The nurse shot Austin a disapproving glance before leaving the room.

Ella's eyes were rimmed with red from unshed tears.

Austin frowned. "It was just business, nothing personal."

Ella believed he had no inkling of the devastating power behind his words;each time he spoke, it was as if countless blades pierced her heart mercilessly.

Lying in bed with her back turned to Austin, Ella drifted into unconscious slumber without realizing it.

When she awoke again, it was already dusk. Her mind fogged by illness,drifting into a languid stupor, Ella gazed at the inky night beyond the window, her eyes gradually sinking into desolation.

She had even harbored the faint hope that falling ill might stir at least a shred of his conscience.

Repeated disappointments had numbed Ella to any semblance of pain.

Her phone rang, breaking the silence. Ella glanced at the screen-Karen was calling.

"Ella, how are you feeling? Any better? Austin told me you're sick and couldn't come visit me today." Karen asked with a smile.

Her genuine care sent a small wave of warmth through Ella's heart.She lowered her gaze and, after a moment, said, "I'm feeling much better now.don't worry about me."

"You should pay more attention to your health, don't think you're invincible, and neglect your health. That's not acceptable." Karen spoke tenderly from the other end of the line.

Ella lowered her gaze, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "I understand. Lately,my work has been demanding, constantly shuttling me between the company and home, which is why I fell ill. For the time being, I plan to stay at the office."

"You're moving out?" Karen immediately caught that detail.

Ella composed herself, about to explain, when Karen quickly asked, "Has Austin been bullying you?"

"No, it's just because I'mn busy with work. And he was the one who brought me to the hospital today. We're getting along fine, so don't worry too much."

Karen still sounded hesitant. "HHe has a car. Let him drive you to work."

"Austin is busy with his own work, too," Ella replied.

"A grown man should put his wife first instead of letting her work herself to exhaustion! If he attempts to shirk his responsibilities once more by hiding behind work, I shall compel him to entrust the management of the company to someone else. What's the point of making so much money if he's still obsessed with work? Don't you matter to him?" Karen said disapprovingly.

Ella's expression tightened, understanding the implication.

Karen didn't want her to move out.

Ella smiled evasively, wenving her words delleately. "But I care deeply for

Austin, and at present. I am reluctant to burden him further. As you know.I have finally secured a job after much effort. I wish to dedicate myself earnestly and elevate my own worth."

After listening, Karen sighed deeply. "Typically, when a woman pursues a career, it is often driven by matters of the heart. Ella, I know you're having a hard time in the Raymond family. I care for you deeply and understand your difficulties. Whatever you decide. I'll support you unconditionally.Even if you leave Austin one day, you'll always be my granddaughter.No one can ever supplant the place you hold in my heart."

Ella was deeply moved as she listened to those words.

After hanging up, tears began streaming down Ella's face.

The blanket quickly became damp with her tears. Ella took out a tissue to wipe away her tears, then lay down, ready to surrender to slumber.

The next morning, Ella discovered her fever had broken.

She lazily climbed out of bed, preparing to leave the hospital.

The nurse,seeing her looking refreshed, couldn't help but ask curiously,"Have you broken up with your boyfriend yet?"

Ella asked, "What do you mean?"

"I saw how unreliable your boyfriend was yesterday. You should break up with him and find someone else. With your qualities, you won't have trouble finding someone better."

"You haven't entered the graveyard of marriage yet, so get as far away as possible from that kind of toxic man," She advised earnestly.

Ella smiled at her well-intentioned warning and expressed her gratitude."Thank you! Actually, we're already in the process of getting divorced."

"You're married?!" The nurse's jaw nearly hit the floor in shock.

Ella simply smiled and turned to leave.

After leaving the hospital, Ella headed straight to her office. She checked the time-she wouldn't be late.

On the way,Ella received information from the private investigator she had hired.

Opening the message, she read the detective's report.

[I've confirmed that one of Yasmin's accounts received funds directly from a Raymond Group corporate account.]

[Also, the overseas arrangements for Yasmin's son were processed through an immigration consultancy that's a subsidiary of the Raymond Group.]

Beyond its technology sector, Raymond Group had many other business interests. The immigration consultancy was just one small branch within their massive corporate structure, with its own established systems and procedures.

If Austin had used his connections to help Yasmin's son leave the country and authorized company funds to pay her hush money,it implied he already knew about everything.

Judith was definitely involved. She transferred funds to Yasmin before Yasmin was arrested. I've also discovered she's been intimately involved with an illegal immigrant. This man met with Yasmin multiple times.Following the trail, although surveillance footage from the gala has been

erased, this man was spotted at a hotel near the venue on the day of the event. He didn't have clearance to attend the gala.J

|By the way, this man has a notorious reputation abroad and has reportedly been imprisoned multiple times before sneaking back into the country.]

After reading this information, Ella felt a cold chill spread throughout her body.

It took a long while before her ice-cold hands began to feel warm again.

The private investigator had provided both accounts-Judith's and Austin's.

She never imagined Judith had actually been involved in the gala arson.

Ella had only thought Judith had arranged for Yasmin to lead her to that obstetrician, deliberately causing her to lose her baby.

She never suspected there were so many intertwined threads to this story.