“Old bastard?”


    Grace looked at Aurora in surprise.


    “You mean Albert Hayes?”


    Aurora gave a slight nod. “It’s him. Who else could it be?”


    Grace couldn’t help but lift the corners of her lips. It seemed her daughter wasn’t someone to be easily pushed around.


    Clearly, she had long seen through the shady dealings of the Hayes family.


    Thinking about it again, Grace found it made perfect sense.


    If she were soft, how could she have secured several major deals after all this time in business?


    Not to mention, those projects were well–known across Ravenshore.


    Grace looked at Aurora with clear admiration in her eyes.


    “No wonder you’re my daughter. And then?”


    This time, Grace wasn’t even pretending anymore.


    Only now did Aurora realize that her mother didn’t get along with that old man from the Hayes family either.


    She couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, weren’t you two… future inws?”


    Back during the engagement, Grace had been so thrilled, pping non–stop with joy.


    Now, she seemed to have seen through him so quickly.


    “Even if we’re future inws, I won’t let him hurt my daughters.”


    A sharp glint shed in Grace’s eyes–gone was the gentle look she usually carried.


    Her daughters were her bottom line, the two most important people in her life.


    No one could take them away from her.


    Let alone a future inw–not even a house full of rtives could change that.


    Looking at how fiercely protective her mother was, Aurora felt a wave of emotion rise in her chest.


    Only now did she truly understand what it meant when people said: a mother’s strength lies in


    her love.


    “Alright.” Aurora let out a sigh.


    “The Hayes Enterprises isn’t that hard to deal with. There’s no point hesitating anymore–it’s better to make a move sooner rather thanter.


    “After all, they’ve been like parasites, constantly feeding off Walton Corporation.”


    A sh of cold sharpness passed through her eyes


    “Madam Grace, to be honest, if it weren’t for that engagement holding me back, I would’ve had thepany kick those leeches out a long time ago.”


    She had never understood the point of maintaining a partnership with such apany.


    All they did was drain resources, offering nothing in return.


    Grace fell silent for a moment. “Then your sister the damage to Tessa’s voice and the harm you suffered–I’ll count them both.”


    Originally, she had wanted to say “your sister,” but for some reason, looking at Aurora’s expression, the words got stuck in her throat.


    That thought left a bitter taste in Grace’s heart.


    When had things between the two sisters gotten to this point?


    Had ite to the point where even mentioning each other’s name had be taboo?


    “Aurora, your sister-”


    Before she could finish, Aurora stood up and cut her off bluntly. “Madam Grace, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.


    “I still have work to attend to, so I won’t stay any longer.”


    With that, she turned to leave.


    It was clear she hadn’t been joking. Everything she said earlier, she meant it.


    Grace quickly stood up as well. Seeing how eager Aurora was to leave, she grew anxious too.


    She called out after her, “After this, I’ll be hosting a banquet.


    “To make it clear to the rest of Ravenshore’spanies that we have nothing more to do with the Hayes Enterprises, and that the engagement will be called off.”


    Aurora paused, leaving only her back to Grace.