"Does this mean we'll get to meet Mr. Raymond?" The group erupted with excitement.

Getting to meet Austin, CEO of Raymond Group, and sharing a meal with him was like winning the lottery.

After all, Quantum Tech was still far behind Raymond Group in scale and influence.

Even if they couldn't keep their positions at Quantum Tech, a connection with Raymond could land them a job at his company, allowing they to step out and earn an admiring glance from others during social engagements.

That was how the business world worked-built on these networks of personal relationships.

Judith stood surrounded by her admirers, her smile radiant as she nodded.

"Wonderful!"

"Judith, you're the best!"

Ella saw the crowd follow Judith away.

When Ella returned home, Austin wasn't there. She hunched over her laptop, working overtime while also looking for a locksmith to replace the door.

She didn't sleep at all that night.

The next morning, Ella rushed to the office, barely making it on time.

Hannah was busy with a shareholders' meeting, leaving Ella responsible for delivering files to the design department.

She arrived at the design department to deliver the data, yet still found herself a step too late.

"Where is Hannah?"

Ella replied in a dispassionate tone, "She's not here."

"The newcomer? Isn't that unprofessional of you? It's so late, couldn't you have come earlier?"

Ella's face grew cold as she nodded in acquiescence.

"That's her?"

"Isn't she the one rumored to be trying to climb into Mr. Castillo's bed?"

"Her scheming is quite extraordinary!"

"Keep your voices down, don't you see she is still here?" Judith interjected quietly beside them.

"Judith, you are far too understanding. Such trash only serves to tarnish our company's reputation."

Judith's face lit up with a pleased smile at the compliment. She glanced toward Ella, their eyes meeting briefly.

Dark circles shadowed Ella's eyes, evidence of her sleepless night, and her disheveled appearance was obvious.

Ella's phone screen lit up with a notification.

|You're working at Quantum Tech?]

It was Anthony Gonzalez.

Why was he contacting her now?

Anthony was her childhood friend. Ella had been briefly taken in by Kenneth Gonzalez, Anthony's grandfather, before her family found her.

Thinking about the past brought a tinge of sadness to her eyes.

[Yes. Are you back in the country?] She texted back.

[I am. Just now, Royce hadI been on a call with me, expressing his intention to meet up.]

Royce and Anthony's relationship was rather amicable; perhaps he inadvertently mentioned her in passing.

Thinking about the Prometheus Project. Ella hesitated.

She didn't want to trouble her grandfather, whose health was already fragile, with these concerns. Besides, she wanted to solve these problems herself.

[Could we meet, Anthony?] She texted.

Anthony promptly sent an address.

Ella explained to Hannah that she needed to step out.

Hannah had heard the office rumors about Ella being berated by someone from design and felt guilty, so she agreed with Ella's request.

Ella never imagined Anthony would invite her to the Golden Gourmet.

This place typically charged around one hundred thousand dollars for a meal.

Too extravagant.

Ella pushed the door open. Anthony saw her enter and smiled warmly.just as gentle as he'd always been. "Ella."

Her nose stung with emotion, eyes misting as she nodded repeatedly."

Anthony."

Next door.

"See that? All of Judith's work is delivered by Austin. Ella simply cannot compare to Judith," Paul boasted arrogantly.

That day, he had purposely invited Judith to dinner to celebrate her new job,even gathering a group of his friends to give her a warm welcome.

Judith sat there somewhat reservedly, saying. "Actually, that's not true.Austin still loves Ella very much."

"Love? If a man is unwilling to support a woman's career,then it simply proves he never truly loved her. To Austin, Ella is nothing."

While speaking, Judith rose to go to the restroom. By chance, the door next door was ajar, revealing Ella laughing and chatting amiably with an unfamiliar man.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she snapped a photo, hummed a little tune, and left the place.

"I'll help you find a solution for the funding; I have many connections and can introduce you," Anthony said as the dinner concluded, offering to

escort her home.

"All right."

At her doorstep, the breeze whispered.

As Ella stepped out of the car, Anthony suddenly asked,"What made you change your mind? Why did you suddenly decide to divorce?"

"Hm. I've come to terms with it. We were wrong from the very beginning."She replied with a smile, glancing back.

Hurriedly, Anthony took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

Before he could say "I'll be here for you from now on," an untimely voice broke the moment.

"Ella."

Austin had somehow appeared behind her.

She turned,noting Austin's dark expression.

A cold aura emanated from him, carrying the biting chill of autumn wind.making her shiver involuntarily.

Austin cast a brief, dismissive glance at Anthony before coldly stating,"Come home."

Anthony, reading the tense atmosphere between them, looked directly at Ella. "Ella, do you want to go with him?"

Austin was confident Ella would never leave him. All he had to do was call, and she would obediently follow.

It had always been this way.

Ella nodded and gave Anthony a reassuring smile. "Anthony. I can handle this myself."

"All right."

Only then did Anthony depart, reassured and at ease. He harbored faith in Ella.