With Jason's support, Ella no longer had any reservations.

"I'll go wrap things up with the design department," Jason said before walking in the opposite direction.

Ella acknowledged this and made her way out of the company building.

As she approached the elevator, she unexpectedly encountered Austin.She had assumed he'd already left the company.

For a moment, she considered avoiding him, but then Ella stopped herself.

Why should she dodge Austin?

She hadn't done anything wrong.

If anything, Austin was the one responsible for the loss of her unborn child.

She wouldn't run.

Having made up her mind, she turned back and simply waited for the elevator, treating Austin as if he were invisible.

"Ella, are you resigning?" Austin's cool voice suddenly cut through the silence.

Through the polished metal surface of the elevator doors, with their slight reflection, she could see Austin standing to her left.

Back in college, she used to secretly watch him this way,her insecurities preventing her from looking at him directly.

Back then, love had seemed so pure and beautiful.

But after years of weathering life's storms, that pure love had long since disappeared with the wind.

Ella was lost in thought for quite some time until the sharp pain in her chest finally subsided.

"Yes," she answered flatly.

Austin lowered his eyelashes, his emotions unreadable.

Ella didn't bother trying to decipher them. When the elevator doors opened, she took a step forward to enter.

He grabbed her wrist, asking again, "Are you angry about what happened at the summit?"

Ella reflected that she had indeed been angry-not because she was outperformed, but because Austin had secretly plotted against her.

And all because Judith wanted to compete with her.

He had unconditionally taken Judith's side.

But now that anger had faded.

When the truth had emerged, she only wanted revenge for her unborn child.

Whether it was Austin or Judith, those responsible for her baby's death would pay the price.

A clear hatred flashed across her eyes before Ella took a deep breath and pulled her hand away from Austin's grip.

She turned slightly to face him, fixing him with a cold stare. "You think too highly of yourself, Austin. I'm not that fragile. So what if you wanted to crush our Prometheus Project? The more you try to squeeze us out, the more Daron and I will rise against the odds."

"Ella, when did you become so arrogant?" Austin asked, as if he couldn't understand her words.

Ella responded with barely contained fury, "Arrogant? You used underhanded tactics to back us into a corner, all because you're afraid Judith's mediocre project would be outshone by ours. You're the ones who are scared, which is why you pulled these stunts."

Austin fell silent.

"At least your actions confirmed one thing-the Prometheus Project could be a historic breakthrough that challenges the current state of AI. I won't give up on developing it, and I won't abandon the project team. As long as I'm alive, I'll keep moving forward. 'Austin, I'm especially grateful to you for showing me how ridiculous I was, throwing myself headfirst into love without any regard for consequences."

"Oh, and I'm moving out. Make sure you sign the divorce papers soon so we can go to court and be done with each other for good." She added.

The elevator doors were still open. Ella stepped inside.

As the doors closed, Austin just stared at her, a barely perceptible shock in his eyes that gave her a sense of dark satisfaction.

His imposing figure in that tailored black suit, his chiseled face with downcast eyes-he looked like a lost and abandoned animal.

Ella let out a cold laugh, looking at him as if he were a stranger.

She ran around all day and managed to secure a loan of one million dollars.

Three million dollars wvas a mountain that ordinary people couldn't climb.

But Ella felt it still wasn't enough.

She couldn't stop.

The beginning was always the hardest; she would take it step by step.

Leaving the last bank, Ella was rejected due to insufficient qualifications and a four-year employment gap.

Sitting in the car with neon lights warming her face and casting a slender shadow along her nose, she felt drained.

The driver excitedly said, "I just tested this AI ride-hailing upp and discovered this area has the highest foot traffic-perfect for picking up passengers. What a coincidence,right?"

Ella had no energy to respond, slumping wearily into the seat.

"Ma'am, would you mind if I pick up another passenger to share the ride?"The driver asked apologetically.

Exhausted, Ella weakly agreed.

The driver turned the wheel and sped off.

Racing through the streets, Ella bumped against the car window several times.

The pain nearly made her wince.

After that, she was fullyawake.

The car stopped, and the door opened as a well-dressed man in a business suit got in.

Ella didn't pay attention to his face, turning aside to rest her eyes.

After a while, she heard the man's deep, attractive voice.

"To the Technology Park."

That wasn't her route-she was headed to Sarah's place.

Ella thought absently, then froze.

Technology Park?

Her eyes snapped open as she straightened up to examine the man beside her, asking, "Are you going to the Victoria Harbor Technology Park?"

The suited man glanced at her, saying coolly, "Do we know each other?"

He carried a natural air of aloofness that instinctively made people wary.

Ella pressed her lips together, cleared her throat, and introduced herself,"Well,we'll get to know each other if we start talking, won't we?"

The suited man seemed annoyed by her overly familiar approach and was about to signal the driver to stop.