Chapter 179: A Change in Favor

Ellis wasn't particularly happy about the gift; if anything, she felt conflicted. On paper, the bag was a holiday gift from Nexus Group, but in reality, it was one of Morty's leftovers. Was she supposed to carry around something from a man she didn't even like? That just felt wrong. Forget it. She wasn't using it.

Selling it for cash? The thought popped into her head, and the more she considered it, the better it sounded. Without hesitation, she checked the box for a receipt. If she could find proof of purchase, it would confirm the bag's authenticity, making it easier to sell without getting lowballed. And just her luck—there was a receipt inside. Running into Easton earlier had been bad luck, but apparently, her fortune had turned around by evening.

The night was quiet outside, but inside the Hudson Group building, Taylor and several subordinates were still working overtime. Holding a document that needed her boss's signature, Taylor stepped into Easton's office and immediately hesitated. Easton sat at his desk, brows furrowed deeply, exuding an air of frustration. Should she come back tomorrow instead? Being a CEO's assistant wasn't just about competence—it was about reading the room. One wrong move, and you could end up in serious trouble.

Easton was in an especially foul mood tonight. His phone, which he had just set down, was the reason why. Victoria had called him multiple times despite him telling her he was busy. Now he was extremely irritated with her. Setting his phone aside, he noticed Taylor standing there. His expression remained dark. Since she was already in the office, Taylor braced herself and placed the document in front of him. "Mr. Easton, please sign this."

Instead of looking at the document, Easton spoke first. "Stop all support for Victoria's company." Taylor's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Did she hear that right? Wasn't Victoria supposed to be his one true love? Hadn't he always provided her with endless resources, no questions asked? For the longest time, everyone had assumed that if there was anyone Easton cared about, it was Victoria. But now?

Hearing his cold and decisive order, Taylor quietly formed a bold guess in her mind. Without letting any emotion show on her face, she simply nodded. "Yes, Mr. Easton." Taylor took the hint and left immediately. Alone in the office, Easton tossed his pen onto the desk with more force than necessary. The loud clack only added to his irritation. And this frustration—this unfamiliar frustration—was something he had rarely experienced before.

It wasn't just that he was in a bad mood. It was that, for the first time, his agitation was directly linked to Ellis. And he didn't know what to do with that. His mind kept replaying how she had acted at the golf course. Like he was some kind of plague she needed to avoid. The feeling stayed with him all the way until late at night, when he finally returned home.

Even lying in bed, trying to force himself to sleep, the irritation didn't fade. Eventually, he gave up and went to his study. He had been dealing with insomnia for a while now, and his usual method was to drown himself in work. By the time he finally stopped, it was already the middle of the night. The whole world was quiet. Looking out at the dark city skyline, he suddenly felt like the space around him was too empty. Too silent. Too…lonely.

For the first time, he wished someone were with him. Preferably… Who? Ellis? Her name popped into his head before he could stop it. His jaw clenched instinctively. His train of thought came to a sudden halt. Without hesitation, he shut his laptop and left the study. Wanting his ex-wife to keep him company? Clearly, he was sleep-deprived and out of his damn mind.

Cameron stepped into the private room and immediately spotted Morty, which surprised him. "You actually have time to be out?" He took a seat beside him. "Didn't you say you were swamped with a new project? No time at all?" Morty didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his chin toward a certain direction. Cameron got the hint instantly and followed his gaze. Victoria was sitting a short distance away, staring at her phone with a worried expression.

Cameron had been invited by Victoria tonight. If Morty was here too, that was no surprise—he and Victoria had grown up together. No matter how busy he was, he would give her some face. "Madam Victoria," Cameron greeted her with a grin. "I'm here. Didn't you see me?" "Mr. Cameron," Victoria replied absentmindedly. Her attention was entirely focused on Easton. She hadn't been able to reach him all day. And now, out of nowhere, Hudson Group had suddenly pulled all support from her company. She was in full-blown panic mode. She had no idea what had set Easton off. After wracking her brain all day, she had hastily put together this gathering, hoping to get him to show up.