Chapter 1278

“Shut up!” Tessa shouted. “I’m talking to my mother—who gave you the right to butt in?”

“You shut up too!”

Grace’s chest tightened at her daughter’s arrogant, unruly attitude.

She never would have imagined that the well-behaved, sensible daughter she thought she had raised had unknowingly turned into such a shrew.

“I’ll say it again—this is the company, not a place for you to throw tantrums.”

Grace drew in a deep breath. “Look at yourself right now. Do you still resemble the heiress of the Walton family? If people see you like this, won’t you be ashamed?”

Grace had run out of patience with Tessa.

“Am I really the one embarrassing us?” Tessa shot back, pointing at Jason. “I’m the heiress of the Walton Corporation, yet he dares to talk to me like that. Isn’t he the one who went too far?”

Though Grace’s patience was worn thin, she knew if no one yielded, this argument would never end.

And she had no interest in dragging it out further. What was the point? The company was short on capable hands—no one could afford to leave now.

“Enough, Jason.” Grace turned to him with a weary tone. “Just apologize to Tessa.”

She could see there was no other way. Someone had to back down, and the only choice was to wrong Jason. Hearing her words, Jason’s hand clenched tightly at his side. “Understood, Madam Grace.”

He then looked at Tessa and offered a sincere apology.

“I’m sorry. I spoke wrongly earlier. If I said anything out of line, I ask your forgiveness. Rest assured, I won’t speak like that in the company again. I won’t overstep. It was my fault.”

After finishing, Jason turned to Grace. “Since this was my mistake, Madam Grace, I’ll accept the consequences. Dock me six months’ pay.”

He had even given Grace a way to smooth things over.

Seeing him bow his head, Grace felt a surge of relief.

When Tessa saw that Jason had already lowered his head, even if she wanted to press further, she no longer had any excuse.

She hadn’t expected him to even volunteer for a pay cut.

Tessa’s expression turned sour. Still, she muttered awkwardly, “Fine. Since you’ve said that, if I keep making things difficult for you, it would make me look heartless.”

“Thank you, Miss Tessa.” Jason’s face carried a smile, though it never reached his eyes.

Tessa was speechless.

She couldn’t shake the feeling he was mocking her, but she had no proof.

Seeing Jason so understanding of her words, Grace felt a surge of relief.

“Enough, Tessa. Don’t make trouble here anymore. Jason has already apologized. Stop dwelling on this on my behalf.”

Tessa clenched her fists, still unwilling to accept it.

“Mom, haven’t you seen the news online?” she ground out between her teeth. “Aurora has already secured that project. But didn’t she say before it was for our Walton Corporation? Now her studio is open, the project is in her hands, and she clearly wants to cut ties with us.”

Hearing Tessa’s words, Grace was taken aback.