Clara's smile froze, inwardly wishing she could strangle Aurelia, yet her face showed an apologetic smile, "Aurelia, I'm sorry. As your stepmother, I don't even know what you like to eat. Please give the servants a menu later, and I'll personally cook the dishes you enjoy, alright? Don't be angry with mom."
Aurelia looked at Clara's fake face, her almond eyes slightly narrowed, a chill flashing through them.
"Clara, you're not worthy of the word mom."
The cold gaze slid down, sweeping over her neck.
Clara suddenly felt the blood in her veins freeze. The last time's wound hadn't healed, the scar remained on her neck, covered by a silk ribbon. As Aurelia's gaze swept over it, the scar burned, choking her breath.
Clara barely returned to her senses from her gaze, tears squeezed out of her eyes as if she were greatly aggrieved, sobbing, "Aurelia, are you still unwilling to accept me? I know I was wrong before, I shouldn't have lied to you..."
Balthazar suddenly slapped the table, a stern voice rang out, "Speak less while eating, have you all forgotten the table manners?!"
The words weren't directed at anyone specific, but Clara's expression changed repeatedly.
Balthazar couldn't possibly, nor dared, to reprimand Aurelia. Regarding the title "mom," perhaps even in Balthazar's heart, he didn't think she deserved it.
Otherwise, after so many years, the things of that woman would not still be kept in this household, nor would Clara be forbidden from touching them.
On the surface, she's the distinguished wife of the Shaw Family now, yet in this house, she's always lived in the shadow of another deceased woman.
The dining table fell silent.
Aurelia took a few bites and stopped eating.
No matter how dedicated she was to the food, sitting across from people she disliked, eating dishes she wasn't interested in, her appetite wouldn't improve.
She put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, intending to leave when Balthazar's voice sounded, "Why eat so little? Eat more, you're already very thin, no need to diet! The stars on TV are so thin, and they don't look good at all. You don't need to follow them. If there's anything you need, tell Dad."
Jovana's heart swelled with jealousy. When she wanted to be the student council president and sought Dad's help to smooth things over, he told her to achieve it through her own efforts.
Now, with Aurelia, she hadn't even asked, yet Dad proactively offered to find her resources.
Both are Dad's daughters, why does Dad favor that woman, just because she's a legitimate daughter and Jovana is a concubine's daughter? It's unfair!
"If there's anything needed, I'll tell you." Aurelia said slowly, she wasn't foolish enough to let the family resources be enjoyed by this mother-daughter duo.
Jovana didn't expect Aurelia to agree so readily. The relationship between them should be tense, Aurelia should be grudging against Dad, why agreed to Dad's assistance.
If it develops , wouldn't Aurelia return to this family?
Jovana's eyes moved, she softly chimed in, "Dad's right. Sister, if you need anything, just tell Dad. Dad will definitely help you. I... I will help you too. Although the million was borrowed from classmates, if it can help you, little Jovana is really happy."