Liza had long known that the Stone Family was far from harmonious. As the head of the family, Gavin, often referred to dismissively as the “illegitimate child,” had faced endless resistance. Many within the family couldn’t accept his position and worked in the shadows, hoping to undermine him at every turn. The pressure for Gavin to marry was likely just another tactic to control him—an attempt to forge connections and gain leverage. But the last thing they expected was for Gavin to introduce an outsider like her, someone entirely unexpected. It was clear to Liza that her presence in the Stone Family would not be welcomed. On the contrary, she could expect hostility and countless efforts to make things difficult for her. And to make matters worse, she would have to act like a loving wife in front of everyone. Her mind raced as she weighed the pros and cons. Walking away from this situation would certainly mean avoiding the immediate drama and keeping her life peaceful—for a while, at least. But deep down, she knew she couldn’t run forever. If she was going to face the Stone Family, why not do it now and enjoy a Michelin-level feast in return? From this perspective, it didn’t seem like a terrible deal. With her thoughts settled, Liza broke into a wide grin. “You’re making this too formal,” she said, her tone light. “I’m your wife, after all. Of course, I should go back with you to visit your family!” Gavin arched an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint, mocking smile. Before he could say anything, Liza leaned forward and quickly kissed him on the lips, catching him completely off guard. Without giving him a chance to react, she bolted toward the butler, eagerly asking him to prepare the food she had brought back earlier. Not long after, the dining table was filled with the exquisite dishes crafted by Jiang Han, a renowned culinary master. The aroma alone was enough to make Liza’s mouth water. She wasted no time grabbing her utensils, diving into the meal with unrestrained joy. Each bite confirmed Han’s reputation—his cooking was nothing short of extraordinary. Gavin, however, sat back and watched her with an exasperated expression. To him, her unabashed enthusiasm for food made her look ridiculous, even childish. Still, there was something amusing about her carefree delight. As Liza focused entirely on savoring her meal, Gavin shifted his attention. Turning to the butler, he instructed calmly, “Keep an eye on the Reed Family’s actions.” His tone was steady, but his meaning was clear. If the Reed Family chose to apologize for their earlier disrespect, he might let the matter slide. But if they refused to acknowledge their mistake, Gavin had no intention of showing mercy. At the Reed Family estate, chaos erupted after Sophia was dragged home by the bodyguards. Before Lady Reed could console her, Grandpa reed arrived, his expression thunderous. Without hesitation, he struck Sophia across the face. “Why are you crying?” he barked. “Get yourself together and go to the Stone Family to apologize to Liza immediately!”Sophia stared at her grandfather in disbelief, clutching her cheek as tears spilled over. Her shock quickly morphed into rage, and she broke down into a fit of hysterics. “You hit me! Grandpa, you hit me because of that shameless woman Liza? Why should I apologize to her? I won’t do it!” Grandpa reed’s eyes hardened, his voice icy and unyielding. “This is not up for debate. If you still want to keep your position as the eldest daughter of the Reed Family, you’ll go to the Stone Family and apologize to Liza. No later than tomorrow.” His tone grew even colder as he added, “I won’t let the Reed Family crumble because of your arrogance.” Without waiting for Sophia’s response, Grandpa reed turned and left the room, leaving her sobbing uncontrollably. Meanwhile, Lady Reed clutched her husband’s arm, tears streaming down her face. “Victor, what’s happening? I thought this issue was resolved! Why is Father forcing Sophia to apologize to Liza?” Victor Reed, looking equally puzzled, frowned deeply. “I don’t know what’s driving him to act this way, but we have no choice. If Father says she must apologize, then she must apologize.” As head of the Reed Family, Grandpa reed’s authority was absolute. Even Victor Reed dared not openly defy him. Hearing this, Sophia’s anger flared. She threw herself onto the sofa, kicking and crying. “I won’t apologize to Liza! She’s a nobody! Gavin will abandon her sooner or later. Why should I humiliate myself by apologizing to her? How will I ever face anyone in Li City if this gets out?” Lady Reed quickly chimed in, her tone indignant. “Exactly! Our Sophia has a prestigious background. How can she lower herself to apologize to a girl like Liza? Victor, there must be another way. If Sophia apologizes, everyone in Li City will ridicule our family!” After a moment of contemplation, Victor Reed’s eyes narrowed. “I do have some connections with Mr Sinclair. The Sinclair Family has been seeking our assistance with an important project. Perhaps I can persuade him to discipline his daughter.”Lady Reed immediately brightened at the suggestion, clapping her hands together. “That’s perfect! If Liza causes the Sinclair Family to lose this project, Mr Sinclair will be furious with her. He doesn’t even favor his eldest daughter. Losing such a significant deal will only make him despise her more.” Sophia, her tears slowing, added with venom in her voice, “We should go further. Let’s make it clear that we’re cutting ties with the Sinclair Family because of Liza. Spread the word that any company aligned with the Reed Family should avoid working with them too. That way, Mr Sinclair will detest Liza even more!” The next morning, Liza was startled by a call from Mr Sinclair. His voice was sharp and accusing. “Liza, get to the company right now! What did you do to make the Reed Family back out of their project with us? Now, even some of our long-standing partners are refusing to work with us. Do you know how much money the Sinclair Family has lost because of you? You need to come here and apologize to Miss Sophia immediately!” Liza’s expression turned cold, her voice calm but cutting. “If the Sinclair Family is having problems, what does that have to do with me?” Mr Sinclair was momentarily stunned by her boldness. He hadn’t expected her to speak to him this way. Suppressing his anger, he tried a different tactic, his tone turning threatening. “Fine! If you don’t want to acknowledge me as your father, think about your uncle. If you don’t come to the office within thirty minutes, I’ll throw your uncle out of the house!”