"So, what exactly are you suggesting?" Lucas asked smoothly, pretending not to catch the meaning behind Grace's words.

Her face stiffened with embarrassment. She thought she had already made herself perfectly clear, yet Lucas was still playing dumb.

Standing nearby, Tessa could hardly keep her composure. Even without looking at her mother, she could feel just how awkward the moment had become. They had already laid everything out, and still, Lucas wasn’t taking the bait.

Grace had no choice but to press on. "I just want to give Aurora a better environment. But as you can see, Walton Corporation has been struggling lately. So, I was hoping you could lend us a hand. We’re Aurora’s family, after all. If our company grows stronger, your people will look at us differently. Naturally, Aurora will be able to hold her head higher too."

Lucas let out a low, amused laugh. "Tell me, did you actually manage to say that with a straight face?"

Grace and Tessa exchanged a look, both of them deeply embarrassed.

Tessa quickly tried to smooth things over. "Lucas, how could you say that? Mom’s only thinking about my sister. She just wants what’s best for her. And she’s not wrong. If Walton Corporation rises again, my sister won’t have to feel looked down on by your family anymore."

Lucas arched a brow, but before he could respond, the study door swung open.

Aurora stood there in her robe, arms crossed, eyes cold with disdain that nearly spilled over. "So, this is what you’ve been scheming all along. I knew tonight’s dinner wasn’t as simple as it looked. You said it was just a family meal, but all you really wanted was to use Lucas' influence, didn’t you?"

Her words were sharp and cutting, each one landing like a slap.

Grace’s face instantly darkened, her composure cracking under the weight of Aurora’s accusation. She couldn’t hold back anymore and snapped toward the door. "Aurora Walton! Is this what I taught you? You don’t even knock before entering now? Where are your manners? Did the dogs eat them?"

"You’re scheming behind my back, and you still expect me to be polite?" Aurora shot back with a cold laugh. "When my own mother plots against me like this, don’t I at least have the right to know? In your eyes, what am I exactly? You know it better than anyone—am I your daughter, or just someone you can use? Do you really need me to spell it out?"

Tessa quickly tried to intervene. "Sister, you’ve got it all wrong. If you were standing outside, you must’ve heard what Mom meant. She just wants you to have a stronger support system, so you can hold your head high in your husband’s family. And honestly, with a family like Lucas', things aren’t simple. You don’t even understand how deep that circle runs. Mom’s just afraid you’ll get hurt. She wants to help you build some strength of your own, so people won’t look down on you."

Aurora almost laughed outright. "Don’t pretend your intentions are noble. We both know exactly who this is really for. You’re not doing this for me. I won’t say anything more. We’ll stay the night, but after tonight, let’s stop contacting each other. No point pretending when it only makes everyone miserable."