Aurora Walton and Lucas Carter novel Chapter 1774

She even knew exactly how to hit the sweet spot that pleased her.

Grace pinched Tessa’s soft cheek with a doting smile. “Alright, alright. Only you know how to sweet-talk like that”

“I’m only telling the truth.”

Tessa clung to her arm and leaned against her shoulder, her voice soft with affection.

With her daughter leaning so close, Grace felt something stir in her chest—an unexpected, quiet warmth she couldn’t quite name.

Meanwhile, Tessa’s mind was already calculating.

This should be enough to get her through today.

She still had a meeting scheduled with a partner, and if she delayed any longer, she’d miss it completely.

She only hoped her mother would wrap things up soon.

But the next sentence made chills crawl straight up her spine.

“Tessa, you’re sure you’re not hiding anything from me? Like meeting someone? Or someone saying something to you?”

Her face drained of color instantly.

Grace had been watching her closely this entire time—every flicker of expression and breath she took.

Her gaze never left Tessa, waiting to confirm her own suspicions.

Now, she had her answer.

Tessa’s panic said everything.

What Aurora told her was likely true.

But Grace still didn’t want to believe it.

Tessa scrambled to defend herself.

“Mom, I… I don’t understand what you mean. Who exactly would I be meeting?”

“Mom, we’ve known each other my whole life. Why won’t you believe what I say anymore?”

She immediately pushed all the blame onto Aurora.

“Did my sister say something to you?”

Grace parted her lips to respond, but before she could speak, Tessa went on, “If she really said anything, please don’t believe her. The project I’m working on clashes with hers, and she just wants revenge.

“You know she’s always competed with me since we were young. Whatever I had, she wanted too. You’re well aware of that, Mom.”

Hearing this, Grace fell silent.

Tessa wasn’t completely wrong.

Back when they were young, the two had always competed with each other.

If Aurora got into a school, then somewhere in the school’s records, a few years earlier, Tessa’s name would be there too.