THE BEGINNING OF COUNTER ATTACK

After dropping Ella off at school, Zeke remained seated in the back of the car.

His gaze lingered on the university gate long after her figure disappeared.

"Boss?"

Alex cautiously called out.

Zeke finally looked away.

"Take me to Dean."

Alex nodded immediately.

Half an hour later, they arrived at a private medical institute owned by the Fredamo family.

Dean was reviewing medical reports when Zeke placed a folded piece of paper on his desk.

"Check it."

Dean raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

He opened the paper.

A few seconds later, his expression changed.

The casual look on his face vanished.

Instead, he sat upright.

Then he read it again.

And again.

Several minutes passed.

Finally, he looked up.

"Where did you get this prescription?"

Zeke's eyes narrowed.

"Is there a problem?"

Dean immediately shook his head.

"A problem?"

His voice rose.

"This prescription is incredible."

He pointed at the list.

"The herbs complement each other perfectly."

"It calms the mind, nourishes the heart, reduces anxiety, and improves sleep quality."

"The practitioner who wrote this must be an experienced traditional medicine expert."

Dean sounded genuinely impressed.

Zeke remained silent.

Another senior physician entered after receiving Dean's request.

Soon three renowned specialists were discussing the prescription.

Each one became increasingly impressed.

"Amazing."

"Elegant formulation."

"Whoever created this understands traditional medicine deeply."

"I would love to meet this old master."

"At least thirty years of experience."

"Perhaps even more."

Alex lowered his head.

His shoulders shook.

Zeke shot him a warning look.

Alex immediately stopped laughing.

If these doctors knew the prescription came from a twenty-two-year-old girl who looked like a college freshman, their expressions would probably be priceless.

A faint smile appeared in Zeke's eyes.

For some reason, hearing people praise Ella made him feel unusually pleased.

Very pleased.

Much more pleased than he should have been.

---

That evening.

Zeke returned home earlier than usual.

The moment he entered the dining room, his brows furrowed.

Dinner was already prepared.

Yet something felt wrong.

He took a bite.

His expression darkened.

Another bite.

Still wrong.

Alex watched silently.

He already knew what was happening.

The food was excellent.

Prepared by professional chefs.

But it wasn't made by Ella.

Therefore, it wasn't acceptable.

"You don't like it, Boss?"

Zeke placed his chopsticks down.

"No appetite."

Alex almost rolled his eyes.

No appetite?

Yesterday he had practically finished every dish Ella cooked.

The real issue wasn't the food.

The issue was the chef.

At that moment—

Footsteps echoed from upstairs.

Ella appeared carrying several books.

Her hair was loosely tied behind her head.

A pair of glasses rested on her nose.

She looked soft.

Gentle.

Dangerously attractive.

The moment she saw him, she smiled.

"You're back."

For some reason, the coldness around Zeke instantly eased.

Alex nearly laughed.

His boss had become far too obvious.

"Did you check the prescription?" Ella asked.

Zeke nodded.

"The doctors approved it."

A bright smile appeared on her face.

"I told you."

She looked extremely proud.

Then she suddenly walked closer.

Very close.

Too close.

Zeke's breathing slowed.

The faint lavender scent reached him once again.

His heart began beating uncontrollably.

Unfortunately, Ella seemed completely unaware.

From her perspective, she was merely checking a patient.

"Good."

She reached for his wrist.

"I'll be responsible for your treatment from now on."

The dining room fell silent.

Alex almost dropped his glass.

Responsible?

His boss?

The terrifying CEO feared by countless people?

Yet Zeke simply sat there.

Allowing it.

After checking his pulse, Ella nodded thoughtfully.

"The condition isn't serious."

"Your problem is stress, insomnia, and overworking."

She looked directly at him.

"You need proper rest."

Zeke raised an eyebrow.

"And if I refuse?"

Ella smiled.

"You won't."

Before he could reply, she moved behind him.

Her fingers gently pressed against several acupuncture points on his head.

The familiar warmth immediately spread through his body.

Zeke closed his eyes.

Not because he wanted to.

But because resisting was becoming increasingly difficult.

Each touch relaxed his tense nerves.

His shoulders loosened.

The headache that had followed him all day gradually disappeared.

Several minutes later, Ella stepped back.

"There."

Then she handed him a cup.

"Drink this."

The familiar herbal tea released a pleasant aroma.

Zeke obediently accepted it.

Alex stared in disbelief.

Was this really the same man who terrified board members into silence?

After finishing the tea, Ella gathered her books.

"I'm studying."

"Don't stay up too late."

She pointed at him.

"You're my patient now."

Then she disappeared upstairs.

Leaving behind a stunned Alex and a silent Zeke.

Several moments later—

A faint smile appeared on Zeke's lips.

A genuine one.

---

The next morning.

University.

Bella's expression darkened as she watched Ella calmly taking notes.

Several days had passed.

Yet Ella continued ignoring her existence.

Worse.

More and more students were approaching Ella.

Trying to become her friend.

Trying to gain her attention.

The spotlight that should have belonged to Bella was slowly shifting toward someone else.

She couldn't allow that.

A cold smile appeared on her face.

Soon.

Anonymous posts began appearing across university forums.

"Ella was kicked out of the Eleanor family."

"She was abandoned by her adoptive parents."

"She's living off wealthy men."

"She's pretending to be innocent."

Within hours, rumors spread throughout campus.

Many students believed them.

Especially those from wealthy backgrounds.

Students who enjoyed looking down on others.

Students who considered status everything.

Unfortunately for Bella...

Ella still didn't react.

She attended class.

Completed assignments.

Ignored the gossip.

The lack of reaction only frustrated Bella further.

Eventually, she decided to escalate matters.

---

That afternoon.

Ella sat quietly in an empty classroom reviewing lecture notes.

The door suddenly slammed open.

Several students entered.

Two boys.

Three girls.

Known campus troublemakers.

They walked directly toward her.

Ella didn't even look up.

A mocking laugh sounded.

"So this is the abandoned daughter?"

The leader grabbed her notebook.

Then threw it onto the floor.

Splash!

A bottle of water followed.

Her notes instantly became soaked.

The classroom erupted with laughter.

Outside the room.

Bella watched from a distance.

A triumphant smile appeared on her face.

Finally.

Someone was teaching Ella a lesson.

Unfortunately—

The smile lasted less than three minutes.

Inside the classroom.

Ella slowly stood.

Her expression remained calm.

Dangerously calm.

The bullies suddenly felt uneasy.

"What?"

The leader sneered.

"You want to cry?"

Crack!

A scream echoed.

The boy suddenly found himself on the floor.

Nobody understood what happened.

Before the others could react—

Bang!

Another student crashed into a desk.

A girl shrieked as her wrist was effortlessly twisted behind her back.

Within seconds—

Bodies littered the classroom floor.

Groaning.

Crying.

Unable to stand.

Ella dusted her hands.

Her expression remained indifferent.

The entire room fell silent.

She looked down at the students.

Then calmly spoke.

"If you're going to bully someone..."

Her beautiful eyes narrowed.

"At least make sure they're weaker than you."

Outside the classroom.

Bella's face turned deathly pale.

For the first time.

She realized something terrifying.

The Ella she remembered no longer existed.

And this new Ella...

Was becoming impossible to control.