His gaze was light, almost casual, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of pressure.


    Intimidated by his look, the crowd''s chattering instantly ceased, and no one dared to meet his eyes.


    The man only nced at them for a moment before looking away.


    The pressure on the crowd lifted, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.


    Once he and Ste were a safe distance away, someone couldn''t help but whisper, "You don''t think he heard what we were saying, do you? Okay, okay, let''s just stop talking about them. You''ve heard the rumors about the Gardner family. It''s best not to provoke people like him."


    There were still two hours before Aurora and McCoy''s official engagement ceremony.


    Most people had arrived early towork with business partners.


    While the guests mingled cheerfully outside, Aurora, who was in her dressing room getting her makeup done, was quietly crying.


    "Sellers," Aurora said softly, "do you me me for getting engaged to McCoy?"


    Sellers looked at Aurora, his gaze heavy.


    "I know you had no choice. Jonathan is in aa, and although Leonard''s shares have been temporarily frozen, if we don''t find a way to stop Ste soon, The Williams Group will fallpletely into her hands."


    Aurora looked at Sellers, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to spill, but she forced herself to hold them back.


    She said wistfully, "I know I''m not worthy of you anymore, Sellers. The Burton family would never allow me through their doors. But whether I marry you or not, no one can ever rece you in my heart."


    Sellers valued profit more than feelings. But no matter what, Aurora was a woman he had loved for many years.


    It was true he loved profit more, but it was also true that he loved Aurora.


    Seeing Aurora in such a rare, vulnerable state, a flicker of pity appeared in Sellers''s eyes.


    "Aurora..." Sellers''s voice was a bit hoarse. "I''m the one who let you down."


    Before deciding to marry McCoy, Aurora had approached Sellers.


    Although Sellers wanted to marry her, the entire Burton family had been unanimously against it.


    Aurora gently shook her head, and a tear clung to hershes as she moved, creating a picture of tragic beauty.


    Aurora had mastered the art of the perfect, tearful gaze-knowing


    exactly how to look fragile enough to break a man''s heart and trigger his protective instincts. This tactic had worked like a charm on McCoy, Sherman Burton, and the Fordham brothers.


    As expected, Sellers''s expression filled with even more guilt and reluctance when he saw her.


    "Aurora..." He seemed to want to say something, but he didn''t know where to begin. After all, he couldn''t give her any promises.


    La


    Aurora wiped her tears and forced perfectlyposed, strong smile. "You''ve helped me so much Sellers Even if I can''t marry you, HI still help you in any way I can in the future."


    She paused, then added, "I''ll also find a way to get McCoy to help deal with Ste


    and take back all the resources that belong to you."


    At the mention of Ste''s name, a deep-seated disgust shed in Sellers''s eyes. Ste had recently stolen a significant portion of his


    should have been the Burton


    markenshare disrupting what


    Group''s dominant position.


    His eyes glinted with a sinister coldness. "Thest time, Foreman''s coordinated attack from the inside had no effect. It will be difficult to go after them again."


    But Aurora smiled faintly. "It might not have beenpletely ineffective. I heard from Foreman that after Ste disappeared, Joshua seemed to have fallen into aa.