The only way to silence them was to become stronger.

Ella's gaze hardened with determination as her steps grew more purposeful.

Though the path ahead remained shrouded in uncertainty,she walked forward without fear.

At eight o'clock, Hannah suggested she head home early.

"Ella. Why push yourself so hard? You're just an intern secretary."

Ella offered a polite smile. "I genuinely value this position."

Hannah eyed her suspiciously. "Be honest with me, are you working this hard to take my job?"

Ella raised both hands in surrender. "Not at all."

"Nope, we're leaving together. I refuse to encourage a toxic overworking culture!" Hannah grabbed her bag and quickly packed up, even helping Ella gather her things.

Ella understood Hannah was trying to cheer her up after noticing her low spirits throughout the day.

She reached out to each investor.

This marked the first time Ella had ever humbled herself to plead with strangers,yet she didn't feel drained, only hopeful.

She was no longer the decorative wife everyone underestimated.

Under the sway of her silver-tongued eloquence, she secured a face-to-face meeting.

Ella clutched her phone tightly, unable to contain her excitement.

For now, it was merely beginning. Sitting in the car, Ella pondered incessantly on how she might cultivate trust with the other party upon arriving at the Midnight Mirage, to persuade them to invest.

In the current bleak state of the industry, securing funds from investors was no easy feat unless Alpha's project could truly captivate their interest.

She then entered the Midnight Mirage and accidentally bumped into Judith and Austin as they stepped out of a luxury car.

Her expression briefly faltered before swiftly regaining its composure as she clasped her bag and proceeded inside.

"Ella!" Judith called after her.

Ella remained composed, scarcely betraying any emotion as she stood still and nodded at Judith, saying, "There is work."

Austin cast a fleeting glance at her before his gaze settled tenderly on Judith. "Have you two not heard about the online rumors yet?"

Paul was the last to arrive; upon hearing this, his curiosity piqued, "What rumors?"

Noticing Ella rolling her eyes in frusration, he grumbled, "Why is it that you're everywhere nowadays?"

She smiled wryly, refusing to indulge him, "Is this club owned by your family?"

Paul was rendered speechless by her retort, silently wondering how she had become so imperious.

"I've heard the entire company is buzzing about Ella frequenting various clubs to lure wealthy men; her name even trended. You're not involved in that today, are you?" Judith's unfinished words bore an inscrutable expression.

Austin displayed no flicker of emotion, barely sparing Ella a glance, as if he already knew the truth.

Lowering her gaze, Ella chose not to offer any explanatíon; Austin could see things as he wished.

Apparently, he seemed indifferent to the media storms swirling around her,certainly less concerned than the more pressing Judith.

Noticing Austin's apparent lack of concern, Judith clutched her bag tighter,her smile almost overflowing.

"Judith, what a preposterous notion! Perhaps Ella only followed Austin to this very club. Those online scandals are merely her stratagem to avoid being abandoned by him," Paul chimed in.

Judith feigned astonishment with an exaggerated gasp.

Ella overheard the slander but remained silent, turning her back as she entered the club.

"She's always been such a troublemaker. Even Austin doesn't despise her this much. Doesn't she have any self-awareness? Shouldn't she keep her distance instead of swarming around like a pesky fly every day?" Paul continued his disparagement from behind.

Lowering her gaze. Ella hesitated momentarily before quickening her pace.

Inside the private room.Ella found the investors seated together.

"Ms. Brooks, arriving so late. Is this how you demonstrate your commitment?" One of them questioned.

She immediately approached with a smile. "Tll punish myself with three drinks to apologize."

As she spoke, she seized the wine bottle and poured three glasses,drinking them one by one.

Recalling the scene at the entrance where she had seen Austin standing beside Judith, the bitterness of the wine seemed to fade from her palate.

"Ms. Brooks, you certainly live up to your reputation. If you're this intense with alcohol, you must be equally passionate in bed!" Perhaps influenced by the trending rumors circulating in financial circles, the investors exchanged knowing glances.

Ella suppressed her disgust and presented her project proposal. "The Alpha Project is a promising AI initiative, utilizing sophisticated algorithms involving..."

She spoke incessantly, while the three investment magnates each harbored their own hidden agendas.

One of the investors listened intently. "Many AI ventures domestically are subpar, but this one seems genuinely intriguing..."

Meanwhile, another ceaselessly poured her wine.

Ella was already swaying, barely able to stand, when the third investor

rose and firmly wrapped an arm around her waist. "Ms. Brooks, it seems you've had too much to drink. Let me take you somewhere to sober up."

"Hey, don't be so hard on Ms. Brooks."

Before Ella knew it, she had been ushered into the restroom.

Ella felt the room spinning. She collapsed in front of a toilet,retching violently.

Behind her, the man's hands slid toward her waist. "You have such a supple figure."

"Eugene, remove your hand!"

An ice-cold voice cut through the air.

Eugene couldn't believe his eyes.

He never expected to encounter Austin in the women's restroom!

This financial titan had driven him out of the research field and into the minor leagues of investment banking.

"Mr. Raymond, I'm leaving right now." Eugene fled immediately.

Still hunched over the toilet, Ella recognized the man behind her: Austin.

She believed he had done this deliberately.

Was he trying to scare away her investors, ensuring she couldn't secure funding?

Did he want her to remain the obedient, inconsequential Mrs. Raymond forever?

Her eyes reddened with anger and frustration as she demanded, "Austin,what have I ever done to you?"

Why was he doing this? She had finally managed to arrange this investment opportunity, and now it was gone!

Austin narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp. "What?"

After enduring public humiliation with Judith, being ignored while Paul insulted her to her face, she had managed to walk away and pretend it never happened.

But this was her only chance to revive the Prometheus Project.

Was he determined to destroy that, too?

Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper as tears threatened to fall. "Why are you so disgusting?"

After he had kindly driven away that creép, she called him disgusting.

Austin's expression hardened with fury, his words laced with ice. "Do you have even a shred of self-respect left?"

So he believed Judith's insinuations.

He truly thought she was like those women online-without principles,using her looks to advance her career?

She trembled with rage, but before she could respond, Judith appeared,interrupting their confrontation.

"Austin, didn't you say you'd wait outside for me?" Judith asked.

Judith noticed their tense expressions and paused, her face clouding as she

studied Austin intently,searching for any sign of attachment to Ella.

Why was he entangled with Ella again?

"Nothing important, just ran into a business associate and exchanged greetings," Austin replied.

Judith watched as he stepped away from Ella, his gaze dismissive as though she were an insignificant object.

Only then did she relax, immediately saying, "Ella, are you alright? You shouldn't drink so much-alcohol isn't good for a woman's health."