Zoey stood frozen in place, taken aback by Ella's assertive and direct accusation. She felt like a thief caught red-handed, completely unprepared for Ella's strong response. The fact that Ella, who had always been gentle and soft, could speak so boldly caught Zoey off guard.

Ella didn't hold back and didn't give Zoey any face. Her eyes coldly glanced at the arm they were holding. "Do you think you are more suitable to accompany my fiancé?" she questioned with a direct challenge.

Lucien reacted to the tension and quickly pushed Zoey's hand away, trying to diffuse the awkward situation.

Zoey felt even more embarrassed and couldn't find a way to back down. She managed to smile sheepishly, trying to explain herself. "Since you rarely attend this kind of banquet, I accompanied Mr. Williams to socialize. I apologize for any misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" Ella raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying I'm stupid?"

Before Zoey could argue further, Ella continued bluntly, "Besides, I couldn't help but notice that from the moment I entered the banquet hall until now, you've been holding onto my fiancé and not letting go. It gave me the impression that you were making some sort of claim over him."

Zoey was visibly shaken by Ella's words, and due to the difference in status, she didn't dare to retort loudly. Instead, she kept explaining and apologizing, "No, Ms. Ford, it's just that I didn't pay attention to how close I was getting. I'll be more mindful next time. I'm sorry."

Ella let out a light laugh, showing no intention of forgiving Zoey. Cendy stood by, dumbfounded, witnessing a side of Ella she had never seen before – so assertive and domineering.

Cendy had warned Ella about Zoey before, describing her as a shameless slut who constantly stuck close to Lucien with less-than-appropriate intentions. Despite that, Ella had expressed her trust in Lucien, and Cendy had thought he was a good person, so she didn't push the matter further at the time. Now, witnessing Ella's strong demeanor, Cendy couldn't help but be surprised.

Despite Zoey's good looks and educational background as a graduate from a prestigious university, her demeanor and behavior made Cendy uncomfortable. Zoey seemed to have a sense of entitlement and looked down upon others, particularly those from the upper class, assuming they had achieved everything solely through luck and not merit.

Now that Ella was teaching her a lesson in public, Zoey felt pained to her core.

"Ella," Lucien suddenly spoke, taking the initiative to hold her hand. Though Ella was repulsed in her heart, she managed to hold back her anger toward him.

Lucien smiled and continued, "I didn't expect you to come today out of the blue, but I'm glad you did." He made no mention of the incident with Zoey, avoiding any awkwardness in the conversation.

Indeed, Lucien was not skilled at avoiding obvious situations, and Ella knew better than to press the matter further. She had already made her point with Zoey, and Lucien had witnessed it. Pushing him further on this issue wouldn't be helpful to her plans.

"Come on, I'll take you to meet my parents. They'll definitely want to see you," Lucien said with a gentle smile. Ella nodded in agreement and signaled Cendy with a word before linking her arm with Lucien's and walking down the banquet hall.

Their combination of male talent and female beauty naturally attracted a lot of attention from the crowd.

"I used to think it was just a rumor, but seeing Ella now, I can say she truly deserves to be America's number one beauty."

"I've never seen her in public before, but now that I have, I admit I underestimated her beauty. She's stunning… I guess I had her all wrong."

"In the past, I used to think that Ella wasn't good enough for Lucien, but now that I look at her, I realize she's even more remarkable."

—

The comments from the other guests reached Lucien and Ella's ears.

Before, due to Ella's infrequent attendance at such events and Lucien's skillful presentation, some people in Seattle felt she didn't deserve him. Now, hearing the crowd's praises, Lucien was naturally upset to the core.

He always liked to see himself in the highest position and couldn't stand anyone criticizing him or comparing themselves to him. Ella was the same way, but they both hid it so well that no one could tell.

As they approached Lucien's parents, Ella put on a smile, hiding the bitterness and resentment she felt toward the Williams Family. She had once believed that they treated her sincerely, but now she knew it was all a lie to take advantage of her family's wealth. Nevertheless, she stayed calm and engaged in polite conversation with them, not letting her true feelings show.

The banquet hall was bustling with guests, and the Williams Family – as one of the four major families – was busy entertaining everyone. Ella slipped away in the commotion, and Lucien didn't even notice her departure.

In the past, he justified neglecting her due to his busy work schedule, and she always made excuses for him.

Ella headed toward the back garden, seeking solace from the bustling crowd. As soon as she stepped outside, she felt a sense of relief. Suddenly, a voice called out, surprising her, "Ms. Ford."

Ella turned her head and saw Eden emerging from the darkness. He was dressed in a stylish black and gray suit with a white shirt and silver-gray tie, his features strikingly attractive. Uncharacteristically, she averted her eyes and asked, "Why are you here?"

"I'm waiting for you," his mouth curled into a pretty smirk.

Waiting for her? For what?

And how did he know she'd come to the garden?

"Why?" Ella asked plainly, not moving.

"For my card!" Eden scowled.

Ella blushed slightly, realizing that she shouldn't have expected much from him. She said, "I thought you were always generous to your women?"

"Oh, so now you're my woman?" Eden smiled wickedly.

Eden's handsome face approached with an oppressive and dangerous air, causing Ella to shy away. Eden's grin turned sly.

"Ugh, you jerk." Ella’s tone was rough, "Your card's at my house. I'll bring it next time I see you."

After speaking, she turned around and prepared to leave. In her second life, she had a clear purpose, and she didn't intend to waste time. Right now, she needed to learn how to socialize properly.

Just then, Lucien came out of the banquet hall. He must've realized she wasn't with him, so he came out to find her.

When he saw her, he didn't look too pleased, probably expecting her to stay by his side in peace and silence while he mingled. However, in the next second, he transformed into a graceful and elegant gentleman. "Why did you come out alone? You just disappeared… I was worried."

"I was feeling a bit bored, so I stepped out for some fresh air. I was just about to head back," Ella said with a faint smile.

"Next time, let me accompany you," Lucien said as he wrapped her in an intimate embrace.

Ella felt a little uncomfortable, especially with Eden's gaze fixed on her. It was creepy, and it made her feel guilty, even though they were nothing more than partners in their dealings.

Lucien noticed Eden's gaze and still maintained his composure. He extended his hand in greeting, saying, "Mr. Dillon is here too? It's been a while."

Eden glanced at Lucien, but didn't extend his hand in return.

He walked past them coldly and arrogantly, dropping a snide remark, "Your fiancée is a beautiful little flower, Mr. Williams. Better keep an eye on her next time."