Chapter 108
But Tessa had always been frail growing up.That was why Grace had shown her more patience, more leniency.
She couldn’t help it.
And then there was the other reason…
Grace’s lips pressed into a thin line as she looked at Tessa. “You’ve been thoughtful. I understand. I’ll talk to your sister.”
“You’re right, if she wants to earn respect, how her colleagues see her matters. She can’t just charge ahead without considering their views.”
A smile bloomed on Tessa’s face. “As long as you understand, that’s enough for me. I only want what’s best for her.”
“You’re a good girl, Tessa,” Grace murmured, patting her hand gently.
Then her tone shifted. “You’ve always been a good one. I’ve always known that.”
“But about Julian… what are your plans moving forward?”
That situation had left a splinter in Grace’s heart.
After all, they were both her daughters, and now things had turned ugly over a man.
What would people say if they found out? It was a stain on the family’s name.
Tessa tightened her grip on the hem of her sleeve, her expression faltering. “Mom, Julian already explained it to you, didn’t he?”
She had expected this. Her mother still couldn’t let it go.
“He was drunk that night. He mistook Aurora for me. That’s all.”
Grace opened her mouth to argue, but Tessa was quicker.
“And besides, Mom, we’re already engaged. What’s the point of dragging this out? What matters most now is ine Walton fanly’s
reputation.”
At that, Grace paused, looking at the steely determination in her daughter’s eyes.
She said nothing more.
She clearly understood the weight of Tessa’s words.
The Walton family’s reputation was everything, and with so many eyes on the company, even the slightest scandal could shake
public confidence–and stock prices.
Grace exhaled slowly and offered a quiet reassurance. “Alright. I hear you. You’ve been through enough.”
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“I’m fine,” Tessa said, forcing a small smile.
“My health’s never been good. I can’t help much with the company, and I’ve always felt guilty about that.”
“And Julian… he’s the man I chose. There’s no reason for me to feel wronged.”
As Tessa spoke, a gentle smile never left her face–serene, sweet, almost angelic.
Grace, thinking of her daughter’s fragile health, felt a pang of sorrow.
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“It’s alright, sweetheart. Just focus on getting better. That’s the greatest help you can give me. I don’t ask for much. As long as you’re happy and well, that’s more than enough.”
Tessa leaned into her mother, wrapping her arms around Grace’s waist and burying her face in her embrace.
Her voice choked slightly. “I knew it… you’ve always been the one who cared about me the most.”
Grace gently stroked her back, slow and comforting.
But what she couldn’t see was the look in Tessa’s eyes–dark, cold, and calculating.
She’d said everything she could, yet her mother still wouldn’t let her join the company.
Aurora was allowed into Walton Corp–but not her?
Tessa knew exactly how far along Aurora was on the Vanguard project.
If she closed that deal before anyone else, she wouldn’t just climb the corporate ladder–she might finally feel worthy in her
mother’s eyes.
Her fingers curled into tight fists.
She couldn’t just sit by and let this happen.
She’d always known her mother favored Aurora.
That whole excuse about her health was a convenient way to keep her out.
Well, if Aurora cared so much about that Vanguard deal, then she would be the one to make sure she never got it.
Grace, completely unaware of the storm simmering beneath her daughter’s expression, simply continued stroking her hair, her
own heart heavy with quiet reflection.
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