Chapter 645
She cleared her throat and finally began repeating the words she had carefully prepared.
“Mom, don’t be upset. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you; it’s just that I didn’t know how to start.”
Grace immediately sat up straighter, her back rigid, and her tone now tight with barely restrained frustration. What was wrong with Tessa? All this time and still not a single coherent sentence? Grace had completely run out of patience. “If you’re not going to speak, I’m hanging up.”
“Wait, Mom!” Tessa quickly jumped in, watching her timing.
“Mom, I was so worried about Aurora, and I didn’t know what else to do. That’s why I slipped out and came overseas without telling anyone.”
Grace latched onto the inconsistency in her words. “And how exactly did you know what country she’s in?”
Tessa’s heart skipped a beat. Of course, Grace would catch that. She was sharp as ever, quick to pick up the flaw, and even quicker to throw it back. But Tessa didn’t panic. She shifted gears smoothly.
“Mom, with how fast information and travel work these days, if I really want to find someone, I can. You know that. Besides, I genuinely was worried something might’ve happened to her. Isn’t finding her as soon as possible the best thing?”
Hearing that, Grace didn’t press further. She knew all too well that her daughter was clever and sly like a fox. Given enough time in conversation, most would find themselves led precisely where she intended, often without even realizing it. That was what made her dangerous.
Still, Grace didn’t have the energy to untangle all that right now. “Fine. So, what you’re saying is–you know Aurora’s current condition, right?” That was all she cared about now.
She didn’t want to chase down half–truths or deal with manipulation. It had been too long since she’d last seen Aurora. And more than anything, all Grace felt now was guilt. Ever since Tessa was a child, her delicate health had consumed so much of Grace’s care and attention that Aurora was inevitably left in the shadows. Grace had always been aware of that. But what could she do? Both daughters were her flesh and blood. She couldn’t just stand by and watch the weaker one wither. So, in the end, it was the healthier child, Aurora, who bore the weight of that imbalance. If Megan knew about this, she wouldn’t hesitate to confront Grace. What kind of logic was that? Just because Aurora had a strong constitution, she deserved to be overlooked? And it wasn’t like Aurora hadn’t contributed. She’d given so much to the company, quietly carrying far more than anyone realized. Why should she be the one forced to make all the sacrifices? And if Grace had truly failed her–who would step in to make it right?
Thankfully, Megan didn’t know. Because if she did, there was no way she’d be standing on Grace’s side. At that moment, Megan was still caught in her own internal struggle, unsure how to even begin explaining Aurora’s condition to Grace. It wasn’t just bad, it was frightening. They’d come all the way overseas, and Aurora still hadn’t woken up. Megan was genuinely terrified of what that might mean.
Meanwhile, Tessa was still on the phone, relaying the fact that Aurora remained unconscious.
“So that punk Lucas wouldn’t let you see her?” Grace asked.
Tessa nodded. “Exactly. And Mom, I can’t shake the feeling that my brother–in–law is hiding something from us, including Aurora.”
That caught Grace’s attention. “And how did you know about this?”