“Enough, Audrey,” Lady Edna said with an exasperated sigh. “You’re too kind-hearted for your own good. Even after being disfigured because of Liza, you’re still speaking up for her! How naive can you be?” She gestured toward a servant, preparing to help Audrey stand when suddenly, the sound of a door being kicked open reverberated through the room. The forceful bang startled everyone, drawing their attention to the entrance. Standing in the doorway, George casually lowered his leg, an unapologetic smile playing on his lips as he stepped aside to reveal the figure behind him. Gavin entered, his expression as cold and unyielding as steel. His voice carried an edge that sent shivers down everyone’s spine. “Lady Edna,” he said icily, “who were you planning to punish?” His gaze, sharp and penetrating, swept across the room, chilling the air. It was like staring into the eyes of a predator—cold, calculating, and devoid of mercy. Lady Edna felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she struggled to maintain composure. “G-Gavin…” she stammered, momentarily caught off guard. But then she straightened her posture, remembering that Liza was the one at fault. What was there to fear? Gathering her resolve, she pointed at Liza, who stood silently behind Gavin. “Gavin, it’s Liza! She disfigured Audrey! How can you continue to protect someone so cruel and ungrateful?” Gavin’s gaze shifted to Audrey, his expression unreadable. He chuckled softly, the sound devoid of warmth. “Disfigured?” he asked, his voice laced with faint amusement. Audrey, misinterpreting his tone as concern, let her eyes fill with tears. Her voice trembled as she spoke. “Brother Gavin, please don’t blame Miss Susanza . It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have resisted her. I should’ve just stayed silent and let her…” Her words trailed off as Gavin let out a sharp, cold laugh that sliced through her pretense.In a few words, Audrey had painted herself as the helpless victim, implying that Liza had assaulted her unprovoked. Her subtle phrasing was calculated to evoke sympathy, a masterful display of manipulation. Lady Edna’s frustration boiled over. “Gavin!” she snapped. “Look at Audrey—she’s already disfigured, and yet you won’t comfort her! Instead, you stand there defending that wretched Liza. What spell has that woman cast on you? How can you disregard your long-standing bond with Audrey? You’ve known her for twenty years!” Madam Thelma, ever the opportunist, chimed in with feigned sorrow, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. “It’s no use. Poor Audrey… She’s been devoted to Gavin all these years, and now this. If not for Liza’s interference, Audrey might have been by his side. But alas, Audrey’s only fault was loving Gavin too much…” Sniffling for added effect, she lamented, “She shouldn’t have let her feelings show. It was foolish of her to hope for something that was never meant to be.” Audrey, sensing the mood, bit her lip and spoke in a trembling voice. “You’re right, Aunt. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have confessed my feelings to Brother Gavin. I should have kept them hidden so that Miss Susanza wouldn’t misunderstand…” Before she could finish, Gavin’s icy tone cut through her act. “Misunderstand?” he repeated. “Tell me, Audrey, what exactly did you say to Liza?” Audrey’s voice trembled as she began to sob softly. “Brother Gavin, Miss Susanza warned me to stay away from you, but how can I? You and I share a bond that goes back to our childhood. We’ve been close friends for so long; it’s impossible to sever that connection so easily. I only spoke the truth, yet she suddenly became angry. She even accused me of behaving like a shameless mistress trying to interfere in someone else’s marriage.” She paused, her voice laden with emotion. “Brother Gavin, I don’t understand why she’s targeting me like this. Even though I think she’s wrong, I was too hurt and overwhelmed to defend myself.” Gavin’s lips curled into a cold sneer. “She’s wrong? Exactly what part of her statement was wrong?” Audrey’s expression froze as the confidence she had moments ago wavered. Gavin fixed his icy gaze on her. “Miss Audrey, you claim to have liked me for many years and that we’re childhood sweethearts?” “Yes… Y-Yes,” Audrey stuttered, caught off guard by his question. Gavin’s tone was calm, yet it carried a sharp edge. “That’s strange. I have no recollection of us being childhood sweethearts. You say you’ve liked me for years, yet you never confessed until now? Why did you feel the need to bring this up only after I got married? Tell me—what were you trying to achieve? And isn’t it fair for Liza to call your behavior similar to that of a mistress interfering in someone’s marriage?” Audrey’s eyes widened in disbelief as if she couldn’t process the accusation. “Miss Audrey,” Gavin continued, his tone growing colder, “the truth is, we were never childhood sweethearts. You made that up in a deliberate attempt to create tension between me and my wife. You tried to paint her as jealous and unreasonable, but let me tell you this—I know my wife’s character far better than you do. If she did warn you to stay away from me, I’d be delighted. It would mean she values and cherishes me enough to protect what we have. “Unfortunately for you, my wife isn’t like that. Liza is so kind-hearted that she doesn’t even know how to stand up for herself unless she’s pushed to the edge. It’s because of her gentle nature that people like you think you can take advantage of her. But let me make one thing clear—if she really had hit you today, I’d be celebrating with fireworks outside the Stone Family’s residence.” The room fell into stunned silence. Gavin’s words were so direct, so cutting, that no one knew how to respond. After what felt like an eternity, Audrey’s broken sobs filled the air. Tears streamed down her face as she wailed, “I-I’m so sorry, Brother Gavin! I didn’t mean to cause you so much trouble. I just… I just love you too much. I couldn’t control myself. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have come here. I shouldn’t have stood in Miss Susanza ’s way. I deserve to be punished for what I’ve done. Boo-hoo… It’s all my fault!” Her pitiful cries only grew louder, and Madam Thelma, deeply moved by the sight, began to cry as well, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.