Chapter 80

Faced with that expression, Aurora couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“Alright, I got it.”

Lucas’s lips curved into a smile, even his eyes carrying a trace of warmth.

“Mrs. Carter, I’ll be waiting for your message.”

Aurora gave a simple hum in response before turning and heading toward the office.

Lucas remained in place, watching her until she completely disappeared from sight. Only then did he finally drive away.

The moment Aurora stepped into the company, she was a different person. She wore a tailored, light-colored business suit that accentuated her sharp, professional demeanor. Her hair was pulled into a sleek updo, exposing her smooth, elegant forehead. With a light touch of makeup, her features appeared even more refined – polished with a distinct air of competence. As she walked past her colleagues, she returned their greetings with polite nods and faint smiles. No one could help but admire her striking presence.

Taking her seat, Aurora immediately got to work. She pulled up the materials she had gathered from the Walton residence and combined them with the assignments given by the project manager the previous day. Her delicate yet defined nose bridge supported a pair of rimless glasses, and her lips pressed together in quiet focus as her eyes remained locked on the screen. The glow of the monitor cast a soft shadow over her face. No matter how noisy the world around her was, she remained immersed in her own. Right now, her only goal was to refine the proposal – she wanted to secure Vanguard Group’s project. That was her focus. She had always been clear-headed and independent.

As for Lucas… she had already pushed that matter to the back of her mind. If nothing else, they could just treat their marriage as a shared living arrangement. Taking a deep breath, Aurora redirected all her attention to the documents in front of her.

As she integrated the information, she gained a deeper understanding of Vanguard Group’s vision. The goal was to develop a high-end wellness retreat centered around hot springs. Winning this project required more than just a conventional approach. To stand out among competing firms, she needed a fresh, innovative proposal – something that would set their design apart. Aurora pressed her lips together, thinking back to the bet she had made with Grace. This time, she had to win.

As she focused on her work, the project manager approached her desk with a stack of documents. He placed them down. “Aurora, I need you to deliver these to Vanguard Group.”

“Vanguard just released a statement – they want the initial framework for the proposal to review before moving forward.”

Aurora frowned slightly. “So soon?”

“Yes. Their leadership is fast-paced and efficient. They demand both speed and quality. This is an initial screening to eliminate weaker competitors.”

She nodded, quickly grasping the situation.

“That works in our favor – it means fewer competitors in the next round.”

Ben raised an eyebrow. “You sound confident in our proposal.”

Aurora didn’t hesitate. She simply smiled.

“Mr. Gardener, I’m confident in our team. In our company.”

Her words carried weight. Not only did Ben look pleased, but the nearby colleagues who overheard her straightened slightly in their seats. A quiet sense of pride spread across the room.

Aurora’s response had uplifted everyone.

Ben’s eyes gleamed with approval. “That’s the spirit, Aurora!”

“Alright, this task is yours. You can head over now.”

“Understood.”

Aurora took the documents, nodding.

“I’ll go over the framework first and refine a few details before sending it out.”

Seeing her diligence, Ben gave an approving nod.