Tessa’s voice paused briefly before she chuckled softly.
“Isn’t that what you always taught us, Mom?”
Grace fell silent. Maybe it was time she reconsidered how she viewed this daughter of hers.
“What do you want me to do?”
She wasn’t naïve. If Tessa had gone this far, she clearly wanted something. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be taking the time to circle around the topic with such care. Only now did Grace realize – perhaps her eldest daughter wasn’t as simple as she’d always assumed.
The question wasn’t just to clarify Tessa’s intent; it was to see what other surprises she might be hiding. And in a way, it was also a test – a chance to see how capable she truly was. Besides, this was the first time in a long while Tessa had shown such initiative, and Grace found herself unexpectedly intrigued.
Hearing her mother’s question, Tessa knew things were about to go her way. If she could get this far, the rest would unfold with much less resistance. She understood Grace well. The moment her interest was piqued, half the battle was already won.
“Mom, I’m already here, aren’t I?” Tessa said with a smile. “Just give Lucas a call. Ask him about Aurora’s condition, casually."
“And then what?” Grace still didn’t see the point. Would a simple call reveal Lucas‘ true intentions? She couldn’t quite grasp what her daughter was aiming for.
Tessa nodded, her tone sincere. “Just trust me this once. Besides, Lucas took Aurora here despite all of us opposing it. That alone should raise questions.”
She paused, then added, “And you heard what the doctors said. I’m only following medical advice.”
At that, Grace was reminded of what Lucas had told her about Tessa. And besides, Aurora hadn’t shown any improvement. That so-called “medical advice” could easily be challenged at this point.
But before Grace could say anything, Tessa continued, “Isn’t Lucas gambling with her life now? And let’s not forget, she still hasn’t regained consciousness after arriving in Millford.”
That made Grace fall silent again because Tessa had a point. No matter how much they argued now, none of it would change the situation. Aurora was still unconscious. That was the hard truth. Everything else was just noise – useless in the face of her current condition. The uncertainty surrounding her daughter’s state weighed heavily.
And now, with Tessa’s words echoing in her mind, Grace couldn’t help but admit that there was truth in what she said. Despite all the effort and crossing borders, Aurora remained unresponsive. If so, what was the purpose behind this drastic move? Was Lucas simply putting her through more harm?
Grace drew a long breath. Her tone shifted noticeably as she looked at Tessa. “All right. I’ll trust you.”
At those words, a faint smile curled on Tessa’s lips. It was just as she had expected. Grace trusted her now, enough to proceed without hesitation. From here on out, all she needed was bold execution.