After pacifying Ava, Serena turned to Liza and gently grasped her hand, giving it a light shake. Her voice was soft, laced with false sincerity. “Sister, don’t worry. No matter what others say about you, I’ll always stand by your side. I know how much you want to meet the head of the Stone Family. No matter what objections others may have, I won’t let them sway me. I want to fulfill your wish, so please, come with me to Longwan Residential.” Liza let out a derisive chuckle. Her so-called good sister was truly remarkable at acting selfless. It was painfully clear that Serena was desperate to drag her along, but Liza had no intention of playing into her schemes. With a faint smile, Liza replied, her tone cold and dismissive, “Thank you, but I have no interest in going to Longwan Residential with you. You’re free to meet the head of the Stone Family on your own. I’m afraid I won’t be accompanying you.” Without waiting for a response, Liza turned on her heel and walked away, her figure exuding an air of unbothered confidence. Serena’s expression faltered for a split second, a flicker of anger flashing in her eyes before she quickly masked it. Internally, she seethed. What was Liza so smug about? Serena was leagues ahead of her in every way—no, not just leagues, but hundreds, perhaps thousands of times more accomplished. The patriarch of the Stone Family had extended a personal invitation to her to visit Longwan Residential, a privilege so extraordinary that it left others green with envy. Yet Liza? She had no reaction, no envy, no awe. It was bizarre. How dare Liza act indifferent, as though she were somehow above it all? Who was she to look down on Serena, a woman whose only claim to survival was debasing herself for money? Every time Serena met Liza’s gaze, she felt a deep humiliation, as though Liza viewed her as insignificant trash. That look—so composed, so disdainful—infuriated her to no end. Ava, always eager to stir the pot, sneered. “Serena, don’t waste your time on her. She doesn’t know how to appreciate kindness. She’s just an ignorant peasant, after all. What does she know about the world? Honestly, someone like her has no business being called the Sinclair family’s eldest daughter. It’s laughable.” Serena straightened her back, regaining her composure. Ava was right—there was no need to stoop to Liza’s level. They were from entirely different worlds now. Serena was someone valued by the head of the Stone Family, personally invited into his home. Meanwhile, Liza was a woman with no prospects, reduced to selling herself to survive. The gap between them was vast and only growing wider. Why should she waste her time being angered by someone so far beneath her? A sly smile curved Serena’s lips as a thought crossed her mind. Once she married into the Stone Family, she could decide Liza’s fate with a flick of her finger. Maybe she’d arrange for Liza to marry a driver or a servant. That would be a generous gesture considering their shared history as sisters. …As Liza returned to the villa, the clock struck five in the evening. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the world. The warm hues of light seeped through the windows, creating an almost magical ambiance that enveloped the house. She pushed open the door and immediately noticed the strange silence that greeted her. The usually bustling villa was eerily quiet. The butler was nowhere to be seen, and the servants were absent as well. Shrugging at the unusual stillness, Liza stepped inside. The golden rays filtered through the windows as she changed her shoes at the entrance. Though the light was dim, it didn’t hinder her movements. She hung her jacket on the rack and prepared to head upstairs when a faint, muffled groan broke the silence. Pausing mid-step, she frowned. “Who’s there?” she called out, her voice steady but curious. Following the sound, she walked toward the kitchen. There, under the dim light, she spotted a shadowy figure leaning slightly against the kitchen doorframe.“Liza,” came a familiar, low voice. Her steps halted. “Gavin?” she asked, her tone laced with surprise. It was unmistakably him. But why was he standing there, alone in the dark? She tilted her head and remarked, “You’re home? Why didn’t you turn on the lights? I thought the villa was empty.” Her words hung in the air as she observed him closely. Something felt off. He hadn’t moved from his spot, and her mind wandered back to the muffled sound she had heard earlier. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she asked, “Are you hurt?” Gavin’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his voice was calm yet slightly strained. “No.” Her skepticism deepened. If he wasn’t hurt, what was he doing standing motionless by the kitchen? Was he trying to cook? The idea seemed so out of place that it almost made her chuckle. “Do you need help with something?” she offered, her voice soft and considerate. “If there’s anything, just let me know.”For a brief moment, a flicker of discomfort crossed Gavin’s face, but the dim lighting hid it from Liza’s view. “That’s alright,” he replied after a pause. “Go upstairs first.” Her brows furrowed. “And you?” He sighed lightly, the sound barely audible. “I’ll just stand here for a while. Don’t worry about me.” Stand there for a while? Liza gave him a puzzled look, feeling that his behavior was unusually odd today. She wanted to press further but decided against it. It wasn’t her place to pry into his personal matters. Shrugging, she said casually, “Alright, suit yourself. Just… be careful.” Gavin’s expression stiffened momentarily, and his lips parted as though he wanted to explain. But after a moment’s hesitation, he simply replied, “Alright.” Finding nothing suspicious in his tone, Liza nodded and went upstairs. She wasn’t the kind of person to poke her nose into someone else’s business. Once in her room, she busied herself with some documents. Time passed, and the stillness of the villa seemed to deepen. Suddenly, a thought struck her. The butler and the servants weren’t around today—so who was in charge of preparing dinner?