Tessa put on a look of mock displeasure: “Mom, where’s Aurora? Shouldn’t she be helping you right now?”

Her tone was laced with subtle complaint.

Standing nearby, the butler couldn’t help but bristle. Did Tessa even know what she was talking about? Aurora was still in a coma—it wasn’t that she didn’t want to help, but that she physically couldn’t. And when she was around, the company had thrived. Deals rolled in one after another, and that was entirely Aurora’s own ability. None of it had anything to do with Tessa. Now that Aurora was ill, hearing Tessa speak so coldly made it hard to believe these two had even grown up together.

Of course, that was just what Arnold thought to himself. Other people might not know the truth, but he did–he’d watched both girls grow up and seen firsthand how different they were in personality and character. The thought made him sigh without realizing it. Hearing him, both Grace and Tessa turned to look.

Tessa’s smile was sweet, but her words cut like glass. “What’s the matter, Mr. Lee? You look a little down. Did something happen? If there’s anything going on at home, you must tell us. You practically raised us. We’re family.”

Grace glanced at her daughter, feeling deeply comforted by how thoughtful she was. Having two daughters was her greatest blessing–one with a sharp business mind, the other a warm and caring soul. Looking at Tessa’s face, she finally chose to tell her the truth about Aurora’s condition.

“Tessa, you can’t speak that way about Aurora.”

Tessa blinked in surprise. “What do you mean, Mom? What do you mean I’m speaking badly about my sister?”

“But you already handed the company over to her. If anything goes wrong now, doesn’t that make it her responsibility? I’m just stating the truth,” Tessa said, clearly displeased. She knew very well why the company was in its current state, but there was no way she would admit that to her mother. Instead, she wanted to push Grace into saying it herself. Only then could she claim the right to inherit the company without question. That way, no one would have anything to say, and she could take her place at the top with full legitimacy.

“That’s not it,” Grace said softly. “Your sister has recently fallen ill. It’s really strange. She’s been in a coma at the hospital, and even the doctors haven’t figured out what’s wrong.”

Tessa shot to her feet in shock. “What did you say, Mom? Is she okay?”

Grace was taken aback by her daughter’s reaction. Had their relationship really been that close? Because from what she saw, Tessa actually looked pleased and even excited. Yet the words coming out of her mouth were laced with concern. Under Grace’s puzzled gaze, Tessa slowly sat back down. She realized she might’ve overplayed it. Even she didn’t quite believe her own performance. But what was done was done. Now she just had to smooth it over.

“Mom, no matter what, we’re sisters. If something’s happened to Aurora, of course I’m worried. Even if we haven’t always seemed that close on the surface.”