Their eyes locked in a tense standoff.

Yulia broke the silence first. "Elizabeth York. It's you."

Her gaze swept over Elizabeth from head to toe.

Something felt different about her since their last encounter.

"Were you looking for me?" Elizabeth maintained her composure.

"Who else would I be looking for? Or perhaps I should be seeking out Nathan?" Yulia's tone dripped with sarcasm.

Yulia's presence here confirmed she knew about Elizabeth's relationship with Nathan.

"Come inside," Elizabeth offered, stepping aside. "No need to remove your shoes. I don't have extra slippers."

Yulia entered the apartment, her eyes scanning the space. It wasn't extravagant or particularly large, but it radiated warmth and comfort.

She settled on the sofa while Elizabeth poured her a glass of water.

Elizabeth appeared even more poised than before, despite her family's recent troubles.

Was Nathan responsible for this transformation?!

"Did Nathan purchase this apartment?" Yulia asked, her voice steady.

She almost hoped he had. At least that would explain how he'd managed to keep a girlfriend hidden.

When Nathan mentioned having a girlfriend earlier today, every alarm bell in her head went off. Even when he refused to reveal her identity, Yulia knew she had to investigate. She needed to determine if this woman deserved her son.

Marriages in wealthy families like theirs were never simple matters of the heart. They carried implications that could ripple through entire business circles.

Discovering it was Elizabeth left her with mixed emotions—both disappointed and somewhat relieved.

She remembered Nathan's youthful infatuation with Elizabeth. There was even a time he'd cried on her shoulder, heartbroken that Elizabeth didn't return his feelings. She'd dismissed it as typical campus romance, though she had considered matchmaking them given their compatible family backgrounds.

But fate had other plans...

"Yes," Elizabeth answered honestly.

There was no point in hiding the truth from Yulia anyway.

Someone of Yulia's resources could easily uncover the property records.

"How long have you and Nathan been together?"

"About three or four months."

"So... he started seeing you right after your family's... incident." Yulia calculated the timing.

"Essentially, yes."

"Nathan certainly knows how to seize an opportunity," Yulia remarked with clear disdain.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, choosing silence.

"I won't approve of this relationship." Yulia cut straight to the point, wasting no more time.

Elizabeth had anticipated this response.

With her family name tarnished and her connection to Nancy severed, she never expected Yulia to welcome her into the Davis family.

"This might not sound convincing, but Nathan and I genuinely love each other. If you force us apart, he'll resent you for it."

Yulia studied Elizabeth. Even without the Levine family aura, the young woman's eyes held determination, calmness, and composure.

She possessed more grace and elegance than Cora ever had.

Such poise couldn't be cultivated overnight—it required years of development.

"You grew up in this world, Elizabeth. Between Nathan's temporary resentment and his future prospects, what do you think I would choose?" Yulia countered calmly, rather than becoming angry.

Elizabeth bit her lower lip.