Aurora''s voice was tense. "What is it?"


    "Sell all of your shares in the Williams Group to Star," Joshua stated calmly. "And from this day forward, never set foot in thepany again. Once you do that, the feud between the Williams family and Star will no longer have anything to do with you."


    All the fight seemed to drain out of Aurora.


    After a long silence, she finally spoke. "I''m sorry, I can''t agree to that. As a member of the Williams family, I can''t abandon my family just to save myself, no matter what happens."


    Joshua had no patience for her high-minded titudes.


    "I''ve given you a choice," he said indifferently. "Since you''ve rejected it, don''t act like you''re some innocent victim."


    Aurora wanted to say more, but Joshua gave her no opportunity, turning and ascending the staircase without another word.


    Inside the family conference room, the atmosphere was heavy.


    The Williams family had only recently learned of the rumors swirling around Aurora. After all, the subjects of the gossip were all from top-tier elite families. No matter how much people whispered behind their backs, no one dared to say anything to their faces. As a result, the rumors had saturated their entire social circle before a single word reached the Williams family.


    As soon as Jonathan found out, he had sent his people to investigate. Rumors always grew more oundish with each telling, eventually bearing no resemnce to reality. The fact that they had reached this level of absurdity meant they had been circting for some time.


    Ste had been urgently summoned back and was now seated in the conference room. On the way, she had also tasked her own people with finding out what had happened.


    At the moment, every member of the Williams family was present, except for Aurora. She had been farther from the estate when she received the call, and after being spat on, she had needed time to shower and change. She was thest to arrive.


    A soft knock sounded at the conference room door.


    Assuming it was Aurora, Jonathan said, "Come in."


    The door opened, but it was Joshua who entered.


    Ste looked surprised. "Joshua, what are you doing here?" When she had returned from the Williams Group, Joshua had been out delivering an important document for her.


    "I finished the delivery," he said simply.


    Seeing that he wasn''t going to borate, Ste didn''t press him.


    Just as Joshua stepped inside, Aurora appeared behind him and entered the room as well.


    Now that everyone was present, Israel, who could never hold his


    tongue burst out, "Aurora, what the hell is going on? Why are there suddenly so many rumors about you?"


    Israel had been the first to hear. Unwilling to stay at home with the "crazy woman Violet Yancey he had gone to a bar with friends. There a rival heir had taken the opportunity to mock him.


    "My God, all the elders in my family hold you Williams kids up as paragons of virtue for us to emte. They talk about how devoted your father is to histe wife, never remarrying. And yet, the ''First Lady'' your family spent a fortune grooming turns out to be an illegitimate daughter, while the real one was cast aside. They say all you Williams children are exceptional and virtuous But then, Mrsrael here knocks a girl up, refuses to take responsibility, and forces her to have an abortion. Then there''s your Aurora, hailed as some pure, untouchable goddess... turns out she''s into orgies. The things happening in your familytely are jaw-dropping. You couldn''t make this stuff up for a TV show!"


    That''s how Israel had learned that Aurora was in trouble too.


    Just then, Aurora''s voice cut through Israel''s thoughts. She pointed a finger at Joshua.


    "It was him. Joshua started those rumors. He just admitted it to me. I have it on tape."