Divorced and Chased by My Alpha Billionaire Ex-Husband
Chapter 62: Overly Sweet Tone

Chapter 62: Overly Sweet Tone

Nora, ever the eager accomplice, quickly jumped in to support her mother. "Yes, Aurora, that necklace belongs to the Rossi family. It shouldn’t stay with someone who’s no longer part of us."

Her smile was radiant, her eyes practically shining with triumph. "You wouldn’t want people to think you’re clinging to something that’s no longer yours, would you?"

Aurora’s grip on her fork tightened for a moment, but she kept her composure.

She met Madam Rossi and Nora’s eyes with an icy stare. "I understand your concern, Madam Rossi, but I’m not ready to discuss the heirloom’s return just yet."

Nora’s smile wavered, and her eyes flashed with annoyance. "What do you mean? You’re no longer part of this family."

Aurora’s tone turned sweet, but it was laced with steel. "Technically, I am still part of this family. The divorce isn’t finalized."

The room fell into a stunned silence.

Nana Rossi’s face softened with confusion. "What do you mean, Aurora? You said you were divorced."

Aurora’s gaze never left Nora as she replied, "I wasn’t completely truthful, Nana. The divorce is still in process, but Lucas and I aren’t officially separated."

Madam Rossi’s lips thinned, her irritation barely concealed. "That can’t be true. We would’ve known."

Aurora gave a nonchalant shrug. "Lucas and I preferred to keep things private. But if you’re interested, I can show you the paperwork to prove it."

Nora’s face flushed with frustration, her voice rising in pitch. "This doesn’t change anything! You still have to return the heirloom."

Aurora leaned forward slightly, her voice calm but firm. "I’ll return it when the time is right. Not a moment before."

Madam Rossi stiffened, her eyes narrowing, while Nora opened her mouth to protest again.

But Aurora was done with their games. She stood slowly, her posture commanding, her expression sharp as a blade.

"Let me make this clear," she said, her voice cutting through the room. "You don’t dictate when or how I return what belongs to me. And if you think lying to Nana will get me to bend, you’re sadly mistaken."

Nora and her mother stared at Aurora, stunned into silence by her fierce resolve.

Nana Rossi, though still processing the revelation, gave a small nod of approval, her gaze softening.

The old woman might be hurt by the secrecy, but she could still appreciate the strength and honesty Aurora was showing now.

With a graceful calm, Aurora sat back down and resumed her meal, picking up her fork as if nothing had happened.

Nora seethed silently, her moment of triumph all but evaporated, while Madam Rossi, trying to recover from the verbal blow, stared at her plate, too shocked to respond.

Aurora, unbothered by their reactions, continued eating.

Just as Aurora continued eating, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up from her plate and saw Lucas entering the room. He hadn’t noticed her yet, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room as he greeted Nana.

The sight of him made Aurora’s heart skip.

Her face brightened at the sight of him, handsome as ever, his presence commanding in the simplest of shirts.

The moment his eyes landed on her, Aurora felt a flutter in her chest.

His gaze was warm, and she blushed under the intensity of it, quickly turning her face away to hide her reaction.

Lucas, meanwhile, was inwardly surprised to see her in the mansion. He moved away from Nana and instinctively headed toward Aurora’s side, his steps naturally pulling him closer to her.

Nora noticed his attention and quickly broke the silence, her voice cutting through the room.

"How are you doing, brother?" she asked with an overly sweet tone.

Lucas glanced at her and replied with a playful smirk, "I’m fine, just surprised you’re greeting me like this. You only do that when you’re in need of money."

Nora feigned a laugh and said, "I’m not in need—yet." She smiled, adding, "But I’ll still need to talk to you about some bills."

Nana chuckled, amused by the exchange. "Ah, you know your sister too well. That’s the only reason she ever comes to see me too."

Lucas chuckled along, his eyes flickering back to Aurora as he made his way to the chair beside her.

He was just about to sit next to her when a hand swiftly nudged him aside.

Aurora looked up and saw Julia.

A wave of irritation stirred inside Aurora, though she kept it hidden.

Julia, all smiles, had boldly slid into the seat next to Aurora, leaving Lucas no choice but to sit on the other side of her.

Now, Julia sat between them, her presence like a wall Aurora had not invited.

Aurora scoffed inwardly, keeping her composure while Lucas, though slightly annoyed at Julia’s forwardness, shrugged it off.

Julia immediately turned her attention to Nana, her voice syrupy sweet. "Hello, Nana Rossi," she said warmly.

Nana raised an eyebrow, her expression unimpressed. "And who might you be?" she asked, her tone carrying the sharpness of someone unimpressed by uninvited guests.

Aurora couldn’t help but smile inwardly at Nana’s reaction.

Julia, it seemed, was not about to win over everyone so easily.

Nora quickly intervened, her voice unnaturally cheery. "Oh, Nana, she’s Julia. Lucas’s ex-girlfriend."

Nana furrowed her brows, her eyes narrowing in confusion. "Ex-girlfriend?" she repeated, her voice carrying a genuine surprise. She didn’t remember Lucas ever mentioning someone named Julia.

Julia chuckled awkwardly, her confidence wavering as the room’s attention shifted fully to her.

She clenched her fists under the table, feeling the sting of embarrassment creeping in.

In her mind, Nana was trying to humiliate her on purpose, and she wasn’t about to let it slide.

"Ah, it’s fine," Julia said, forcing a smile. "Maybe Nana’s just... getting a little forgetful in her old age." Her words dripped with a veiled insult.

Nana’s eyes met Julia’s, and for a brief moment, something softened in the older woman’s face.

She didn’t respond.

Instead, she rose from her seat without a word and left the table silently.

Her retreat sent an uncomfortable ripple through the room, leaving everyone with a strange feeling in the pit of their stomachs.

Madam Rossi and Nora exchanged glances, sensing the awkwardness that Julia had just unleashed.

"I think I’m done eating," Madam Rossi muttered, standing up abruptly.

Nora followed suit, offering a flimsy excuse about needing to leave as well.

One by one, they exited the dining hall, their usual bravado now subdued.

Lucas, still unsettled by the whole scene, sighed. "I don’t feel like eating anymore either." He rose from his chair and left the room quietly, leaving only Julia and Aurora behind.

Julia, however, didn’t seem phased by Nana’s silent departure.

In fact, her eyes sparkled with satisfaction, as if she had accomplished exactly what she set out to do.

Aurora turned to her sharply, her voice steady but firm.

"Is that how you plan to win over Nana?" Aurora asked, her gaze piercing through Julia.

Julia flicked a cold, disdainful glance at Aurora.

Pushing her chair back with a scrape, Julia stood up, her chin lifted with arrogance.

"I don’t care about the other family members," Julia snapped, her voice dripping with scorn. "I only care about Lucas."

Aurora’s eyes narrowed as Julia continued, her tone laced with confidence. "I’m not interested in winning over anyone. I’ll get Lucas... freely."

With that, Julia nonchalantly brushed her hand over the jacket draped over her arm.

Aurora’s gaze followed the motion, and it was then that she noticed—the jacket was a matching set to Lucas’s suit.

Her stomach tightened.

How did Julia get Lucas’s jacket?

Aurora gasped internally, her thoughts spiraling.

Was Julia with Lucas before he came here?