+25 Bonus
Aurora immediately understood what her mother meant.
Once again, Grace’s favoritism was as tant as ever.
She uncrossed her arms, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Mom, are you really going to take her side again?”
How many times had this happened already? Why couldn’t her mother see it?
Grace remained unfazed. “I’m just being honest. And like I said, I’ll deal with her.”
She <b>added</b><b>, </b>“Besides<b>, </b>you already secured the project, didn’t you?”
“Mom, how is that the same thing?”
Aurora’s voice rose with frustration.
Grace might <b>have </b>sounded indifferent, but she knew exactly what was going on.
She just chose to y dumb.
Seeing her daughter upset, Grace softened and nced at her profile. “Rora, don’t dwell on it.
“Let me handle the rest. Tonight, I’ll cook your favorite food, just like when you were little, alright?”
As Grace got up, Aurora quickly followed. “Mom, you <b>really </b>don’t have to. It’s too much trouble.”
“Why don’t you sit down and rest? Just have the cook whip up a couple of dishes.”
But Grace was insistent. “No. I said I’d do it myself–why would we need the cook?”
She was already heading into the kitchen<b>, </b>moving briskly to start dinner preparations.
Watching her mother’s busy figure, Aurora felt a dull ache in her chest.
Every time Tessa was mentioned, her mother always had an excuse and a way to brush it off.
Even when faced with solid proof, all Tessa <b>ever </b><b>got </b><b>was </b>a few words of mild rebuke.
The more she thought about it, the more stifled Aurora felt.
During dinner, Grace kept piling food onto her te, smiling as she <b>said</b>, “Eat more. You’ve lost weight working on that project
“Thanks, Mom.”
Throughout the entire <b>meal</b>, Aurora barely had a moment to speak.
Every time Aurora so much as paused<b>, </b>Grace would immediately top off her te with more food.
Chapter 24)
In the end, Aurora didn’t even get the chance to bring up anything else..
She had no choice but to excuse herself early.
“Are <b>you </b>sure you’re not staying the night?” Grace <b>asked</b>, trying to keep her a little longer.
Aurora waved her off. “No need, Mom. He’s waiting for me toe home.”
With that, she turned <b>and </b>drove away.
Not long after she left, Tessa finally strolled downstairs at a leisurely pace.
“<b>Mom</b><b>, </b><b>is </b>she <b>gone</b><b>?</b>”
The warm, gentle smile that had been on Grace’s face instantly faded when she saw Tessa.
“We’re family. Why didn’t youe down to eat?”
<b>+25 </b>Bonus
Thinking about how Aurora had treated her the day before, Tessa hesitated. “After what she did to me yesterday, I didn’t feel
safe..”
Grace sighed and shook her head. “We’re <b>family</b>. What are you really trying to do?
“And yesterday–you kept criticizing your sister, trying to sabotage her deal. What were you thinking?”
“I…” Tessa looked <b>away</b>, then, after a moment of hesitation<b>, </b>blurted out, “Mom, I want to get involved in thepany
too.”
The words hung in the air, filling it with a silence that felt both awkward and heavy.
Grace nced at Tessa’s clenched fists and knew she meant it.
Time passed–so long that Tessa thought her mother might not have heard her at all.
But silence e was its own answer. Of course she <b>had </b>heard.
“Go back to your room. I’ll think about it.”
D