“Aurora, you have to believe me! I really have no interest in the Vanguard Group project. If you secure it, I’d be genuinely happy for you, I swear!”

Aurora looked at Lucy, pressing her lips together before giving her a firm pat on the shoulder. “Lucy, don’t worry. I understand. We’ve worked together long enough–I know what kind of person you are.”

Hearing this, Lucy’s eyes welled up with tears.

In the office, she had always been the kind of person who gave more than she received. She was warm and helpful, always the one people turned to when they needed water refilled or documents printed. Yet once, when something went missing, she was the first suspect. That moment shook her. She had asked why, and the response was something she never expected. They said that because she got along with everyone, she had more opportunities to steal than anyone else.

In that instant, Lucy had felt the weight of human malice. Still, she never let it dull her warmth toward life. So, when Aurora trusted her without hesitation this time, she was both surprised and deeply moved. She never thought someone would believe in her so unconditionally, especially someone she hadn’t even known for that long.

Seeing Lucy’s tearful eyes, Aurora felt at a loss. She quickly grabbed a tissue and gently wiped her tears, her tone carrying a rare hint of panic. “What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so upset? I already told you that I believe you.”

Aurora truly didn’t understand why Lucy was so emotional. But Lucy simply shook her head, her eyes glistening. “It’s nothing… I just get emotional sometimes. It feels good to know you don’t doubt me.”

Aurora’s gaze flickered, but she didn’t press further. Everyone had things they preferred to keep to themselves.

“It’s fine. I have my own people to deal with this matter. Don’t worry.”

Lucy nodded seriously, her expression firm. “Aurora, just be careful around Linda. She really had bad intentions earlier–I saw it with my own eyes.”

Aurora’s gaze darkened. She didn’t respond, but her face grew serious.

“Oh, right.” Lucy glanced at her. “The manager didn’t call you in for anything major, did he?”

“No, just checking on the project’s progress.”

Lucy nodded again and didn’t press further.

Not far away, Linda watched the two chatting and laughing, her fists clenched tightly in anger. Bitch! Coming out of the manager’s office with such a smug smile–she must have gotten something out of it. As a woman herself, Linda knew exactly how Aurora had climbed her way up. With a face and body like that, it was no surprise the higher-ups favored her.

“Aurora Walton, just you wait. You got in my way, and I won’t let you off easy.”

At the end of the workday, Aurora tapped a few final commands on her computer before packing up to leave. Her gaze flickered toward Linda’s desk, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes. “Let’s hope she doesn’t disappoint me.”

With a slight smirk, she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out of the office.

Late at night, a shadowy figure crept toward Aurora’s workstation. Turning on her computer, they spotted the files on the desktop, their eyes lighting up with excitement. Plugging a USB drive into the port, they muttered under their breath, “Aurora Walton, let’s see how you recover from this…”

Once the transfer was complete, the figure quietly slipped away, as if nothing had ever happened.

Chapter 90

Aurora arrived at the office the next day. The moment she reached her desk, she noticed the subtle yet lingering glances coming from Linda’s direction. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She powered on her computer and casually took a seat, pretending not to notice the stares from across the room.

Linda finally let out a quiet sigh of relief. She was busy skimming through the files on her USB drive–all of them Aurora’s project plans. “Aurora Walton, just you wait. Once I tweak these a little, they’ll all be mine.”

Her plan was simple. “Once I present this proposal in the meeting, let’s see how you explain yourself. With everyone watching, not even the project manager will be able to protect you.”

Lucy, having noticed Linda’s odd behavior, swiveled her chair toward Aurora and whispered, ” Aurora, don’t you think Linda’s acting strange?”

Aurora feigned ignorance. “What do you mean?”

“It’s just…” Lucy hesitated, uncertain. “She keeps staring at you. Like, a lot.”

Aurora gave a slight shrug. “Her eyes are on her own face. If she wants to look, I can’t exactly stop her. It’s her freedom. No one can control that.”

Lucy thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “That’s true. Besides, with how gorgeous you are, of course people are going to stare. Let her be jealous all she wants.”

Aurora chuckled, shaking her head. “Focus on work. Have you finished that report the manager asked for?”

“Oh, shoot!” Lucy gasped. “I totally forgot! I need to get on that right now.”

With that, she rushed back to her desk.

The moment Lucy left, the amusement in Aurora’s eyes vanished. From the second she turned on her computer, she had noticed that someone had tampered with it. And as for who it was, the answer was all too obvious.

Aurora figured out exactly what Linda was up to–she was planning to present the stolen proposal in the afternoon meeting. Fine. If that was the game Linda wanted to play, she’d entertain her. She’d even give her the perfect stage.

A cold glint flashed in Aurora’s eyes. “The higher someone is lifted, the harder they fall–that’s what makes it interesting,” she thought.

Linda spent the entire morning in a state of excitement. She made only a few minor adjustments to the proposal, tweaking a couple of data points. Other than that, she copied Aurora’s work word for word. It was nothing more than a name swap. Everything else remained unchanged.

Feeling smug, Linda thought to herself, “Let’s see what happens once she loses this proposal. What standing will she have left in the company? Once I land this project, Aurora will be the first person I go after!”

Her thoughts grew more ruthless, and the way she looked at Aurora was filled with unconcealed malice. This wasn’t just about avenging Chuck anymore. Now, she wanted power, recognition, and an easier life at the company. Her greed was growing.

Aurora wasn’t blind. Linda’s hostility had been blatant all morning–of course, she had noticed. But rather than react, she simply focused more intently on understanding the Vanguard Group project inside out. That was the key to creating the perfect proposal.

The project manager called the entire team into the conference room for the meeting that afternoon. Lucy walked beside Aurora, following her in. Just as they were about to enter, Linda arrogantly shoved her shoulder against Aurora’s in a deliberate bump.