George was stunned. "What just happened? Is this the definition of a double-edged sword? I just got Chef Du's WeChat ID, and now my salary for the month is gone?" Before he could plead his case or argue for his paycheck, the butler appeared at the doorway and announced, "Mr Brandon and Miss Serena have arrived." Left with no choice, George swallowed his protests. After all, President Gavin’s moods were as unpredictable as the weather—one moment deducting pay, the next doling out bonuses. His best option now was to focus on making a good impression. The door opened, and a servant ushered in Brandon and Serena. "Please, come in." On the way to the villa, Serena had been mesmerized by the grandeur of Longwan Residential. Yet, stepping inside the villa itself still took her breath away. The opulence was overwhelming. Her heart raced as she took in her surroundings. This is the kind of wealth and power I deserve. Silently, she vowed to seize this opportunity. If she could charm Gavin, she would make him hers—and perhaps, even bend him to her will. The butler, however, was not as easily impressed. He had heard enough about the sordid entanglements between Brandon, Serena, and Liza to harbor no goodwill toward these visitors. Though his face held the practiced politeness of his station, he couldn’t ignore the greed in Serena’s eyes as she drank in the villa's splendor. Just as the butler was suppressing the urge to scoff, he noticed Serena’s eyes grow misty, her face softening with what appeared to be sorrow. She sighed deeply, a calculated display. The butler hesitated for a moment. Why is she acting like this at the young master’s doorstep? As a consummate professional, however, he maintained his courteous demeanor and asked, "Miss Serena, is something the matter? Are you feeling unwell or dissatisfied with anything?" Before Brandon could intervene and brush it off, Serena dabbed delicately at the corners of her eyes. “It’s nothing, really. I just… thought of something sad, and it made me emotional.” The butler resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He felt like calling someone to escort this overly dramatic guest out of the villa. Why is she crying at our doorstep? Yet, his professionalism won out. With an unshaken smile, he pressed on. “If something has upset you, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Perhaps I can be of assistance.” Serena, noticing the subtle shift in the atmosphere, began to scheme. She glanced at the impeccably dressed staff stationed around the villa. These were no ordinary servants—working for Gavin’s household undoubtedly placed them in contact with the elite. A well-placed comment from them could ripple through high society. Her gaze settled on the butler. She had heard whispers of his significant standing in the Stone Family, having been transferred from the old residence. If she could win his sympathy—or even his favor—it would make her path to achieving her ambitions significantly smoother. With a calculated expression, Serena’s eyes reddened as she let out a bitter smile. “I was just thinking about my sister. She has always dreamed of living among the elite, of experiencing a life surrounded by luxury…” Brandon frowned deeply. He hadn’t expected Serena to bring up such personal matters with the butler of Gavin’s villa. He was about to interrupt when the butler, seemingly piecing things together, suddenly spoke. “The elder sister you’re referring to—would that be Liza, the Sinclair family’s daughter who grew up in the countryside?” This caught Brandon off guard. The butler knew Liza’s name? Was her reputation so infamous that even the staff of Gavin’s household were aware of her? Equally startled, Serena quickly masked her surprise. “Butler, are you familiar with my sister?” she asked, her voice laced with feigned innocence. The butler straightened his posture, his expression shifting to one of deliberate disdain. “Oh, I’ve heard of her, but only bits and pieces. I know about Miss Liza’s history with Young Master Brandon…” A spark of glee ignited in Serena’s heart, though she kept her composure. She hadn’t expected Liza’s reputation to precede her even here. Sensing an opportunity to tarnish her sister’s image further, Serena adopted a flustered demeanor, shaking her hands as if in protest. “No, no, it’s not like that! My sister and Brandon don’t have any such relationship.” The butler raised an eyebrow and continued, his tone skeptical. “But I heard differently. Word is that you were meant to marry Brandon, yet Miss Liza stirred up trouble at home. She supposedly insisted on taking your place, even going so far as to injure you. Isn’t that why your marriage to Young Master Brandon has been delayed until now? I’ve also heard that, in a bid to align herself with the Stone Family, Miss Liza tried to steal your engagement. Is this not true?” Serena glanced nervously at Brandon, feigning hesitation. Her eyes sought his approval, silently asking whether she should deny or confirm the butler’s accusations. Brandon, feeling trapped, realized the implications of saying anything damaging about Liza in front of the butler. Any comment made here would likely find its way to Gavin, sealing Liza’s fate and shutting her out of high society entirely. Although conflicted, Brandon concluded that the situation had already spiraled beyond his control. He chose to remain silent, tacitly endorsing the butler’s words. Inwardly, he rationalized his decision: if the fallout truly affected Liza, he could always compensate her later. A sum of tens of thousands of yuan would surely suffice to appease her and clear his conscience. Meanwhile, Serena lowered her gaze, suppressing a smile as satisfaction bubbled within her. Everything was unfolding just as she had hoped.