Chapter 4 Bittersweet News

Sarah stared at Ella in shock before her expression morphed into fierce, protective rage. "If Austin hurt you again... I swear I'll kill him. But Ella, are you sure? Where will you go?"

"Anywhere he can't find me," Ella replied, her hand instinctively resting on her flat stomach. This child was not a continuation of a dead marriage; it was her rebirth. "Baby, from now on, it's just you and me."

Before they could plan further, the doctor’s expression turned solemn. "Ms. Brooks, I must warn you. Due to the severe cold exposure in your past, your physical condition is extremely fragile. The risk of miscarriage is terrifyingly high. You need absolute rest. No emotional distress."

"I understand," Ella said calmly. Her sorrow had already hardened into an unbreakable maternal instinct.

After discharging herself against medical advice, Ella took a cab straight to the townhouse to pack. She needed her passport and a few essentials before disappearing completely.

Standing before the front door, she mechanically punched in the passcode: 0623.

Austin had never changed it in four years. He had always coldly brushed her off whenever she asked what the numbers meant.

As the door clicked open, Ella pulled out her phone to check her midnight flight schedule. The screen lit up, displaying today's date: June 23rd.

Right below the date, a trending entertainment notification flashed: [Designer Judith to celebrate her birthday tonight with a grand banquet at Golden Century Hotel!]

Ella froze. She stared at the date on her screen, then slowly looked back at the keypad.

June 23rd. 0623.

A bitter, hollow laugh escaped her lips. Suddenly, everything made sickening sense. The reason Austin had rushed out into the dangerous thunderstorm last night, abandoning her right after demanding she have his child, was to be the first to wish Judith a happy birthday at midnight.

And for four years, Ella had been unlocking her "home" using another woman's birthday.

The sheer, suffocating humiliation of it washed over her, but instead of tears, it only solidified her resolve.

Inside, she quickly packed a small duffel bag. Taking the divorce agreement she had prepared days ago, she signed her name firmly at the bottom and left it right on the center of Austin's pillow. If she was leaving, she would do it decisively.

Just as she zipped her bag, her phone buzzed. Austin.

Ella hesitated, then answered. She needed to know his movements so she could safely board her flight tonight.

"I heard you went to the hospital," Austin's cold voice filtered through the speaker. For a brief second, there was an unnatural pause.

Ella's heart skipped a dangerous beat. Did he know about the baby?

"I've given you so many premium supplements, yet you're still this frail," he continued impatiently, answering her unspoken fear. He didn't know.

Relief flooded her, quickly followed by icy detachment. "I left the divorce papers on your bed. Sign them."

"Enough of your tantrums, Ella," Austin snapped. "There is a major banquet tonight at the Golden Century Hotel. You are required to attend as my companion."

Ella's grip on the phone tightened. Golden Century Hotel. He was actually ordering his legal wife to attend his mistress's birthday party, likely to squash the rumors about him spending the night at Judith's house.

Under normal circumstances, Ella would have hung up. But a cold, calculated plan formed in her mind. Her flight out of the country was booked for 1:00 AM. If she completely defied him now, Austin's bruised ego might cause him to send his men to track her down before she could leave.

But if she showed up, played her part, and slipped away in the middle of the crowded banquet... he wouldn't notice she was gone until her plane was already in the air.

"Fine," Ella said flatly. "I'll be there."

She hung up, leaving her luggage at Sarah's house, and quickly changed into a simple, elegant black dress.

Just hold on a little longer, baby, she prayed silently, touching her stomach. One last performance, and we are free.

...

At 8:00 PM, Ella arrived at the lavish Golden Century Hotel. The ballroom was dazzling, filled with the city's elite. As her high heels clicked against the marble floor, Ella scanned the crowd, intending to show her face to Austin and then vanish.

She spotted him in the center of the room. He looked breathtakingly handsome in his tailored suit, holding a glass of red wine.

Ella took a step forward, but suddenly froze, her blood running cold.

Austin wasn't waiting for her. A graceful, petite figure was clinging intimately to his arm, radiant and smiling as Austin introduced her to the VIP guests.

It was Judith.

Ella's expression stiffened. He didn't order her here to play his wife. He ordered her here to publicly humiliate her, forcing the legal wife to witness him officially introducing his mistress to high society on her birthday.