CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER 342: MEGAN

Not only was it her own success, but it was also an important step in her plan to support Spencer’s ambitions when he returned.

To challenge his uncles and the illegitimate children fighting for his family’s seat, she needed power and connections.

So she decided to hold a banquet.

The banquet hall glittered with crystal chandeliers and polished marble floors. Waiters in neat uniforms carried trays of wine glasses, weaving between the guests who were dressed in expensive suits and gowns.

Everywhere Aurora looked, she saw faces of power. Businessmen, investors, politicians, and heirs to other wealthy families.

But Aurora’s heart felt strangely heavy. She stood near the entrance in her elegant gown, her red hair shining under the lights, and forced a polite smile on her face.

These parties were always exhausting. Everyone here came with their own agendas. They smiled and shook hands, but their eyes were filled with calculations.

As she was scanning the hall, a familiar voice called out to her.

"Ms. Dawn."

Aurora turned her head and saw Peter Richardson approaching. He was tall, handsome, and well-dressed, but his eyes carried a hint of nervousness.

"Congratulations," he said with a small chuckle. "You have now joined the ranks of billionaires."

Aurora gave him a graceful smile. "It is nothing. But now that I have reached this point, I can help you even more directly, Mr. Richardson."

Peter’s expression softened with gratitude.

"I really do not know what I would have done without your help these past weeks. My family has been pressing me so hard. Without you, I might have already lost the fight for the heir’s position."

Aurora’s smile grew faint.

"Do not thank me. I am only helping because it benefits both of us. If you become the heir, it will make things easier for me in the future as well."

Peter nodded earnestly.

"Still, I am grateful. Thanks to you, I am only one step away from officially becoming the heir. That step would have been impossible without your support."

Aurora chuckled lightly and waved her hand, signaling Peter to stop flattering her. Peter understood, yet before leaving, he still praised her once more with words filled with gratitude.

He could not help himself. To be honest, everything he said was the truth. Without Aurora’s help, his fight to gain a higher position in the Richardson family would have been much harder.

The family politics were cruel, and the elders were strict. If Aurora had not stepped in to support him, then even reaching this far would have been nothing more than a dream.

Peter left with his heart full of thankfulness. As he walked away, he thought about Adriana. He realized again that Adriana was one of the reasons Miss Dawn was so polite to him.

Without Adriana, there would not have been this much kindness from Miss Dawn. That thought made Peter cherish Adriana even more.

He told himself silently that she was his lucky star. From the moment he first saw her, he had fallen in love.

At first, it was only an obsession, but as time passed, he realized his feelings were deep and true.

Now, because of Adriana, others had given him help, and doors that once seemed impossible to open were opening smoothly.

It felt like his entire life had shifted in a good direction just because of her. He swore to himself again that he would cherish Adriana always and never harm her.

Meanwhile, Aurora was standing calmly with a glass of wine in her hand. The golden liquid reflected the lights of the crystal chandeliers above.

She took slow sips, her eyes wandering across the hall. Many people were talking and laughing, but she did not feel like joining their conversations.

Just then, another familiar figure appeared.

"Ms. Dawn," Alex said with a polite smile.

Aurora turned her head toward him and gave a small nod.

"The project has been bought," Alex reported proudly. "And now my company has been evaluated at around five hundred million dollars."

Aurora chuckled softly and congratulated him. "That is very good. You should be proud of yourself."

Alex scratched the back of his neck shyly.

"If it were not for you, I might still be stuck at a one-million-dollar evaluation. You guided me and supported me. Otherwise, maybe I would have been struggling for another five or six years."

Aurora’s lips curved into a faint smile. "It is nothing. You worked hard, too."

But Alex did not think it was nothing. To him, it was everything.

Without Aurora’s constant advice and resources, his little company would never have climbed so quickly.

He admired her more and more.

Then suddenly, as if he had just remembered something, Alex looked at her with a hesitant gaze.

His expression carried both nervousness and hope. Aurora noticed right away.

"What is it?" she asked.

Alex took a deep breath.

"My birthday is coming soon. I am planning to celebrate it in a banquet hall. It will be a small gathering with only a limited people. I wanted to invite you, Ms. Dawn. Will you be able to come?"

Aurora froze for a moment. She remembered his earlier message. That invitation had not been sent to Ms. Dawn. It had been sent directly to her real identity, Aurora.

Now, Alex was making the request to Ms. Dawn, unaware that they were the same person. She could not expose herself, so she had no choice but to shake her head gently.

"I am sorry," she said quietly. "I cannot."

Alex’s face fell with disappointment, though he quickly tried to cover it with a smile. "It is completely alright. I understand you are busy with many investments and projects."

Aurora gave him a grateful nod. "I appreciate your understanding."

She excused herself and began to walk away. Behind her, Alex watched her leave. His voice was low but firm as he muttered to himself, "One day, I will gain enough strength to be acknowledged as Ms. Dawn’s subordinate."

If Aurora had heard his words, she might have laughed softly.

She would have told him that her refusal was not because she didn’t acknowledge him, but because of the situation around her identity.

Yet at this moment, she had no way to explain.

As Aurora strolled further into the banquet hall, enjoying a small break from constant greetings, she suddenly felt someone reaching out toward her.

It was a woman. She was tall, graceful, and confident. She wore a red bodycon dress made of satin that shimmered under the lights.

The dress had only one strap, resting elegantly on her shoulder, while the other side showed smooth skin.

Her curly hair was styled neatly, her complexion was fair, and around her neck was a sparkling diamond necklace. The whole appearance was classy and demanded attention.

The woman smiled warmly when she faced Aurora. "Congratulations, Ms. Dawn."

Aurora gave her a nod without much expression. "And you are?"

The woman’s smile deepened. "I am Megan. I am here today because I would like to discuss a deal with you."

Aurora frowned slightly. Deals at banquets were not unusual, but Megan’s direct approach was unusual. Most people tried to flatter or build small connections before moving to business.

Megan, however, seemed straightforward. "If Ms. Dawn can give me a little time, I promise this deal will show great benefits to you."

Aurora raised an eyebrow. "Then explain. If you believe it is so interesting, I will listen."

Megan looked thrilled at the chance. She leaned in slightly and spoke with confidence.

"I am an excellent marketing agent. If you can hand me a company to supervise or oversee, I guarantee I will bring great progress within just a few days."

Aurora almost laughed, but kept her expression calm. "Are you alright? It is strange for a stranger to approach a billionaire like this."

Megan did not back down. Instead, she took a deep breath and steadied herself. Her eyes grew serious as she began to explain her story.

"I came from a middle-class family," she said.

"I worked my way up slowly, fighting for every opportunity. Eventually, I became the CEO of VJ Rings."

Aurora’s eyes widened.

"VJ Rings?" She had heard of the company. It was a name that had gained international recognition in recent years.

Megan continued.

"I helped the founder of VJ Rings. I brought the company to many platforms and pushed it into global recognition. But once the company grew big, they turned against me. They started blocking me and cutting me out. Now I am close to being blacklisted from the entire industry."

Aurora’s gaze turned thoughtful. "And why should I help you?"

Megan’s posture straightened, and her voice grew firm. "Because you are the only one who can. I know you, Ms. Dawn. I know your strength. And I know something else, too."

Aurora looked at her with interest and asked, "Oh? What is it?"

Megan leaned closer, her eyes sharp and serious.

"From what I know, Victor Hawthorne is planning to attack your company," she said in a low voice. "And I also know that you may have a traitor inside. That person might strike soon."