She bit her lip, feeling an urge to confide for the first time.

"I used to be a special agent. We handled the most dangerous missions, on standby 24/7 no matter the weather. In the world of special agents, we were at the bottom, the most expendable puppets with no status or worth.

My hands were stained with blood, I was a feared tool of killing, I made countless enemies, and anyone who knew me wanted to kill me. Are you sure you want to keep listening?"

Ella gazed deeply at him, her fists clenched silently.

She was worried that her unworthy background would scare him away, that he would disdain her.

She feared getting close to others because she was afraid of being abandoned again.

She had been abandoned by her family since childhood, leading to her current situation. She had long lost hope in love.

Until she met Freya, who used her warmth to melt her icy heart and truly helped her become a person.

Xavier nodded, reaching out to hold her calloused hands tightly in his palm.

"Since I've chosen you, I will delve into everything about you. No matter who you were before, no matter how unworthy you think you were, I will accept you completely, without reservation."

His words were firm, igniting Ella's desire to continue.

She bit her lip, her eyes moist, and poured out all her experiences.

She quietly watched him, her eyes filled with despair. "If it wasn't for me, my friends wouldn't have died. It was me who sacrificed them to survive and achieve my own life. I'm just a despicable person, I don't deserve anyone's love."

"Ella, it's not your fault!"

Xavier hugged her tenderly. "They betrayed you first, it's not your fault."

"But it's because of me that all ten of them died..."

Her whole body trembled, tears streaming down for the first time.

She didn't realize she could cry. She thought she was just a tool, a puppet without blood or tears.

Puppets or tools weren't supposed to cry.

But now, hidden in the man's embrace, all her vulnerability was exposed, and she couldn't help but cry loudly.

Xavier held her tighter, as if he wanted to transfer all his warmth to her.

He didn't know what to say, he just knew he was heartbroken and wanted to give her all the love for the rest of his life.

As Ella started crying, she couldn't stop.

It was as if she wanted to shed all the tears she had been holding back for over twenty years today.

Freya stood outside the door, her tears falling as well.

Ever since she met Ella, she had never been willing to talk about her own background too much. But today, she actually told Xavier everything.

She felt very thankful and delighted that Ella had at last discovered someone she could open up to.

It's only when you genuinely care for someone that you'll share your less-than-stellar experiences and darkest aspects with them.

She never faulted Ella for keeping her past hidden.

because everyone harbored secrets they couldn't delve into, herself included.

"I never imagined Ella was a secret agent. Isn't she really formidable?"

Sean was heard crying with both tears and snot.

"Would you trust me if I said I'm quite formidable too?"

Freya quipped.

All her fighting abilities were learned from Ella.

It wasn't she that saved Ella back then; it's more like Ella changed Freya's life.

They were individuals who supported each other but were also inseparably close.

Their relationship had long surpassed mere kinship.

"I believe you. If you weren't formidable enough, how could you have Bradley obediently under your thumb?"

"That's because I'm pretty."

Freya said self-indulgently.

In fact, she still didn't know which aspect of herself had attracted Bradley.

But love was so random, it just happened, without so many reasons.

She and Bradley had been through so much; their hearts were already close together.

As long as he loved her, she loved him too; that was enough.

On the way back, Ella's eyes were still red.

Freya didn't press the issue and focused on driving.

After dropping her off at the clinic, Freya thought it was still early and decided to go see Bradley at the Austin Group.

At this moment, her phone rang.

Freya glanced at it and saw it was a message from Michael.

"Poppy, I need your help with something."

She narrowed her eyes and quickly replied, "What's the matter?"

"The company has an important document that needs to be delivered to Austin Group. Can you go there in person?"

Freya bit her lips and replied, "Can't you deliver it yourself?"

"No, the contract requires you and Bradley to sign it in person. The other party insists that you deliver it personally."

"Okay, I happen to be nearby. I'll go and wait for you to bring the documents."

"Good."

After hanging up, Freya went to a nearby shop to change clothes and then sat in a café waiting.

She ordered a cappuccino and carefully considered how to deal with Bradley.

He was quite cunning; last time, he intentionally tried to poach her. It's likely he'll bring it up today.

She planned to discuss the dissolution of their partnership when Michael arrived.

She didn't have the energy to take on new tasks or deal with Cloudstone's affairs right now.

Besides, if she continued working with Lance, her identity would soon be exposed.

She didn't want to anger Bradley, so it would be better to end the partnership sooner rather than later.

Half an hour later.

Lance arrived at the café.

Freya waved to him. "Michael, over here."

Lance saw her and walked over, taking a seat opposite her.

This was his first time seeing Poppy. He hadn't expected her to be a woman, and a rather attractive one at that.

Seeing him sizing her up, Freya smiled. "Surprised that your business partner is a woman?"

"Sorry, I didn't expect you to be a woman."

Although he had anticipated it earlier, seeing it in person still came as somewhat of a surprise.

Freya gracefully took a sip of her coffee and glanced outside, catching sight of a familiar figure.

Wasn't that Lance's fiancée, Sharon Turner?

She was wearing an apricot V-neck dress, with heavy makeup, and seemed to be heading towards...

Austin Group.

Freya squinted.

Suddenly, Lance's voice was heard by her ear, "Poppy."

Freya snapped back to attention and said to him, "I apologize for missing the celebration last time."

"No worries, it's in the past."

Talking about the celebration, Lance's expression turned grim.

He had been investigating the person who drugged the drinks but had yet to find any leads.

Even the event coordinator company couldn't identify the waiter, so the matter was dropped.

"Oh, by the way, since we're meeting today, there's a decision I want to tell you."

Freya said, clasping her hands together, her expression serious. "I've decided to withdraw from the Cloudstone Group."

Lance was a bit surprised. "Could you tell me why?"