Ava glared at Liza with clenched fists before turning to Serena and saying stiffly, "You’re right, Serena. Let’s go." But before they could leave, Liza’s calm voice cut through the tense atmosphere. “Hold on a second,” she said, her tone steady yet commanding. “Are you really planning to walk away just like that? Did you forget something?” Ava froze, her back stiffening as Liza’s words hung in the air. Liza’s expression remained indifferent as she reminded her, “The loser of the bet has to kneel at the university gate and apologize. And don’t forget—you promised to call me ‘Daddy.’ Earlier, you were so eager for me to fulfill the bet, urging me not to stall. You even said that if the roles were reversed, you’d admit defeat without hesitation. Well, the moment has come for you to prove it.” Ava’s face turned crimson with fury. The idea of kneeling before Liza was unbearable, a humiliation she refused to accept. How dare she speak to me like this? Sensing the growing tension, Serena’s mind raced. Technically, the bet had nothing to do with her—it was between Ava and Liza. Yet, the thought of Liza gaining even more attention and admiration made her heart burn with resentment. If word spread that Ava had knelt in defeat, Liza’s status would only rise, and Serena couldn’t allow that to happen. Feigning concern, Serena stepped forward, her voice soft and sweet, like that of a caring sister. “Sister, Ava was just joking with you earlier. She didn’t actually mean for you to kneel at the university gate. Can we let this slide? You’ve already won the bet and shown everyone your full marks. There’s no need to take things further. Let’s not make this situation worse, okay?” Some of the male students, captivated by Serena’s gentle demeanor, began to murmur in agreement. They felt her words were reasonable. After all, Liza had already proven her superiority. Forcing Ava to kneel in public might seem excessive and unforgiving. Shouldn’t a winner show generosity? they thought.Liza listened quietly, a smirk forming on her lips. She turned to face Serena, her gaze sharp. “Sister, is your memory failing you already? Do you not remember what you said earlier when Ava thought she had won the bet?” Her voice grew icier as she continued, “You kept insisting that the loser must honor the bet, kneel, and apologize. You even lectured me about honesty and keeping promises being the most fundamental principles in life. But now, when it’s Ava who’s lost, you suddenly want me to show mercy and let her off? Why the double standard, Sister? Or is it that your sense of fairness only applies when it benefits you?” The crowd fell silent, Liza’s words striking a chord. The hypocrisy in Serena’s actions became glaringly obvious. Liza stepped closer, her voice unwavering. “Let me make one thing clear. This is my bet with Ava. You have no right to interfere or play the ‘good sister’ here. If you can’t accept the outcome, then step aside and stay out of it.” The murmurs among the students grew louder as they began to connect the dots, finally recognizing the inconsistencies in Serena’s behavior. “Wait a second,” one student whispered, “didn’t Serena keep pushing for Liza to kneel when she thought her sister had lost? But now that Ava is the one who lost, she suddenly wants to let it slide? That’s kind of hypocritical.” Another chimed in, “Yeah, she’s always acting like she loves her sister the most and supports her unconditionally. But now… it feels like she’s deliberately cornering Liza. Is this what she calls being a caring sister?” A third voice joined in, growing bolder, “It’s jealousy, isn’t it? I knew it! No one’s that perfect. All this time, Serena’s been putting on a show—pretending to treat her sister well while secretly hoping Liza embarrasses herself. This whole ‘kind and innocent sister’ act is fake!” The murmuring turned into a steady buzz of realization, with others nodding in agreement. “Plastic sisters,” someone muttered. “She acts like she’s on Liza’s side in public, but behind the scenes, she’s the one pulling the strings to make her fall.”The weight of the students’ accusations seemed to crush Serena, her expression shifting from pale shock to visible panic. She tried to fight back tears, but they spilled over as she cried out, her voice trembling. “No, it’s not like that! Sister, please don’t misunderstand me. I wasn’t trying to side with Ava. I was only thinking about you! You’re a teacher now, and forcing a student to kneel in public could hurt your reputation. I just… I just didn’t want that to happen.” Her words sounded reasonable on the surface, and some of the students hesitated, unsure whether to believe her. Yet, the sincerity of her tears felt off, and a lingering sense of doubt remained. Those who had spoken out against her earlier fell silent, but their uneasy expressions showed they weren’t fully convinced. Before the tension could dissipate, a sharp voice cut through the room. “What’s going on here?” Heads turned toward the door as Lady Sinclair entered, her presence commanding attention. Leaning heavily on her walking cane, she scanned the room with a piercing gaze. Her voice was sharp, and her words dripped with authority. “Why are you all crowding around Serena?” Serena’s sobs grew louder at the sight of her grandmother. She clutched her chest dramatically as tears streamed down her face. “Grandma… Why are you here? Boo-hoo…” Lady Sinclair’s heart ached at the sight of her beloved granddaughter crying. She quickly moved to her side, patting her shoulder with gentle reassurance. “Don’t cry, my good girl. You’ve always been so obedient. Don’t let these people upset you.” Then, the old woman’s eyes turned cold, and her gaze locked on Liza with disdain. Her tone was filled with scorn as she snapped, “You! How many times have I told you not to bully your sister? Are my words meaningless to you?” The atmosphere in the room grew tense, the students exchanging uneasy glances. They had just started seeing through Serena’s facade, but Lady Sinclair’s sudden intervention made it clear why Serena had always gotten away with her schemes. With her grandmother’s unwavering support, it didn’t matter how much evidence there was against her—Serena would always be protected.