They couldn't see any real tension. Everything seemed fine on the surface. Lucas stepped forward. “Mom, how are you feeling? Any pain or discomfort?”
Grace froze at the sound of his voice. A flicker of surprise crossed her face. “Lucas? You’re here to…?” Her gaze shifted. “And Mr. Knight, you as well?” She looked genuinely taken aback, hadn’t expected her sudden illness to draw so much attention.
Wait. What about the Walton Corporation? If word got out that she was hospitalized, the stock would definitely take a hit. That couldn’t happen. “Aurora, I need to be discharged. I have to get back and take control.”
Aurora looked bewildered. “Why, Mom? You just woke up. What’s the rush?”
“You don’t understand. This came on so suddenly; if I’m not at the helm, things will fall apart. I don’t even know what the situation is out there.”
Aurora sighed, moving closer and gently pressing her mother back against the pillow. “Mom, your health matters more than anything else right now.”
She tried to settle Grace down, but her mother resisted. “I can’t rest. The Walton Corporation still needs me.”
“Don’t worry,” Aurora said calmly. “The company’s fine. Your admission was kept completely confidential. No one outside knows. Everything is under control.”
Privately, she thought the secrecy had been a little too effective; even she hadn’t known the full details at first. She’d run in circles trying to piece it together.
Grace finally relaxed, her features softening as she looked at her daughter with a hint of doubt. “You’re sure?” “Of course I’m sure. There’s no need to second-guess me.”
Aurora turned to Lucas and Leonard. “If you don’t believe me, ask them; both of them can vouch for it. The stock price hasn’t budged.”
Grace’s eyes moved to the two men, her gaze sharp but searching. She trusted Aurora but still wanted outside confirmation. Lucas and Leonard exchanged a look and nodded in unison.
Lucas added a steady reassurance. “She’s right, Mom. We made sure no one saw us. Everything was done discreetly. No one suspects a thing.”
Chapter 400
Grace finally let out a breath. “That’s good… Aurora, I’m so grateful for you.” Her eyes softened, full of maternal warmth. “You’ve really grown up. I can rest easy now.”
“Mom, what are you—” Aurora didn’t get to finish. A familiar voice sliced through the air like a whip. “Well, isn’t this touching. What a heartwarming little scene.”
Everyone turned toward the sound, trying to see who had spoken. When Aurora spotted Tessa, a flicker of cold sharpness flashed in her eyes.
If it hadn’t been for Tessa’s interference, she would’ve seen her mother much earlier; she wouldn’t have had to wait until now.
“What are you doing here?”
Tessa laughed, clearly amused by the question. She strode forward in heels that clicked with every step, hips swaying, completely unfazed by the attention. Her purpose was obvious—she came for Aurora, her eyes locked on her from the moment she entered.
Lucas instinctively stepped in front of Aurora, blocking her with his body. The way Tessa approached, there was no way he was letting her face that kind of madness alone.
Tessa’s smirk deepened, her eyes dripping with disdain. So much for noble affection. She didn’t flinch under the stares, letting her gaze pass over Lucas before snapping back to Aurora with sharp precision.
“You’re asking me that? Don’t you think that’s a little funny?”