Ella showed no emotion as she withdrew her gaze.

Austin had always refused to take her to Starlight Pier when she asked for a date. Yet now, for Judith, he had broken precedent.

It transpired that all along, Judith had been the sole exception.

She was merely feeling sorry for her who had once charged headlong into love.

Four years of companionship and her devoted care during his paralysis now felt like a slap across her face.

Ella's face stung with humiliation as she walked slowly behind Jason, her gaze fixed on the floor.

"Watch where you're going," Jason warned, having noticed the group behind them.

Ella looked up, forcing a smile. "Fine."

"Please, your smile looks worse than crying," he quipped, lightly tapping her forehead.

After they entered the private dining room, Ella took a seat across from Jason.

He casually glanced at the menu. She looked down at the menu and discovered it was just a matcha onsen egg that cost two hundred dollars.

She inhaled sharply.

All these years, she'd lived in Austin's house and eaten his food.

Now she couldn't even afford simple luxuries.

She blamed her own stubborn pride.

She'd said she wanted nothing in the divorce.

Though Austin was certainly stingy, a financial tycoon who couldn't even offer a separation allowance.

She stared anxiously at the prices. "I'm not hungry. You go ahead and order.Jason."

"Fine. Two portions," he replied.

Ella's head snapped up to look at him.

He shrugged casually. "I'm hungry. I'l eat plenty."

Ella propped her chin on her hand and carefully selected the most cost-effective item-a vegetable salad for fifty dollars-all to protect her wallet.

If she'd known the restaurant would be so expensive, she never would have insisted on treating him.

The server brought their dishes one after another.

Ella's stomach growled audibly, yet she nibbled only on lettuce leaves,secretly eyeing the delicious spread on the table with undisguised longing.

"Pathetic," Jason said, pushing a plate of pasta toward her. "Here, eat this."

Ella looked embarrassed.

"I was just messing with you. As your senior, how could I let you pay?"

So he'd been joking all along!

Ella forced a laugh. "You could have said so earlier! I thought you were going to make my first day on the job difficult."

"What position did you get?" Jason looked up to ask.

"Secretary," she replied.

Jason set down his silverware, his expression serious. "With your qualifications and education, you shouldn't be a secretary. How did HR approve that?"

"Don't blame them. The only technical position was already given to someone else."

Jason couldn't help but wonder who could be more qualified than Ella.

whom he had respected so much during their university days.

"Never mind. You'll find out tomorrow when you join your department."

Ella focused on eating her pasta.

Look at how pitiful she was, not even caring that someone had taken her rightful position.

"You're divorced now. Don't you have any career ambitions? Are you planning to coast through work like before?" Jason frequently mentioned their university years, proving how important Ella remained in his mind.

Ella caught his implied concern and felt touched by his warmth.

She smiled genuinely. "How could I? I had your protection back then,but now that I'm in the real world, do you think I'd actually exploit your influence to slack off? I'll work hard, I promise."

"Whatever you do, just don't be like before, so..."

Jason hesitated, leaving his thought unfinished.

He pushed the food toward her. "The pasta goes well with this egg."

Ella's mouth twitched as she understood his implication and dug in."I divorced him because of his affair. You don't need to keep reminding me."

"I warned you before that he's not a good person," Jason said, awkwardly rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Ella smiled resignedly. "I'vecertainly learned my lesson about love. I won't trust men again."

Hearing her bitter words, as if all men were like Austin, Jason felt defensive.

"Some men are trustworthy," he said, lifting his chin proudly with a hint of cockiness.

Ella didn't catch his meaning and looked puzzled. "Jason, is your neck uncomfortable?"

"Forget it," he said, abandoning the topic.

As they exited, Ella and Jason spotted Judith coming out of the adjacent private room.

Seeing Judith, Ella's expression darkened.

She planned to pretend she hadn't seen her.

"Ella!" She intended to disregard it, yet Judith showed no intention of letting her be.

"Is this your boyfriend?" Judith's gaze lingered on the handsome Jason

standing beside Ella, then she coughed slightly. "Does Austin know about this? Is this why you divorced him?"

Ella remained silent, watching Judith deliberately misinterpret their relationship.

She could easily see the malicious intent behind Judith's words.

In the past, she might have explained herself.

But then she realized Judith would likely report everything back to Austin.

There was no point in explaining.

After all, she and Austin were getting divorced anyway.

None of it mattered anymore.

Judith interpreted Ella's silence as guilt and made no effort to hide her contempt. "Ella, no matter what, you shouldn't bring him here. What if Austin sees you?"

"You'd better hurry and spill the beans; perhaps then he might hasten to sign the divorce papers with me." With the commanding, Ella delivered this remark before pulling Jason away, leaving Judith standing there,seething with suppressed fury.

"Am I just a prop to you?" Jason tilted his head, purposely leaning close to her ear.

Ella took his gesture as simply playing along with her act.

She smiled apologetically. "Sorry for using you like that."

"I don't mind being used that way," he replied.

"Judith, didn't you go to the restroom? Why are you back so quickly?"asked Paul.who had been joking with his friends in a carefree manner.

Judith reluctantly curled the corner of her lips, hesitating as if yearning to speak yet restraining herself. "I ran into Ella at the door."

"Is her mind okay? Following you all the way to Starlight Pier? Don't be upset-Austin only has eyes for you. He'd never look twice at her," Paul said with disgust before rushing to comfort Judith.

He nudged the other men, and they all nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. Women like Ella are just for temporary fun, then discarded.You're the one who's truly important to Austin all these years."

"Don't let that calculating woman upset you."

"Right,Austin?"

Paul looked up at Austin, waiting for his confirmation.

Austin played with his lighter, lowering his eyelashes.

His features, partially illuminated by the small flame, created a pattern of light and shadow that made his expression unreadable.

After toying with it for a moment, he picked up his glass and downed his drink in one go.

"She's not worth it."

Judith had been secretly observing Austin's reaction, fearing he might have developed feelings for Ella after years of marriage.