She understood perfectly how fixated high society could be on advantageous matches.

"If this situation hadn't involved you, I would have happily supported your relationship with Nathan. I genuinely liked you before—not just because of your family background back then, but because I truly admired your character. Let me be frank—Nancy Levine has been actively trying to set up Cora with my son. I've met Cora before, and honestly, she doesn't compare to you in any aspect."

Elizabeth's eyes flickered with surprise.

She was taken aback to learn that Nancy would go so far as to matchmake Cora with Nathan.

Truthfully, Nathan wasn't such a bad catch.

He might appear to be somewhat frivolous at times, but his family pedigree was impeccable.

Nancy likely believed that since Cora was new to their circles, she needed someone beyond her own mother to watch over and protect her.

Nancy truly considered every detail when it came to Cora's wellbeing.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, struggling to maintain an air of nonchalance.

"But the gap between your family backgrounds is simply too vast for me to choose you over Cora," Yulia stated as she retrieved a bank card from her purse.

Even before arriving, Yulia had known better than to expect Elizabeth's social standing to remain what it once was. Otherwise, Elizabeth wouldn't be living in an apartment funded by Nathan.

Elizabeth glanced at the card and let out a bitter, sarcastic chuckle.

She never anticipated such a dramatic turn of events in her life.

She never imagined that one day, someone would attempt to buy her off with money.

Yulia continued, "There's $700,000 in this account. That's likely a significant amount for someone in your position."

Indeed, it was probably enough to sustain ordinary people for their entire lives.

Given her current spending habits, she could manage comfortably with that sum.

"I'm not trying to humiliate you—I'm offering compensation. I've watched you grow up, and I once even wished you were my own daughter since I never had one." Yulia reminisced fondly.

Her voice carried a hint of genuine regret.

"I won't accept your money, and I won't leave Nathan either." Elizabeth made her position perfectly clear.

Even if the Levines held a knife to her throat, she would never give up on Nathan.

She was determined to be with him and trusted that he felt the same way about her.

Yulia studied the resolve in Elizabeth's eyes and asked, "Aren't you concerned that Nathan might end up penniless like you?"

"Money has nothing to do with our relationship. It's merely an accessory we can live without," Elizabeth declared emphatically.

"You've experienced what it's like to have nothing, haven't you?" Yulia pressed.

Elizabeth bit her lip as memories surfaced of nearly selling her body for money.

The desperation she felt back then was enough to drive anyone to madness.

"I'm not trying to frighten you or fabricate stories, but Nathan isn't the only son in the Davis family. His father has an illegitimate child with another woman—a boy who just turned ten this year," Yulia revealed frankly, seemingly with no intention of hiding this truth from Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was momentarily stunned.

Weren't Charles Davis and Yulia Young childhood sweethearts who had always shared a loving relationship?!

"Don't believe everything you hear through gossip." Yulia saw right through Elizabeth's thoughts. "This is precisely why I want Nathan and Cora to be together. Their union would enhance Nathan's standing and ensure the Davis family assets return to his hands. If Nathan chooses to be with you, Charles would undoubtedly disinherit him given his temperament."

"It's not that I doubt your ability to overcome hardships together or question your love for each other. But for Nathan's future, I must separate you two. Don't blame me for being cruel—I'm part of high society. If I lose everything because of Nathan's choices, including my reputation, and become the laughingstock of our circles, I would rather take my own life to make him regret his decisions."

"Don't think I'm merely threatening you—I've always been a woman of my word!"