After hearing Ella's words, Sarah couldn't contain her excitement. "You're absolutely amazing! That's exactly how you should fight back! Let them see how you can put them in their place!"
Ella jumped at Sarah's sudden outburst, placing a hand over her startled heart. "Could you please calm down when you talk?" She said, taking a steady breath. "You scared me."
"But do you think Austin will regret what he did?" Sarah asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Ella's expression froze momentarily. "It doesn't matter. I won't be getting back together with him regardless." Beneath her composed exterior, a silent vow took root: I need self-respect. Staying with Austin would only serve as a constant reminder of the horrific fate of her unborn child—a pain so sharp it felt like a physical weight in her chest.
The next day, the focus shifted from personal grief to professional survival. Daron informed Ella that the Prometheus Project had achieved preliminary results and was invited to a pre-committee meeting. This was a confidential gathering of industry insiders to evaluate technical potential before the formal product exchange conference.
Ella approached the meeting with integrity. She had nurtured the Prometheus Project from its inception, and she believed its innovation in AI model architecture would speak for itself. There was no need for shortcuts or backroom deals.
On the way to dinner, she noticed Daron nervously wringing his hands. "Don't overthink it," she reassured him. "We're in this together. Even if we fail here, the international market is waiting. I know this project's potential better than anyone."
When they opened the private room door at the restaurant, however, Ella’s composure was tested. Austin was seated at the head of the table, his presence commanding and cold. To his right sat Judith, looking triumphant. But what truly surprised Ella was the woman on Austin's left: Professor Tessa Hawthorne, her former academic advisor.
Memories of university disagreements resurfaced. Tessa had once been Ella’s mentor, but their relationship fractured when Ella abandoned a major competition to rescue Austin from an avalanche. Tessa, a woman who demanded 100% devotion to science, had never forgiven Ella for prioritizing a man over her research.
Ella quietly moved toward a corner seat, hoping to remain unnoticed.
"Ella, sit beside me," Tessa’s cool, authoritative voice commanded.
The room went silent. By calling Ella to her side, Tessa was signaling that she still recognized Ella’s intellectual caliber, despite their past. Ella moved seats, feeling Austin’s intense, unreadable gaze following her every move.
Throughout the meal, Judith tried to monopolize Tessa’s attention, attempting to secure a favorable word for her own interests. Ella remained silent, bracing herself for the technical scrutiny she knew was coming. Tessa was known for keeping personal feelings separate from professional evaluation; she wouldn't favor Ella unless the Prometheus Project was truly flawless.
Just as the atmosphere settled into a tense rhythm, the door opened. Valentin entered—the man who had previously betrayed Daron’s trust to side with Judith.
"Ms. Brooks, please forgive my lateness," Valentin said, bowing toward Judith with a fawning smile that made Ella’s skin crawl.
Ella watched him, a mocking smile playing at the corner of her lips. The professional masks were on, the players were seated, and the real battle for the Prometheus Project was about to begin.