Chapter <b>343 </b>
Aurora shot Lucas a re. “What was that? You could’ve at least given me a heads–up.”
Lucas chuckled. “Who gives a heads–up before kissing someone?”
Wouldn’t that just ruin the mood?
Aurora huffed and turned her back to him, focusing on her meal.
Lucas tried to <b>coax </b>her a few times, but she didn’t budge.
Still, the corners of his mouth stayed lifted the entire time.
He could tell that this time, Aurora really wasn’t mad at him anymore<b>. </b>
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be acting like this.
The thought alone lifted his mood.
As they <b>ate</b><b>, </b>
he reached over and ced another piece of food on her te.
Aurora didn’t refuse. She simply picked it up and ate <b>it</b>.
That <b>one </b>small action made Lucas feel an overwhelming sense of triumph.
He looked at her with even more affection<b>, </b>unable to hold <b>back</b><b>, </b>and leaned in to ce <b>a </b>
Aurora didn’t pull away<b>. </b>
The air around them seemed <b>to </b>fill with pink bubbles<b>, </b>light and sweet.
<b>Lucas </b>was now certain <b>that </b>Aurora wasn’t angry anymore. They’d made up.
Otherwise<b>, </b>she would never let him kiss her like that.
He <b>knew </b>her too well<b>. </b>
After dinner<b>, </b>the two <b>of </b>themy down together in the lounge to rest for a while<b>. </b>
They quietly savored this <b>rare </b>moment of <b>peace</b><b>. </b>
<b>But </b>elsewhere<b>, </b>someone <b>was </b>far from <b>calm</b>.
<b>Tessa stared </b>at the photo frame on <b>the </b>table.
Two <b>little </b>girls <b>were </b>smiling and clinging <b>to </b><b>each </b><b>other</b>.
<b>Her </b><b>expression </b><b>grew </b>darker with <b>each </b>second.
Why<b>? </b>
They had been the <b>same </b><b>growing </b>up. Why <b>was </b>everything so different now?
She <b>couldn’t </b><b>ept </b>losing.
<b>“</b><b>Aurora </b><b>Walton</b><b>, </b><b>let’s </b><b>see </b>how <b>long </b><b>you </b><b>can </b>keep feeling smug<b>.</b>”
feathery kiss on her cheek.
<b>Tessa’s </b><b>expression </b><b>slowly </b><b>settled </b><b>into </b><b>calm </b>as her thoughts drifted to the <b>man </b><b>by </b>Aurora’s side.
She <b>couldn’t </b>exin <b>it</b><b>, </b>but something <b>about </b>him didn’t <b>sit </b>right with her<b>. </b>There were mornents when his presence alone <b>made </b>even their mother uneasy.
Tessa had noticed that clearly.
And that was <b>exactly </b>why it struck her as <b>odd</b>.
She clenched her fists, her manicured nails <b>digging </b>into her palms, but she didn’t feel a thing.
If their mother didn’t want her involved inpany affairs<b>, </b>then she would force her way <b>in</b>.
Why was Aurora allowed to take part while she was <b>left </b><b>out</b><b>? </b>
Tessa couldn’t <b>ept </b>it.
<b>At </b>thest <b>banquet</b><b>, </b>their mother had let <b>Aurora </b>off far too easily<b>. </b>There was no <b>way </b>Tessa would just let that <b>go</b>.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she made a call and sent <b>out </b>a video.
<b>“</b><b>Yes</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>want it posted somewhere <b>it’ll </b>be seen right away<b>. </b>And make sure the headline is explosive<b>. </b><b>Do </b>it well, and <b>I’ll </b>pay you double <b>” </b>
The man on the other end was hesitant at first<b>, </b>but <b>her </b>offer quickly <b>won </b>him <b>over</b>.
<b>+25 </b>Bonus
172
“You can count on me. I’ll handle it exactly the way you want, and I promise you’ll be satisfied.”
Tessa ended the call, pleased with his response.
If nothing else, she trusted his efficiency.
“Aurora Walton, I’d love to see how you n to talk your way out of this one.”
Just thinking about Aurora’s sharp tongue made her blood boil.
No matter what, if she could finally drag Aurora down this time<b>, </b>she’d feel vindicated.