Chapter 5

Cornelius knew exactly where to strike.

Elizabeth's body trembled violently before she steadied herself. She raised her head defiantly, meeting his icy gaze.

"Yes! They're laughing at me. So what? Cornelius, no matter how pathetic I am, how much they mock me—at least I'm earning my own way."

She paused before raising her voice, "Better than being a ghost at your side, living like the walking dead!"

Cornelius's expression darkened dangerously as he stepped forward, his presence overwhelming. "Earning your way? By laughing at Aaron's jokes and pouring drinks? Elizabeth, you've certainly found your calling.

"You think leaving the Habsburg family means you'll soar? Don't crash too hard when you fall."

"Don't concern yourself with me, Mr. Habsburg!" Elizabeth straightened her spine. "Even if I crash and burn, it has nothing to do with you anymore."

"Let's hope so." He let out a cold laugh, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Remember what you said today."

He turned without another glance, leaving her with only the rigid line of his back.

Elizabeth leaned against the wall, emotionally drained. It took several minutes to compose herself before she could return to the private room with her smile firmly back in place.

She discovered her seat had been moved next to James.

Aaron shot her a meaningful look, feigning anger. "Elizabeth, Mr. Thomas has been waiting for you for several minutes. What took you so long? Hurry and apologize."

Elizabeth swallowed another wave of nausea and forced a timid smile. "Sorry for keeping you waiting, Mr. Thomas. Perhaps I can make it up to you with dinner sometime?"

Her submissive approach visibly softened James's expression.

Taking advantage of this opening, Elizabeth poured him more drinks and joined him in several toasts.

Her apparent enthusiasm lifted his mood dramatically. He not only agreed to the partnership but even offered to be her "big brother" in the industry.

Aaron seized the opportunity, producing a contract for James to sign.

Elizabeth hesitated, unsure of her role, but James spared her the awkwardness by taking the contract himself and signing it.

Before leaving, James handed Elizabeth his business card with a smile. "Beth, call me if you need anything. Young people need experience to grow."

Elizabeth brightened, appearing honored. "Thank you, James."

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and five or six people emerged, surrounding a tall, commanding figure. His cold presence seemed to fill the entire hall.

It was Cornelius.

Samuel Cannon, the wealthy heir accompanying Cornelius, spotted Elizabeth first.

"Isn't that Elizabeth?" he drawled, gesturing carelessly in her direction.

All heads turned toward them. She had just accepted James's business card, her smile still lingering on her face—a smile Cornelius couldn't remember seeing in years.

The implications were painfully obvious to everyone watching.

James and his associates spotted Cornelius, their expressions shifting from self-satisfaction to panic as they rushed over.

"Mr. Habsburg, what an honor to see you here—"

"Do you remember me? James Thomas. I gave you my card before."

They practically tripped over themselves, desperate for even a moment of Cornelius's attention.

He ignored them completely, his gaze fixed on Elizabeth, who hadn't noticed his stare as she studied the business card in her hand.

For so long, she had seemed to forget how to smile. Yet now...

His expression darkened terribly.

In the next moment, single ice-cold words fell from his lips:

"Get lost."

The sycophantic smile on James's face shattered instantly, replaced by pure terror.

Cornelius didn't spare them another glance. His cold gaze swept over Elizabeth once before he strode away with his entourage, leaving a vacuum of tension in his wake.

Aaron stood frozen, wiping sweat from his brow before hurriedly retreating to his car. Only after settling behind the wheel did he release a long, shaky breath.

He studied Elizabeth through the rearview mirror with new intensity.

"Elizabeth!" His voice turned sharp. "Tell me honestly—what the hell is going on between you and Cornelius? What was that about back there?"

Elizabeth stared at the blur of city lights passing outside the window, her voice utterly flat. "We're almost divorced. As for his attitude, I don't know, nor do I care."

"Bullshit!" Aaron spat through gritted teeth. "Do you think I'm blind? He looked ready to murder someone!"

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. "Do you know what he did to me years ago?"

No response.

Annoyed by her silence, he continued with a snort, "Back then, Cornelius had just joined the company—his position wasn't even secure. But over something trivial, he came after me like a man possessed.

"He had people target me directly, personally reported me to the executive office, and made me removed from the company and blacklisted across the entire industry..."

He glared at Elizabeth's downturned profile. "Because of that incident, he nearly destroyed me completely. And now you're telling me this isn't about you? Who are you trying to fool?"

Elizabeth remained silent, remembering that incident too. He had been young then, and she was officially his girlfriend. For someone who cared so much about reputation, of course he wouldn't let it go.

In the end, it was all about reputation.

She smiled self-mockingly, her face a careful mask of indifference. "You're overthinking it, Mr. Wright. Whatever he did, it certainly wasn't because of me."

Her tone was so certain that Aaron was momentarily taken aback. He drew in a sharp breath, realizing he might have been careless.

Cornelius was notorious for his calculating mind and long memory for grudges. If he had somehow offended Elizabeth, and Cornelius decided to retaliate tomorrow... Aaron couldn't help but shudder.

---

As they approached her cousin's neighborhood, Aaron pulled out a business card and scribbled an address on it.

"Tomorrow morning, 7:30. Be there to pick me up for work. Don't be late."

Elizabeth accepted it wordlessly.

Aaron observed her submissive demeanor with barely concealed contempt, but still offered his version of advice, "I didn't think you'd be good for much, but you surprised me today.

"Keep it up—be smart, stay alert, keep the clients happy, and there'll be good money in it for you. You hear me? Money."

Elizabeth clutched the card tightly and nodded. "Understood, Mr. Wright."

The moment the car stopped, her phone rang—Becky calling.

"Beth, it's so late. Why aren't you back yet? Are you okay?" Becky's voice was filled with concern.

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "I'm fine, just finished work. I think I should rent my own place. I can't keep imposing on you both."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by Becky's hushed voice: "What nonsense are you talking? How will you pay the rent? Just stay with us!"

But then the phone changed hands, and Karena's voice cut through, "Enough already. She's a grown woman with her own plans. We don't have much space here—it's awkward having her stay so long. If she wants to move out, let her!"

Becky grabbed the phone back, her voice dropping even lower, "Beth, don't listen to my mom! Can't you... isn't there any chance with Mr. Habsburg? If you had a child, things wouldn't have to be this way."