At this point, Serena realized there was no stopping her grandmother’s tirade. Left with no other option, she shifted the blame to Liza with a look of feigned concern. “I’m really sorry, everyone. My grandmother’s anger might have gotten the better of her, and she said some harsh things. But there’s a reason behind all this. You see, my sister doesn’t show much respect to Grandma at home. She even curses at her sometimes and… even asks why she hasn’t passed away yet. It’s no wonder Grandma gets so upset whenever she sees her.” While her words might have swayed her classmates in the past, this time was different. Only a handful of them believed her now. Even among those who still thought Serena was kind and understanding, their opinions of Lady Sinclair had soured. To them, she seemed nothing less than a cruel and bitter woman. What Serena failed to realize was that this public scene had irreparably tarnished her carefully constructed image of kindness and gentleness. The cracks in her facade were visible now, and it all fell apart with the slightest push. … After Lady Sinclair and Serena left, the classroom remained charged with indignation. The students struggled to comprehend how such a spiteful grandmother could exist. Her vicious words and blatant favoritism left them deeply unsettled. “Liza, why don’t you explain yourself to her?” one of the students finally asked, unable to hold back. “You can’t just stay silent. At least tell your family the truth!” Liza smiled faintly and shook her head. “There’s no need to explain. I’ve grown used to it.” Her calm response sent a hush through the room. The students had been outraged witnessing the scene unfold just once. How must it feel for Liza, subjected to this kind of treatment repeatedly by her own family? Every insult, every cruel word from her blood relatives must cut deeply, like a blade to the heart. How many times had she endured such torment? How often had she broken down before learning to smile and brush it off as if it didn’t matter? The silence in the room grew heavy with unspoken empathy and sorrow. Now, they began to understand. They saw why Liza had left the Sinclair Family behind and never returned. Could a home like that even be called a home? … The stillness was broken when a student spoke up, determined to shift the mood. “Hey, where’s Ava? Did she sneak off? Someone needs to bring her back! She said she’d admit defeat, and there’s no way we’re letting her go back on her word now!” “That’s right!” another chimed in. “She owes an apology—on her knees!” Moments earlier, many of these students had been overcome with sympathy for Liza. But now, that sympathy turned into resolve. They couldn’t change the injustices Liza had endured, but they could ensure that this one situation ended fairly. After all, when Ava believed she had won, she had demanded that Liza kneel in humiliation. Now that the tables had turned, why should Ava be let off the hook? Suddenly, a shout came from outside the classroom. “Hey, come quick! Look at the university gate! Ava is kneeling there!” “What?” Several students gasped in disbelief. Could Ava really have gone to the university gate to kneel voluntarily? That didn’t sound like her at all. Her pride and arrogance made it hard to imagine she would willingly lower herself to such an extent, let alone apologize to Liza. Skepticism filled the classroom as some students began making calls to friends stationed near the university gate. Moments later, a video call connected, revealing the scene unfolding outside. Ava was indeed kneeling at the gate, but it was far from voluntary. A stern-looking man in a suit stood behind her, gripping her by the shoulders and forcing her to kowtow repeatedly. Through the phone’s speaker, Ava’s panicked voice rang out, trembling with both fear and outrage. “Who are you?! What gives you the right to treat me like this? No! I refuse! I won’t kneel to Liza! I won’t apologize to that— Ah!” Her words were cut off as the man pressed her head down with a sharp motion, slamming it against the ground. The students in the classroom were stunned into silence, their shock palpable. “Oh my God,” someone finally murmured. “Who on earth would go this far to force Ava to kneel down ?” Liza, sitting quietly in her seat, felt a strange unease settle in her chest. A name came to mind, making her heart skip a beat. Meanwhile, the chatter among her classmates grew louder. “Could it be some righteous hero stepping in to defend Liza?” one suggested with a mix of curiosity and amusement. “Hahaha! Maybe it’s someone who couldn’t stand how shameless Ava was. She really brought this on herself,” another joked. “Serves her right!” added a third. “If you’re bold enough to make a bet, you’d better be bold enough to face the consequences. Let’s see if she dares to bully Liza again after this.”Amid the commotion, Liza offered a quiet smile to those around her, silently expressing her gratitude for their support. Then, without drawing attention, she slipped out of the classroom through the back door. She made her way toward the university gate, her heart heavy with both curiosity and unease. When she arrived, the scene she had seen in the video call greeted her. But her gaze was drawn to a familiar figure standing nearby, confirming her earlier suspicions. Ten Minutes Earlier Ava had seized the chaos caused by Lady Sinclair to quietly sneak out of the classroom. She had no intention of staying behind and risking being forced to kneel and apologize to Liza. As she hurried away, her phone buzzed. It was her father calling. “I’m at the university gate,” he said curtly. “Come here immediately. I need to talk to you.” Though the sudden demand puzzled her, Ava dared not disobey her father’s orders. She rushed toward the gate, her thoughts racing. The moment she arrived, she was greeted not with words, but with a sharp, resounding slap across her face. “You disgraceful child!” her father roared. “Kneel down!”