"This project humbly awaits you invaluable support and guidance."

"Good." As he spoke, Austin's gaze inadvertently fell upon a figure sitting by the café window.

Beside him, Judith deliberately leaned closer to Austin and murmured,"What are you watching?"

Noticing their shift in attention, Royce paused mid-step.

Seeing Ella with Daron, he was both surprised and delighted. "Ella!"

His hearty laugh preceded him as he approached their table.

Ella took a small sip from her coffee cup,her gaze fixed straight ahead without turning around.

"Mr. Castillo," Daron said, recognizing.Royce walking toward them. He promptly stood up from his chair, greeting him with enthusiasm.

Royce, his face beaming with a smile, said, "I heard about your project at the restaurant the other day. Quite impressive. I had specialists evaluate it.Ella,when did all this happen?"

It had occurred just after her promotion. She had originally planned to discuss it with Daron at this meeting.

Since Royce happened to be here as well, she turned slightly, accidentally meeting Austin's gaze.

His face showed little emotion-distant and aloof.

Ella briefly explained both the Prometheus Project and her promotion.

After hearing this. Judith's fingers clenched into fists, anger spreading from her eyes.

Fortunately, she excelled at concealing her true emotions,her smile flawlessly composed without the slightest flaw.

"So, Ella got promoted because of the Prometheus Project?" She asked.

She continued with thinly veiled hostility. "How high was the evaluation score for the Prometheus Project? I recall several investors were reluctant to fund it before. Mr. Castillo, aren't you perhaps overestimating the project's value?"

From Royce's perspective, Judith's brazen and intrusive meddling had clearly overstepped boundaries.

Her underlying implication seemed to question whether he even possessed the acumen to judge investments.

Were it not for deference to Austin, Royce would have never allowed such a person into the design department.

"Mr. Castillo's investment choices have theirmerits," Austin said, his voice neither warm nor cold. "Though I had the Prometheus Project market-evaluated in its early stages. Nothing particularly innovative about it-not much different from other developed AIs. The leading Al projects already monopolize core technologies. Under such technical barriers,only with my backing can Judith's project stand out. This, too, serves as a piece of counsel I offer to you."

Austin conveyed a subtle threefold nonchalance dismissal of the Prometheus Project as ordinary while subtly elevating Judith's work subtly highlighted his own influence in the matter.

Judith's lips curled into a small smile as she clutched Austin's arm tightly.

Meanwhile. Royce found himself in an awkward position.

Was Austin deliberately targeting Ella?

From the moment she joined the company, Royce had sensed Austin's intentional antagonism.

On one hand stood the renowned Phoenix, hired at a premium years ago.

On the other stood the beloved of Austin, a titan in the research industry.

With his blatant challenge, Austin was clearly forcing Royce to choose.

Either the Prometheus Project or Judith's project.

What could have caused such animosity?

Ella's gaze drifted away, understanding Austin's intent to direct Royce's attention to Judith's project.

She realized all the flaws and bugs in Judith's project had been fixed by Austin.

Daron,well aware of their relationship, never imagined Austin had truly changed his heart.

At the banquet, he had assumed Ella and Austin were simply having a spat.

But to publicly humiliate Ella like this seemed excessive.

His sympathetic gaze fell upon Ella's small, thin shoulders.

She was, after all. a young woman.

He pursed his lips before intervening. "Mr. Raymond, we're all businesspeople here. Why resort to insolence here, when causing a scene would only tarnish your own dignity?"

He left it at that, not pushing further.

The air crackled with tension.

Royce smiled, employing a businessman's typical deflection. "Haven't we already approved Ms. Brooks's project? Quantum Tech needs to expand and keep pace with the times. Rest assured, Mr. Raymond, I'll strongly support Ms. Brooks and ensure her project shines!"

Judith took Royce's words at face value.

She had always looked down on Ella, believing her place was beneath her feet.

With a challenging look toward Ella, she raised her chin as if declaring war.

'See? Even Royce stands with me now. Ella, you have no one behind you.She thought to himself.

Ella responded with quiet composure, "Let's compete fairly, then."

After this brief encounter. Ella grabbed her bag and left the contentious scene.

Daron caught up to her outside. Noticing her pallor, he asked, "Ella, you and Austin...?"

"Mr. Bales, could you please not mention this to my grandfather?" Ella requested.

She didn't want her grandfather worrying about her.

She had grown up and could handle her own aftermath.

"Don't worry, I won't tell your grandfather" Daron assured her.

After their conversation. Ella headed toward the subway station. Once ngain, she saw Judth riding away in Austin's car.

Returning home alone. Ella prepared a simple meal.

After taking her medication, she closed her eyes.

Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

As evening fell, Austin returned home.

He loosened his collar as he entered, his eyes catching the crescent moon reflecting on Ella's curled-up figure on the couch.

Her brow was damp with cold sweat, her breathing shallow. She looked thinner than ever.

Austin moved quietly,careful not to disturb her.

As he approached the sofa, his steps halted. His gaze lingered on her delicate face as he unconsciously reached out to touch it.

The cool sensation of her skin against hisfingers seemed to stir her awake.Their eyes met.

Austin was close, his expression cold as he reached past her to grab some documents trapped beneath her body.

He pulled them out forcefully, not caring that Ella rolled off the sola with

the sudden movement.

Her chin struck the table leg.

She let out a cry of pain.

He took the documents and turned to leave without a backward glance.

Watching Austin's retreating figure, Ella felt nothing. She picked herself up from the floor and went to the bedroom.

Downstairs, the front door slammed shut. Ella closed her own door with equal force.

Back in bed, she listened to the sound of the car engine fading into the distance as she closed her eyes.