Gavin’s voice grew colder as he gestured to the bodyguards with a wave of his hand. “Take her away.” Emma, overwhelmed by fear, finally collapsed and fainted. Gavin clicked his tongue in mild annoyance, his expression indifferent. “How dull. She wasn’t even worth the trouble of coming here.” George observed his boss’s reaction and ventured cautiously, “By the way, I heard that Serena and Brandon were also at the university entrance during the commotion. They even sided with Emma, trying to make Madam apologize.” Gavin’s fingers idly traced a rhythm on the armrest as his eyes narrowed. “Oh?” His tone was laced with feigned disinterest, but the spark of curiosity was unmistakable. He leaned back and added coolly, “In that case, bring them along. Let’s make this more entertaining.” Meanwhile, Liza returned to her classroom, preparing for the next lecture. Across town, Serena and Brandon were caught off guard when they received a surprising message—an invitation from none other than the head of the Stone Family himself. Serena’s eyes lit up with excitement as she stared at her phone. Gavin? Why would he invite me? Brandon, equally stunned, held his phone with a mixture of disbelief and awe. As a junior from a branch family of the Stone clan, he had always been aware of Gavin’s immense authority. Stories of Gavin’s influence were widespread. Many speculated that his success stemmed solely from the family’s wealth and power, but insiders knew the truth: the Stone Family’s dominance owed everything to Gavin’s shrewd leadership. Without him, the family would have been relegated to obscurity. “Serena,” Brandon began, his tone filled with excitement, “do you realize what this means? The head of the family has extended a personal invitation to us. I’ve been in the family for years, but as a member of the branch line, it’s nearly impossible to meet him. Even my father has to go through formal channels to request an audience. This is a huge deal!”Overwhelmed, Brandon immediately called his parents to share the news. His mother’s jubilant voice came through the phone almost instantly. “That’s incredible news, Brandon! If you two can impress the head of the family, it could change everything for us. We wouldn’t have to tiptoe around others in the Stone Family anymore. This could elevate our status. You and Serena must seize this opportunity and perform exceptionally well!” After her words of encouragement, his mother added, “Pass the phone to Serena—I’d like to speak with her directly.” Serena accepted the phone with an air of obedience, her voice soft and polite. “Hello, Aunt,” she greeted sweetly, masking her inner delight at the unexpected turn of events. “Serena, you truly are a blessing to this family,” Brandon’s mother said warmly, her voice filled with affection. “You’ve always been such a good girl. Ever since you and Brandon got together, it’s like you’ve brought him good fortune. The family patriarch has started noticing Brandon’s potential, and I couldn’t be prouder. Imagine if it had been your elder sister, Liza, marrying into the Stone Family instead—I would’ve been absolutely livid.” Serena responded with a modest smile, her tone soft and humble. “Aunt, you’re too kind. Brandon is the one who’s truly exceptional, which is why the patriarch values him. As for my sister… she has her flaws, but I believe people can change. Given time, she’ll grow and improve.” Brandon’s mother snorted disdainfully. “Some people are beyond saving, no matter how much time you give them. A worthless person remains worthless. If someone like Liza had married into our family, Brandon would’ve been overlooked forever. She’s nothing but a liability—a burden we’d all have to carry.” Her voice carried a hint of relief as she continued, “I’m so glad we didn’t go through with that marriage arrangement back then. Supporting you and Brandon was the best decision I ever made. You’re the true gem, Serena—a lucky star for this family. As for Liza, she can forget about claiming the position of Brandon’s fiancée. The only reason we even considered her before was because of the shares in her name. Now that the Sinclair family has promised those shares will go to you, Serena, there’s absolutely no need to entertain that idea anymore.” Her words turned sharper as she reflected on Liza’s reputation. “And have you heard the rumors? That girl has stooped so low—becoming some old man’s mistress. I can’t imagine the shame if she were part of our family. Thank goodness our future daughter-in-law is you, Serena. You’re everything we could’ve hoped for and more.” After ending the call, Serena turned to Brandon, her eyes bright with excitement as she gently tugged at his sleeve. “Brandon, what Aunt said just now made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I was thinking… why don’t we bring Sister along to meet the patriarch as well? I believe she acts the way she does because her perspective is so limited. She’s never been exposed to the elegance of high society. Maybe this experience could help her see things differently.” She clasped his arm and looked up at him with a sweet smile. “What do you think? Please?” Brandon hesitated for a moment, instinctively leaning toward refusal. Bringing Liza to meet the patriarch seemed like a risky idea—it could irritate him and disrupt the opportunity they’d been given. However, as he considered Serena’s argument, he softened. After all, Liza was Serena’s elder sister, not just some stranger. More importantly, Serena’s kindness was one of the traits he admired most about her. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, we’ll bring her along. But you must be sure to guide her.” He smiled, imagining how Serena’s gentle and gracious demeanor would stand out even more in contrast to Liza. He was confident that the patriarch would be impressed by Serena’s poise and compassion. Perhaps this meeting would open new doors for them—if the patriarch liked Serena, he might even provide opportunities for their future.