With a single statement. Judith transformed Ella's coffee spill into a personal vendetta. claiming Ella was deliberately targeting her.

She even characterized it as malicious workplace competition.

Hannah had mentioned on Ella's first day that Quantum Tech had zero tolerance for such behavior.

Judith was clearly angling to get Ella fired by Royce.

"Don't cry. I'll handle this for you," Austin said with an icy glance toward Ella.

His look felt like a deliberate power play-punishment for that night.tormenting her nerves.

After all, one word from him could get her dismissed.

This job meant everything to Ella. She had fought so hard to find it.

If she lost this position...

Would she be forced back into being the dutiful housewife?

Back to living under his control, following his every command?

No.She refused.

"When I was pouring coffee, Judith happened to extend her foot just as I lost my balance, which unfortunately caused the spill," Ella stated calmly.

"Judith is such a kind-hearted person. Surely she wouldn't use her position to make life difficult for a mere employee like me over an

accident?"

With that single statement. Ella subtly elevated Judith's status, implying that if Judith pursued this matter,she would only make herself look petty and unkind.

"Are you suggesting I deliberately tripped you, causing you to spill coffee on me? Why would I hurt myself that way?" Judith countered.

Ella replied with measured confidence. "Hannah mentioned there are security cameras in the office. If you feel I'm being unfair, we could review the footage to determine if I'm qualified to work at Quantum Tech."

Judlith was left speechless.

She had indeed planned to make Ella look incompetent and find an excuse to have her removed.

Who would have thought Ella wwould deliberately spill coffee on her?

The limited-edition jacket she'd taken from Ella's closet was completely ruined.

That bitch.

Royce cleared his throat. "Perhaps this is just a misunderstanding. Judith.don't hold it against Ella. Everyone makes mistakes on their first day. You're both new here. Why make things difficult for each other?"

He wasn't blind. It was obvious Judith had no response, which meant she wasn't in the right.

Judith bit her lip, her expression uncomfortable and embarrassed.

If she asked for the security footage, the truth would be revealed.

If she didn't, it would look like she was hiding something.

Austin's cold voice broke the silence. "There's no need to pull security footage for such a minor incident. Besides, Judith isn't that kind of person."

Royce watched the scene unfold with inner contempt, 'Is Austin so infatuated with Judith that he'd lost all objectivity? Ella makes one mistake,and he threatens termination, but when Judith is clearly in the wrong. it suddenly becomes no big deal?'

The double standard was glaringly obvious.

"Let's just move on, then. No harm done," Royce said, offering Ella a reassuring smile.

Inwardly, Ella felt a profound sadness.

What a perfect hero-saves-damsel moment.

So this was what happened when you love someone-you lose all sense of right and wrong.

She lowered her gaze, watching as Judith's lips curved downward in displeasure while Austin comfortingly patted the back of her hand.

Even these small gestures revealed how much he cared for Judith.

As the meeting concluded, Austin and Judith left together.

Ella was about to follow when Royce called her back.

"Phoenix?"

He seemed excited to recognize her.

Ella looked up at him with a distant expression. "Mr. Castillo, it's been a while."

After exchanging pleasantries. Royce gazed at her with a mixture of surprise and concern. "I never imagined you'd be working as my secretary.

"Times change," she replied simply.

"Don't say that. You're only twenty-eight," Royce said, shaking his head at how different she looked from the vibrant, ambitious woman he once knew.

She managed a weak smile and explained, "I'm divorced."

"That explains it," Royce nodded sympathetically, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry. It's probably for the best-a kind of liberation.I'Il look after you here at Quantum Tech. Being a secretary is beneath your talents. Would you consider joining the research department instead?"

"Research department?"

This was the best offer Royce could make-a position in the company's most prestigious division.

Ella didn't immediately accept.

After a moment's consideration, she replied, "Let me think about it."

"Take your time. I've always had the highest regard for your abilities."

With that, Ella left his office.

Outside, Hannah approached to debrief. "What happened? The new beauty from design looked so upset."

As she spoke, Hannah handed Ella a suit jacket. "Here, you need to clean

this. She says her limited-edition jacket was ruined."

This was actually Ella's jacket that Judith had taken from her closet.

Ella stared at the coffee-stained designer piece for a moment before dropping it directly into the trash can.

Hannah's jaw practically hit the floor. "That's a limited-edition piece worth ten thousand dollars! You're just throwing it away?"

Ella had already walked away.

"If you don't want it, I'll take it!" Hannah called after her."I could sell it secondhand for at least five thousand! Mr. Raymond is sogenerous-my lucky day!"

Ella went to the break room and stood there for a while, absently watching water overflow from a cup she was filling.

Just as she noticed and turned off the tap, her phone rang.

She answered the call.

"Ella, we're having cash flow problems. The Prometheus Project is about to collapse without additional funding. Is there anything you can do?" It was Daron.

Ella leaned against the counter, cradling the phone with her shoulder."How much do you need,Mr.Bales?"

"At least fifty million dollars."

Fifty million dollars.

Judith had taken the entire design department out for dinner on her first day.

Meanwhile, Ella remained at the office, sorting through files.

Quantum Tech's data archives were massive, and Hannah was helping her search for the previous generation's autonomous driving data. It was a hassle.

"This is torture for you as the new person," Hannah commented to Ella as they worked side by side.

Ella gave a faint smile. "It's fine."

"We're not usually this busy. It's just that the design department suddenly requested the previous generation's autonomous driving database. That new girl-Judith-said Raymond Group is only partnering with us on the drone project because of her, so she needs the old data to continue her work."

Hannah stretched, letting out a long yawn.

Ella's expression tightened slightly, her lips curving into a bitter smile as she remained silent.

When you love someone, you support their career at all costs.

For the first time, Ella truly understood the meaning of that phrase.

"I mean,what are those design department people even doing? Instead of handling their own work, they dump it on us. If Mr. Castillo didn't need to review these files, I wouldn't even bother looking at all this data. It's making my brain melt," Hannah complained, her cheeks puffed in frustration.

Ella kept her head down, focusing on her work.

Better to say little and do more.

Complaining about the workload in public only created enemies without solving anything.

She would have plenty of interactions with the design department in the future.

When it was time to leave, Ella collected her bag and exited the building to find a group of people chatting animatedly.

"Ride wwith me!" someone offered, prompting laughter and teasing from the others.

"That would be too much trouble!"

"Yes,really too much!"

Ella spotted a brand-new pink Lamborghini with a familiar license plate-the car Austin had bought for her.

"What a gorgeous car!"

"Judith is so generous, treating us to dinner and offering rides in her luxury car."

Judith casually pressed the key fob, giving Ella a deliberate glance. "Austin bought it for me to use whenever I want."

"Austin? Youdon't mean Austin Raymond?" someone asked.

Everyone knew Judith's position at Quantum Tech wasn't ordinary-clearly orchestrated by Raymond Group's CEO.

Judith's lips curved into a smile. "Yes, that's right."