Chapter 53: Letting Go

"Ms. Ellis, how about we start over!" Tom extended his hand with a friendly smile.

"Sounds good." Ellis smiled and shook his hand. For some reason, the handshake felt like a ritual, a formal farewell to the past. From now on, she was Ms. Ellis—anything and everything, except Madam Easton. Without Easton in her life, she would do just fine.

The rest of the evening went smoothly. Ellis engaged in conversation confidently, followed professional etiquette, and remained attentive to Lois's cues. She performed her role as a secretary with precision, determined to make a flawless impression.

As dinner was wrapping up, Tom clinked glasses with her but didn't drink immediately. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and observed her.

"Tonight, Ms. Ellis—" Tom's pause made her listen carefully for what was coming next.

"You have this stunning aura... like a widow who just lost her husband," he finally said.

It wasn't a random remark. Tom had seen her before, always glued to Easton's side like conjoined twins. She had constantly hovered around him, clinging to him, catering to him, as if she couldn't survive without him. But tonight, standing on her own, she exuded confidence in every gesture. It wasn't that she had lacked self-assurance before, but the difference was subtle yet striking.

Ellis froze for a second. Calling someone a widow was hardly polite. Realizing his mistake, Tom quickly corrected himself. "I didn't mean to curse Mr. Easton into an early grave, I just—"

"It's nothing. Thanks for the compliment, Mr. Tom," Ellis interrupted, surprisingly unfazed. In some ways, she really wasn't much different from a widow. If she were to be truly bitter about it, Easton should have just died in some accident before Victoria returned. At least then, she wouldn't have discovered his infidelity. Maybe he could have remained her unforgettable first love.

Tom was stunned. He had expected her to be angry, but she wasn't.

After dinner, Ellis personally escorted the clients to their cars before getting into Lois's vehicle. Since Lois was the boss, the driver would be dropping her home first. Ellis leaned back, planning to rest her eyes and let the alcohol wear off.

"Do you know when a woman is at her most beautiful?" Lois suddenly asked.

Ellis thought for a moment. "At her wedding…"

Lois cut her off before she could finish. "No. When she is fearless, ambitious." Lois listed a few more traits, then paused briefly before finishing, and when she…

Chapter 53: Letting Go

The names Clary and Casey flashed through Ellis's mind. She wasn't sure how to continue this conversation. But before she could say anything, Lois fell silent, staring out the window, lost in thought.

The dim lighting in the car cast shifting shadows over her face, making her look like a scene straight out of a movie. She radiated mystery, as if she carried countless untold stories. Ellis pressed her lips together, unwilling to disturb the quiet. She was curious but knew better than to pry into her boss's personal life. Maintaining professional boundaries was a fundamental part of the job.

Ellis sat at her desk, focused on finishing up the last of her work for the day. A coworker walked over and asked, "Ellis, want to grab dinner downstairs?"

Ellis smiled and declined. "No thanks, I'll eat at home."

"You cook? Or do you have someone cooking for you?"

"I cook a little, but I live alone, so I usually just order takeout. It's easier."

"Ah, single life. So tragic," the coworker teased.

Ellis simply smiled. As far as the company was concerned, she was single. Only Lois and HR knew she was technically still married. She never talked about her personal life, so people just assumed…

After saying goodbye to her coworkers, Ellis wrapped up her work and headed out. Before going home, she stopped by Petal Estates. Lois had instructed her to check in every Wednesday and Sunday. Now that she had been there once before, she knew exactly where to go. Nathan had claimed Lois as his mother, but since Lois had never married, he must have taken the last name Chase. So when she saw him, she greeted him with a casual, "Hey, Nathan."

His expression darkened instantly.

Ellis had already suspected that he was going to be difficult, so she had been trying to establish a good relationship with him. The last thing she needed was for him to complain to Lois about her.

"I'm Casey!" His correction was loud and firm, making Ellis instantly regret her mistake. She quickly apologized. "Sorry, I got your name wrong."

"Idiot," Casey muttered, turning his back on her.