"Thank you for the compliment, Madam Lois," Ellis responded. "Oh, by the way, your face?" Lois eyed the scratches on Ellis' cheek with curiosity. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you need a few days off? Paid leave, of course. You should rest or get it checked out." Ellis self-consciously touched her face. "I'm fine, just got scratched." The scratches had faded considerably compared to a few days ago, so Lois didn't think they were from a person. Instead, she guessed, "A cat or a dog?" Ellis had anticipated someone asking about her face, so she played along with Lois's assumption. "My friend's cat is too aggressive. I tried to pet it, and it got mad and scratched me a few times." Lois continued, "You got your rabies shot, right?" "Yeah." As Ellis answered, a scene from the police station flashed through her mind—Easton seeing her injury and not even bothering to ask if it hurt, completely indifferent. She couldn't help but reflect on how she managed to endure three years of marriage with such a cold-blooded man. Most people would develop feelings for a dog if they raised it for three years. But Easton? No, wait. She wasn't the dog here. Easton was the dog. A rabid one that wouldn't stop barking. That evening. Ellis arrived on time at the hotel hosting the auction. Marrying Easton had done more than just elevate her social status. It had also given her access to high-society events, which helped her grow more poised and confident, no longer timid or hesitant. So, as soon as she entered the auction hall, she headed straight for the seat assigned to her, according to the information Lois had given. But it seemed the universe thought her day had been going too smoothly and decided to throw something at her—because just as she was about to sit down, she spotted Victoria in the center of the hall, surrounded by a crowd of admirers. And as if on cue, the people around Victoria also noticed her, making the atmosphere instantly awkward.Ellis was starting to think that running into Easton was bad luck, but running into Victoria was just as bad. She instinctively turned her face away, pretending not to see Victoria, avoiding eye contact at all costs. Otherwise, she might not be able to stop herself from cursing her out—Why are you acting all innocent, you two-faced snake? You and Easton are a match made in hell. Just wait to get struck by lightning! But her attempt to ignore Victoria was useless. Just like at Mr. Scott's birthday banquet, the moment Victoria saw her, she immediately stopped talking to the people around her. She turned her gaze toward Ellis, smiling warmly as she greeted her, "Ms. Ellis, what a coincidence." Do all mistresses have a thing for seeking validation from the wife? The thought crossed Ellis' mind as she coldly observed Victoria's little act. Victoria didn't push the interaction any further. After greeting her, she simply went back to chatting and laughing with the people around her.But, of course, the onlookers weren't about to let the tension slide. Ellis could feel the curious glances thrown her way, but she didn't care. After all, being a topic of gossip was far less terrifying than being poor. Working as Lois's secretary was the best job she could find at the moment. Even if she only held the position for a year, it would still help her tremendously. She reminded herself that she was here for work—to buy something for her boss—not as herself. Everything else was just background noise. As the auction officially began, most guests adopted serious expressions, whispering only about whether the items were worth their price or if they were authentic. Ellis let her mind wander, uninterested in the items up for bid until the one she needed finally appeared. In the end, she managed to buy it for a price lower than the maximum Lois had set. Afterward, a staff member guided her through the payment and collection process, and she finished quickly. The item was valuable, so Lois had arranged for a driver to bring her there and take her back. Holding the carefully packaged gift box, Ellis was ready to leave the hotel.But before she could step outside, Victoria appeared in front of her—like a ghost drifting into her path—her eyes flickering toward the item in Ellis' hands. Then, with her arms crossed and her chin slightly raised, Victoria took on a condescending posture. They were roughly the same height, but Victoria wore heels while Ellis had on flats, putting her at a disadvantage visually. Since she already found Easton unbearable, it was only natural that she wouldn't find Victoria any more pleasant. Ellis gave her a saccharine smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Miss, are your eyes not working? Why are you blocking my way? Don't you know good dogs don't block the road?" Victoria's carefully maintained smile didn't falter. "I didn't mean to block your way, Ms. Ellis. I just noticed you were all alone and wondered why Easton isn't here with you." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Victoria let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Oh, silly me, I forgot—you and Easton are separated." The number of people who knew about their separation was extremely limited. For Victoria to be one of them, it was obvious—Easton had told her.Ellis let out a soft scoff. "Ms. Victoria, are you trying to show off?" Victoria glanced around briefly before lowering her voice just a bit. "You're mistaken, Ms. Ellis. I'm not showing off. I just care about Easton and don't want him to be unhappy."