Liza had grown up in a world vastly different from the one she now found herself navigating. Concepts like love were foreign to her, leaving her bewildered by the lengths some people would go to in the name of it. She couldn’t understand why Serena would twist facts to win over Brandon or why Sophia would sabotage an entire banquet just to frame her. And now, Audrey had gone so far as to harm herself in an attempt to secure Gavin’s affection. All of this left Liza feeling conflicted and confused. If love required such self-destructive behavior, she thought, she would rather remain untouched by it. But Gavin’s words had planted a new idea in her mind: true love wasn’t about inflicting pain—on oneself or others. Instead, it was about protecting and cherishing. Gavin, unable to see in the darkness, relied on the warmth radiating from Liza to sense her presence. His voice was calm yet resolute. “That’s why, in the future, you must take care of yourself and stay safe.” Her response came instinctively, tinged with confidence. “No one can hurt me. I’m incredibly strong.” For a moment, the dark room fell into silence. Then, Gavin let out a soft chuckle and pulled her closer, his arm tightening gently around her waist. “Of course, you are. You’re the strongest.” After a pause, his hand slid down from her waist to clasp hers firmly. “It’s late. Let’s get out of here.” Liza hesitated for a moment, calculating the time. She figured that the effects of the poison she’d slipped Audrey were about to kick in. Nodding slightly, she followed Gavin out of the dark room. The moment they stepped into the corridor, the oppressive silence from the gathered servants was palpable. None of them dared to utter a word or move to stop Gavin. Though Lady Edna had declared that Liza would be confined for an entire day, everyone knew that Gavin was the real authority in the family. His decisions overruled anyone else’s, including Lady Edna’s. Gavin glanced down at Liza, his expression softening. “Do you want to come with me to deal with Audrey, or would you prefer to rest? I can handle it alone if you’re tired.” Liza lifted her gaze to meet his, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m coming,” she replied. “I’m going to ensure justice is served—for you,” he said, his voice carrying a quiet yet unyielding determination. Nearby, George stood holding a stack of documents. He stepped forward as if on cue and reported, “President Gavin, I’ve collected all the evidence you asked for.” A sharp, cold smile tugged at Gavin’s lips. “Good. Let’s get this over with.” … Audrey sat stiffly, her head wrapped in thick bandages. Despite the layers of gauze, faint traces of blood seeped through, a stark reminder of the severity of her injury. Her forehead throbbed from the blow, and the pain brought tears to her eyes. Lady Edna sat beside her, frowning deeply. “The doctor said the wound will take time to heal, but you’ll recover if you take proper care of it,” she reassured. Though the words sounded comforting, the unspoken implication lingered in the air: the wound might leave a scar. Both Madam Thelma and Audrey froze at the realization, their faces draining of color. Audrey’s eyes widened in disbelief, her shock quickly turning to panic. “A scar?” she whispered, horrified. She had only intended to create a situation to implicate Liza. The idea of permanent disfigurement had never crossed her mind. Trembling with anger, Audrey clenched her fists. This was all Liza’s fault! If it weren’t for that wretched woman trying to steal Brother Gavin, she wouldn’t have resorted to such drastic measures. Madam Thelma, consumed by sorrow and rage, began to wail. “That Liza! How could she be so cruel? She’s forcing Audrey into despair! Every girl treasures her beauty, yet Liza went as far as to ruin Audrey’s face out of jealousy. How could someone be so vicious?”The outburst brought Audrey back to her senses. Though furious, she quickly masked her true feelings with a look of fragile determination. If her beauty was truly ruined, she would make sure Liza paid dearly for it. “Aunt, please don’t cry,” she said softly, her tone carefully controlled. “I’ll be alright. It doesn’t matter if I’m disfigured. I’m just thankful to be alive. That’s already enough for me…” Lady Edna’s heart ached at Audrey’s words. In her eyes, Audrey’s gentle demeanor and resilience were a stark contrast to Liza’s arrogance. Lady Edna’s sympathy quickly turned to fury. “Audrey, you don’t have to endure this,” she said firmly. “I’ll make sure Liza pays for what she’s done. She deliberately caused you harm, and I’ll ensure she suffers a hundredfold in return!” Madam Thelma, ever opportunistic, seized the moment to fan the flames. Wiping away her tears, she feigned concern. “Lady Edna, please think this through. Gavin is fiercely protective of Liza. If he finds out you’re targeting her, he won’t take it lightly.” She paused dramatically, lowering her voice as if offering sage advice. “Of course, I’m not suggesting we’re afraid of Gavin. But he’s not the same as before. His influence is greater now, and we can’t afford to provoke him recklessly.” The veiled reminder only deepened Lady Edna’s simmering resentment. The thought that even outsiders perceived her inability to control Gavin was a bitter pill to swallow. Ever since Gavin married Liza, he had begun to distance himself, making her feel increasingly powerless within her own household. As her thoughts spiraled, a grim determination took hold of her. If she allowed this situation to continue, she feared that Liza would eventually edge her out completely. Slamming the table, Lady Edna declared, “Enough is enough! I won’t tolerate this any longer. Liza must learn her place in this family. Audrey, now that you’re awake, we’ll go to the dark room and deal with that insolent girl!”Though Audrey’s heart swelled with satisfaction at Lady Edna’s words, she kept her expression demure. Putting on an air of kindness, she spoke hesitantly, “Lady Edna, please don’t be too harsh. Even if Miss Susanza pushed me, I’m sure she didn’t mean it. Let’s not take things too far…”