Chapter 305 Severing the Mother-Son Relationship
Stella's voice, though soft, froze Aurora in place. She trembled, barely whispering, "Mrs. Foster, what do you mean?"
Stella's tone had a cold amusement. "Mrs. Carter, do I need to spell it out?"
"Fine, let me be clear," she said, her voice hardening. "I've never gossiped about Adeline with you, and I never will."
"Even if I disliked her, which I don't, I wouldn't spread such boring rumors. This conversation is over."
Stella leaned back, glancing at Thomas as he walked in, fresh from verifying an address. A small smile played on her lips. "One more thing."
"My husband and I have a great relationship, Mrs. Carter. Are you jealous?"
Without waiting for a response, she hung up, leaving Aurora staring at the phone. The dial tone buzzed, a stark reminder of her mistake.
Her legs buckled, and just as she was about to fall, Timothy caught her. "Mrs. Carter, what's wrong?"
"Are you really going to beg Adeline for forgiveness on your knees?"
Aurora shut her eyes. She had trusted Stella completely.
First, because Stella had known Adeline for years.
Second, because Jasper's name was on the list of men Stella claimed Adeline had been involved with.
It never crossed her mind that Stella might be lying.
But now, Stella's words, delivered so innocently, hit her like a bolt of lightning, paralyzing her.
She couldn't think straight.
Even if they were lies, they came from Stella!
How could everything she believed be a lie?
"Mrs. Carter, do you have anything to say?" Jasper's voice was icy. "You made up these lies, slandered Adeline, and now you blame my wife?"
"Adeline misjudged you. You're not stupid, Mrs. Carter, just incredibly misguided."
Aurora tried to speak, but no words came out.
"My wife has spoken. Do you still deny these rumors came from you?" Timothy asked, letting go of Aurora.
She collapsed to her knees at Adeline's feet.
Ava, seeing this, hesitated but then knelt too. Adeline's influence was undeniable! Even Sebastian's mother was on her knees. What chance did a mere assistant like her have? She had to kneel as well.
"Mom!" Sebastian burst into Adeline's office, panting. Seeing Aurora kneeling before Adeline, he froze.
His brow furrowed. He rushed to Aurora and helped her up. "You're not young anymore. What are you doing?"
Aurora trembled, not from guilt but from rage.
She finally understood Stella's motive. It wasn't friendship or concern for Sebastian.
Stella had used her to attack Adeline!
And when the truth came out, Stella would wash her hands of the whole affair, leaving Aurora to face the consequences alone.
The realization fueled her anger.
She turned to Jasper, her voice shaking with fury. "Mr. Foster, your wife is quite the actress!"
"I don't know what really happened between you and Adeline, but your wife's tactics are effective!"
Jasper's eyes narrowed at the mention of Stella.
"Mrs. Carter, failing to slander my wife, now you're trying to drive a wedge between us?" Jasper said.
Aurora clenched her teeth. Jasper was clearly protecting both Adeline and Stella. She was losing this battle.
"Mom, let's go," Sebastian whispered to Aurora. "This is the Foster Group. You're representing the Carter family."
His words stung, forcing Aurora to hold back a retort.
After a moment, she sighed, defeated. "Let's go."
Sebastian gave Adeline an apologetic smile and guided Aurora toward the door.
"Hold on," Timothy said, stepping in their way.
"Mr. Carter, right? I recognize you from the news. You just announced your relationship with Adeline a few days ago."
Sebastian paused, eyeing Timothy. "What do you want?"
"An apology," Timothy said coldly. "Your mother hasn't apologized to Adeline."
Sebastian frowned. He thought Aurora kneeling was an act of contrition.
'Has she not apologized?' he wondered.
Timothy scoffed. "Mrs. Carter only knelt because her legs gave way."
"Adeline has endured enough baseless accusations and insults because of these rumors."
"Don't you think Mrs. Carter owes her an apology?"
Sebastian's frown deepened. He looked at Aurora, pale and drawn. "Mother," he said, strained. "What exactly did you say about Adeline?"
Andrew had kept Sebastian confined to a hotel room for the past few days. He had no idea what had been happening, let alone his mother's actions toward Adeline.
He only knew Aurora had shown up at the Foster Group this morning with a five-million-dollar check.
He had barely escaped Andrew to get here.
The rumors were a mystery to him.
Aurora, faced with her son's questioning, could only frown, at a loss for words. She had believed Stella without a doubt.
But now, she suspected Stella had fabricated the entire story out of jealousy.
Seeing Aurora hesitate, Timothy coldly glanced at Ava, who was kneeling on the ground in the distance. "Ava, you know exactly what Mrs. Carter said, don't you?"
"Tell him."
Ava hesitated, then, seeing a chance to redeem herself, quickly recounted everything Aurora had said.
Sebastian's face darkened with each word. He couldn't believe it.
His mother, always so kind and gentle, had said such horrible things about Adeline?
What had Adeline done to deserve this?
She had only agreed to announce their relationship because of the rumors.
"Mother," he said, drawing a shaky breath and releasing Aurora's arm. "Perhaps I've been away too long. I never imagined you would stoop to this."
"Whatever your reasons, Adeline is my girlfriend. Did you ever consider my feelings before spreading these lies about her?"
Aurora opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Finally, she lowered her head, whispering, "I... I just wanted you to break up with her."
"I won't," he said, meeting her gaze, then looking at Jasper. "The more you try to push us apart, the stronger we'll become."
Finally, he looked back at Aurora, resolute. "Mother, if this is how you intend to treat Adeline..."
"Then I want nothing more to do with you. Consider our relationship over."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
