words, her face lighting up with joy.

“Silly girl, what are you saying? I’m not invincible. In the end, you two will have to rely on yourselves. The path ahead belongs to you.”

But Tessa leaned against her mother with a look of childlike dependence. “I don’t want to be apart from you. To me, you’re amazing. It’s just that…”

“What is it?”

The mood had been so warm just a second ago, but Tessa suddenly shifted the topic so sharply that Grace didn’t have time to react.

She turned to look at her daughter’s face, only to find her expression had changed entirely—something was clearly off.

Grace frowned. Weren’t they just having a good conversation? Why the sudden change in tone? And why the sudden gloom?

Tessa’s voice was low, like she was struggling to find the right words. “Mom… at the banquet the other night, I felt like you were a bit wary around my brother-in-law…”

Grace’s eyes flickered, her tone sharpening at once. “Nonsense. Don’t say things like that.”

“Mom, if something’s going on, you can’t keep it bottled up. Please, promise me you’ll tell me, okay?”

Tessa looked utterly distressed, her concern seemingly heartfelt and selfless.

“Alright. I understand.”

Grace’s initial impulse to scold her vanished the moment she saw the genuine worry on Tessa’s face. Whatever she was about to say, she swallowed it back down.

Grace couldn’t bring herself to continue after seeing the genuine concern in her daughter’s eyes. No matter how much she wanted to say,

“It’s nothing. As for his background, don’t go digging into it. Just focus on living well with Julian.”

Her mind drifted back to the banquet. Everything felt a tangled mess. Between her two daughters, things were starting to slip out of her control—faster than she had expected.

Seeing that Grace wasn’t willing to talk further, Tessa tactfully stepped away, closing the study door behind her and leaving her mother alone inside.

The moment she stepped out, the smile on her face vanished.

She took a moment to collect her thoughts. It seemed Grace didn’t know who Lucas really was either.

So that meant he might not be someone with a clear, traceable background?

No, Tessa sat upright in realization. She couldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly.

After all, the aura that man carried was real. Even Grace’s unease around him hadn’t been an act.

It meant Lucas definitely wasn’t as simple as he appeared to be.

Tessa sat at the edge of her bed, deep in thought, weighing her next move.

If that was the case, maybe she could use him.

If she could pull him to her side…

Just thinking about Lucas’ face made her ears flush red. She had truly never met any man as attractive as Lucas before. Even Julian didn’t hold a candle to him.

Before long, the contact she’d arranged had sent over the update.

“Take a look. This is the newest headline ad. I’ve already bought the space.”

Tessa read through it, a look of satisfaction spreading across her face.

“Not bad. You did well on this one.”

She immediately transferred him half the agreed amount.

At first, the private investigator was thrilled until he saw the figure. His expression soured instantly.

“Didn’t you say you’d pay me double? Why is this only half?”

Tessa replied coolly, “Do you really think I’m satisfied with how things are right now?”

“How ridiculous. Go buy some bots and boost that headline to the top now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The man had no choice but to obey.

Fortunately, when it came to digital manipulation, he knew what he was doing. In just a few minutes, the number of views and shares skyrocketed, with engagement continuing to surge.

Watching it unfold, the corners of Tessa’s lips slowly curled upward.

At this pace, it wouldn’t be long before Grace saw it.

The next day, sure enough, Grace had already seen the news.

With a loud smack, she slammed her phone down on the desk.

Turning to her assistant, she snapped, “Call Aurora Walton in here. Now!”

She hadn’t even worked that many days—had barely been general manager for long—and already managed to stir up a scandal this big?

The assistant, clearly shaken by Grace’s anger, nearly stumbled on his way to find Aurora.

The moment he laid eyes on her, he was on the verge of tears.

“Miss Walton, the chairwoman wants to see you. I’m just here to deliver the message.”

Aurora glanced at the nervous assistant peeking around the corner and couldn’t help but laugh softly. “What’s got you so worried?”

“I’m not really sure myself.”

Still, he added cautiously, “But the chairwoman’s in a really bad mood today. You might want to tread carefully.”