"Is this the one? Room 409?" Paul asked as he was about to push the door open.

When Paul burst into the massage room, he froze in shock. Before him, Ella was seated calmly while a male technician was professionally adjusting the tension in her shoulders. On the other massage table, Sarah was enjoying a treatment, looking relaxed and indifferent to the intrusion.

The room was elegantly appointed with soft, neutral lighting and the faint scent of lavender. However, the unexpected arrival of the group shattered the tranquility.

"Wrong room. This is 309," Judith, who had followed Paul inside, declared with a cold smirk. Seeing Ella in such a relaxed state, she deliberately raised her voice. "Ella! I can't believe you’re here while everyone is looking for you."

Sarah caught Judith's dramatic affectation and frowned. "Ella, do we have uninvited guests? I think I hear someone who loves to perform."

Austin was the last to enter. The moment he stepped in, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. His cold, piercing gaze swept toward Ella, a silent storm brewing in his dark eyes. Ella felt a shiver run down her spine, but she met his gaze with feigned indifference, slowly standing up to face him.

"Ella, how do you like the relaxation I arranged?" Sarah asked, completely ignoring Austin. She looked at the technician. "I think my friend needs more focus on her stress relief; she’s been dealing with a lot of 'dead weight' lately."

Paul spoke up, his voice dripping with disdain. "Were you trying to get Austin's attention by coming here? Ella, stop this charade. We all know you're just trying to make him jealous."

"We've already discussed divorce," Ella replied flatly, her voice echoing in the silent room.

Paul laughed dismissively. "Divorce? You love him too much to leave. You're just a desperate admirer trying to compete with Judith. Judith is the one Austin truly values. Don't you get it?"

Sarah jumped to Ella's defense. "Are you still talking, Paul? Your ignorance is truly exhausting."

"Ms. Wilson, this is between Austin and Ella," Judith said in a soft, manipulative voice. She placed her hand on Austin's shoulder, marking her territory. "Ella, you can act out at home, but in public, your behavior reflects on the Raymond family. I suggest you remember your place."

Ella let out a cold snort. She looked at the nervous technician and then turned her gaze to Judith. "I’ve severed ties with the Brooks family, and soon, the Raymonds too. It’s not your place to tell me what to do, Judith."

She then turned to Paul, her smile sharp and icy. "And just a reminder—I'm not the one pursuing anyone. If Austin feels humiliated, it’s because of his own actions, not mine."

Her defiance stunned everyone. Paul stood dumbfounded, unable to believe the once-obedient Ella would dare humiliate Austin so boldly in front of his peers. He looked at Austin, whose face was a mask of cold fury, his eyes betraying a turbulent, dark emotion.

Without a word, Austin turned and walked out of the room. The others followed him like shadows.

"Awesome!" Sarah gave Ella a thumbs-up once they were gone.

Ella lowered her eyelids, feeling a fleeting surge of satisfaction. This was the first time she had ever stood her ground. However, the victory felt hollow. She had only used the situation to prove a point; her heart was still heavy with the weight of her crumbling marriage.

Later that evening, Austin returned to their home, the scent of whiskey clinging to him. He had spent the afternoon in a dark mood, his mind replaying the scene at the spa. The fact that Ella no longer seemed to crave his presence—that she could look at another man with even a shred of interest—gnawed at his ego.

Did she truly stop loving him? The mere possibility made him let out a cold, bitter laugh.

He headed straight upstairs, his movements unsteady. He didn't find her in the master bedroom. When he went to check the guest room, he discovered the old door had been replaced with a heavy-duty security door, complete with reinforced bars.

She had literally locked him out of her life.

The situation struck him as absurdly insulting. Kicking the door repeatedly, he called out her name, his voice thick with drunken frustration. "Ella! Open this door right now! If you don't, I'll have someone tear the whole wall down!"