Unexpectedly, the next moment came Judith's delighted exclamation."

Austin, did you make this especially for mne?"

She lifted her delicate, palm-sized face, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Bowing his head, Austin ladied out a bowl, murmuring assent in a deep.resonant voice.

"Thank you." Judith accepted it with a sweet smile. "It's so delicious.I want another bowl."

Ella froze as she overheard their conversation.

Could Austin cook?

He was perpetually busy, so overwhelmed with work that even seeing him was a rare occurrence.

Yet somehow, he'd found time to personally prepare a meal for Judith.

How ironic.

After four years of caring for him, she had never known he could cook.

It wasn't that he couldn't-he simply never deemed her worthy of the effort.

She had always thought Austin was just naturally cold and disinterested.

Now she realized he was perfectly capable ofbeing attentive and caring,just not with her.

Ella lowered her gaze to the vegetable salad on her plate, mechanically

picking at it and forcing herself to eat.

It tastes utterly dreadful.

Her hand instinctively moved to clutch her stomach as she drew in a sharp breath.

The pain became unbearable.

She suddenly stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.drawing the attention of both Austin and Judith.

"I need to go," she announced.

"Where?" Austin's voice was cold and demanding.

Ella trembled, her breathing becoming rapid. "Work emergency."

"What kind of emergency is so urgent?" he pressed.

Ella raised her face, fighting through the physical discomfort to respond."

The Prometheus Project."

"Can you even handle that project? You should know your capabilities.

What you should and shouldn't be doing." Austin's tone was cutting.

Ella remained silent.

What she should have been doing was being Austin's dutiful wife, but not pursuing a successful career.

"I have made my distinctions with utmost clarity," Ella replied flatly.

Austin's gaze was penetrating as he studied her face for a moment."When can I return to the master bedroom?"

Why would he need the master bedroom when he had his beloved right beside him?

Judith had openly moved in, and they could be together whenever they wanted.

Ella could easily make herself scarce.

There was no need to maintain this charade just to appease Karen.

"You can have the master bedroom whenever you want. I can move to another guest room," Ella said before hastily departing.

After she left. silence fell over the dining room.

Judith coughed softly and whispered, "Austin, is it because of me that Ella is sleeping separately from you?"

"Don't overthink it. She's just being difficult for no reason," Austin said with cold sarcasm.

Judith immediately brightened, her smile blooming across her face. "That's good. I was worried Ella might dislike me."

"She wouldn't dare," Austin replied dismissively.

Ella waited for her car, barely holding onto consciousness through the intense pain.

Once it arrived,she instructed the driver to take her to the hospital.

By the time they reached the hospital entrance, Ella had lost consciousness.

Her clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

The driver called her name several times, but when she didn't respond, he had no choice but to carry her into the emergency room.

Ella awoke in a hospital bed.

She saw a nurse standing beside her.

Rubbing her eyes groggily, she gradually gained clarity and realized she was in a ward.

"Ma'am, we've examined you and determined that you experienced vaginal bleeding due to miscarriage. Fortunately, we caught it early. If you had continued experiencing abdominal pain without seeking medical attention.it could have led to infertility," the nurse explained in a gentle voice.tucking the blanket around Ella.

That tiny act of kindness broke through Ella's defenses.

She hadn't wanted to cry, but this spark of warmth melted the ice around her heart.

She wept uncontrollably, biting her lip to muffle her sobs, which came out as helpless whimpers.

The blood, the tissue, the dull ache in her abdomen-all confirmed what she now knew. Her baby was gone.

Her baby.

"Please don't cry," The nurse said, patting her shoulder awkwardly, trying to comfort her.

Ella bit her lip as tears streamed down her cheeks.

She looked up and said, "It's okay."

The nurse pulled out several tissues and handed them to fe.

Ella wiped her face and shook her head, "Thank you. It's been a long time since anyone has shown concern for me."

The nurse appeared unprepared for Ella's remark and responded with a somewhat bashful smile.

A gentle warmth flowed through Ella's heart.

"Can I be discharged today?" She asked.

The nurse checked her chart and replied, "I'm afraid not. Leaving too soon could be detrimental to your recovery."

Ella remained silent, her face downcast in contemplation.

The nurse took the chart and was about to look for a room when she heard another nurse enter from outside, saying, "Did you see the news? Dr.

Hoffman from Peaceful Wellness Clinic was arrested."

"I always disliked him. When our hospital had that technical exchange with Peaceful Wellness, he sexually harassed me. He got what he deserved!"the second nurse replied cheerfully.

After the nurses completed their handover, Ella's lips curved into a slight smile, reaching her eyes.

At least she had done something good for the baby that never got to be born.

The thought made her stroke her abdomen, her entire demeanor softening.

Perhaps the heavy burden weighing on her heart had been lifted, for Ella inadvertently drifted back into slumber.

Yet, her sleep was restless and unsettled, as countless faces and memories flitted past her mind like fleeting shadows, preventing her from finding peace.

When roused from her sleep, she awoke with a lingering haze of confusion.

"Miss, your phone's been ringing for quite some time."

Ella struggled to sit up and answered the call.

"Where are you?" Austin's cold voice demanded.

Ella frowned, irritated at being awakened. "What is it?"

"Come back," He ordered.

Before she could respond, Austin had already hung up.

Ella had no choice but to put down her phone.

She threw back the covers and got out of bed, hurriedly removing her IV before preparing to leave.

"Miss, where are you going? Is it urgent?" the elderly patient asked.

"Yes, it is," Ella replied.

Remembering the nurse's warning, her pale face showed resignation.

"What could be more important than your own health?" the old man sighed worriedly.

Even this stranger knew to show concern for her, yet Austin had never once demonstrated such care.

By now, she felt almnost numb.

Ella offered a weary smile before ultimately stepping out.