Chapter <b>558 </b>


    <b>“</b><b>Is </b>that so? It’s already been five days, as her sister, why are you only showing up now?”


    Lucas let out a coldugh. “Or are you just a sister in name only? A talk and no substance<b>.</b>”


    Tessa swallowed hard<b>, </b>caught off guard by the sharpness in his words.


    For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.


    Even the executive beside her looked surprised.


    “Miss Walton<b>, </b>what’s going on?”


    He sounded anxious. “Didn’t you just tell us today that Miss Aurora had an ident? Has she been hospitalized for days already?


    ”


    Hearing that, Tessa found herself speechless.


    She was starting to regret bringing the executive along to visit Aurora.


    Instead of helping her, he’d just made things worse, putting her on the defensive.


    The frustration showed on her face, and her attitude toward the executive turned cold.


    She didn’t bother replying to him anymore.


    What good would it do? He was useless to her now.


    Lucas watched all of this unfold, finding it almostughable.


    Even now, she was still trying to keep up appearances?


    “So, what are you nning to say next?”


    Tessa’sshes fluttered as she forced a dryugh. “It’s not what I wanted. I really did have things to take care of. That’s why <b>I </b>didn’te sooner.


    “And I had to handlepany affairs… plus, my mother never told me my sister was actually hospitalized. So, I overlooked it…”


    She put on a sheepish expression, her tone filled with false remorse<b>. </b>


    At a nce, she looked like someone genuinely ashamed.


    But Lucas‘ eyes darkened, saying nothing more.


    People who didn’t truly care for Aurora would always have excuses.


    And in the end, none of it mattered.


    To Tessa, having just one person firmly by her side was enough.


    Everyone else might as well be background noise.


    Hearing her exnation, the executive’s doubts were finally put to rest.


    So it wasn’t that Tessa didn’t want toe–it was simply that she’d been too busy.


    And with Grace not informing her right away, it had caused an unfortunate dy.


    He realized now that he must’ve misunderstood her.


    With that thought, the look in his eyes toward Tessa softened with guilt.


    But Tessa acted as though none of it mattered.


    Her expression was calm and unreadable, giving nothing away<b>. </b>


    Thatposure, in itself<b>, </b>earned the quiet admiration of Keh and Wendy, who stood nearby.


    This woman might not have had the moral high ground, but once she found even the slightest edge, she clung to it relentlessly, leaving no room for anyone to argue back.


    They exchanged a nce and a faint smile, unsure what else there was to say.


    Lucas, however, didn’t believe a single word she’d said.


    To him, it was nothing but noise–empty excuses not worth listening to.


    She hadn’te for days.


    She’d been focused on taking overpany duties, managing the role of acting general manager.


    That alone said everything.


    To Lucas, it was obvious that Tessa had never truly seen Aurora as her sister.


    He’d seen right through her from the start, and there was no point pretending otherwise now.


    The executive, sensing the shift in atmosphere, began to feel a little uneasy himself.


    Awkward silences were what he feared most.


    So, he quickly stepped forward with the fruit basket in hand, offering a smile.


    “Alright, let’s all take it easy. It’s rare we’re all gathered here–consider it fate.


    “These were specially picked for Miss Aurora. They’re from her favorite shop. The fruit there is really sweet!”