Chapter <b>371 </b>
“I know this situation has affected thepany, but it’s not all <b>because </b>of me. What about Julian Hayes<b>? </b>He <b>doesn’t </b>bear any responsibility?”
She stood her ground, refusing to let Grace pin the entire fallout on her.
That would bepletely unfair, especially considering how much she had contributed to thepany.
Her words struck like a de<b>, </b>slicing straight into Grace’s heart.
Grace shot up from the chair, eyes zing. “He’s your brother–inw! How dare you call him by name?
<b>“</b>What happened to the values I taught you? The decency, the respect? Did it all <b>go </b>to waste?”
Aurora clenched her jaw, meeting her mother’s fury head–on. “Brother–inw? He has nothing to do with me!
<b>“</b><b>You </b>saw who he really was back at the vi. And even now<b>, </b>you’re still refusing to acknowledge what kind <b>of </b>man he is?”
She turned her face away<b>, </b><b>voice </b>ice<b>–</b>cold. “A man like him–he’s scum. Someone like that will never be my brother–inw. I won’t acknowledge it.”
With a loud bang, <b>Grace </b>mmed her hand on the desk and stood up. “Aurora Walton, are you rebelling against me?”
“I did nothing wrong!<b>” </b>Aurora shouted back. <b>“</b><b>I </b>secured thepany’s two biggest projects<b>. </b><b>Yes</b>, the stock is down<b>, </b>but that’s not all on me. So, why should I be the one to take the me?”
Grace clutched her chest, her right hand trembling as she pointed at her daughter. <b>“</b>Ungrateful girl! Do you even hear yourself?”
“I hear myself just fine,” Aurora snapped. “And <b>you’ve </b>known all along<b>. </b>You just pretend not to <b>see </b>it.”
As <b>soon </b>as she said it, she noticed her mother pressing a hand against her chest, her expression unsteady.
A flicker of concern crossed Aurora’s <b>face</b><b>, </b>and she quickly stepped forward to help.
But Grace shoved her away.
<b>“</b><b>If </b><b>you’ve </b><b>got </b>such a temper<b>, </b>then don’t bother worrying about your mother’s well–being.”
<b>“</b>You clearly don’t care anyway, do you<b>?</b>”
With that<b>, </b>Grace brushed past her and stormed toward the door.
Watching her mother’s retreating figure, Aurora faltered.
<b>Had </b>she truly <b>gone </b><b>too </b>far<b>? </b>
Did it really <b>all </be down <b>to </b>her being <b>in </b>the wrong?
She had cared <b>deeply</b><b>, </b><b>but </b>did it all mean nothing?
And <b>yet</b><b>, </b><b>wasn’t </b>she <b>entitled </b><b>to </b>all this<b>? </b>Didn’t she <b>deserve </b>it?
Aurora clenched her <b>fists</b><b>, </b>and <b>Lucas</b>‘ handsome <b>face </b>shed through her mind.
He had <b>once </b>looked <b>at </b>her <b>with </b>that <b>serious</b><b>, </b>steady <b>gaze </b>and said, <b>“</b><b>Rora</b><b>, </b>you <b>have </b><b>to </b><b>believe </b><b>in </b><b>yourself</b>. <b>You </b><b>can </b>doubt <b>anyone</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>never </b><b>doubt </b><b>yourself</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
His deep<b>, </b>soothing <b>voice </b>echoed in her thoughts<b>, </b>and in that moment, everything <b>snapped </b>back into <b>focus</b>.
<b>He </b>was <b>right</b>. That had always <b>been </b><b>Lucas’s </b><b>way </b><b>of </b>guiding her<b>. </b>
What he <b>said </b>made sense<b>–</b>she <b>shouldn’t </b>be questioning herself.
But still, Aurora <b>couldn’t </b><b>ignore </b><b>the </b>image of <b>Grace </b><b>earlier</b><b>, </b>clutching her <b>chest</b>.
Despite everything<b>, </b>she was still her mother<b>, </b>the one who had <b>raised </b>her.
Worried, Aurora chased after <b>her</b><b>. </b><b>T </b>
<b>hen</b>, without hesitation, she <b>went </b><b>to </b>the pharmacy and <b>bought </b>the usual <b>medication </b>Grace <b>often </b>took<b>. </b>
She handed the bag to her mother’s assistant.
The assistant looked <b>at </b><b>the </b>bag<b>, </b>puzzled at first.
But then, <b>realizing </b>what it was, she grew visibly anxious.
<b>“</b>Miss <b>Walton</b><b>, </b><b>are </b>these for the Chairwoman? is something wrong with her?”
Her expression tightened with worry<b>, </b>concern for Grace’s health clearly growing