The hall was so silent that even the faintest sound could be heard. George’s chest tightened as his heart raced. Someone had once dared to ask the president a similar question, and the aftermath had been nothing short of disastrous. Now, Ma had boldly voiced the same inquiry, her straightforwardness leaving no room for pretense. Gavin raised his head slowly, a faint sneer tugging at the corners of his lips. His dark eyes locked onto hers. “What do you think?” he asked, his tone calm yet evasive. Liza’s words caught in her throat. His answer wasn’t really an answer at all. He had sidestepped the question entirely. Her mind wandered to their past, the days before they knew each other’s true identities. Back then, she was Black Tide, and he was Miles. They had been each other’s confidants, sharing secrets and solace through countless conversations. She remembered one night when she confessed her struggles to him. She had been thrown out by her stepmother, with no home to return to. Miles’s response had been simple but striking: “I’m the same as you.” She’d shared more, opening up about the pain of losing her mother and the emptiness that followed. “My mother has passed away too,” he had replied. Even now, Liza wasn’t entirely sure if he had meant that he, too, was homeless, or if he was merely reflecting on the loss of his mother—or perhaps both. In her darkest times, when she had no food or shelter, it was Miles who extended a lifeline. He arranged a place for her to stay and sent her money without hesitation. Over the years, they had been pillars of support for each other, and her gratitude toward him was immeasurable. Now, knowing that Miles and Gavin were the same person, her feelings toward him hadn’t changed. She could see through the rumors that painted him as an illegitimate child, a pariah shunned by society. In her eyes, Gavin was far more than what people claimed him to be. Their gazes locked in a moment of silent understanding, the tension in the air palpable. On the sidelines, George fidgeted nervously, his pupils quivering with unease. Unable to hold back, he began cautiously, “Ma, the president…” Before he could finish, the cup in Gavin’s hand slipped and crashed onto the floor. A sharp, searing pain flashed across Gavin’s face as he clutched his head, memories overwhelming him like a tidal wave. Alarmed, George rushed to his side. “President! President! Brother, help him upstairs!” he shouted, motioning for assistance. Liza hurried forward, her concern etched on her face, but George stepped in to block her path. “Ma,” he said firmly, his tone measured, “are you that determined to uncover whether the president is truly Lady Edna’s biological son?” She froze at his words, caught off guard. George’s expression grew more serious. He continued, “But tell me—what would it change, even if he is? Does it matter?” Liza furrowed her brows. “Of course, it matters. If Gavin isn’t Lady Edna’s son, then he can’t be labeled as an illegitimate child. That would mean Lady edna—” “If not Lady Edna,” George interrupted, his tone tinged with resignation, “then who could possibly be the president’s mother?” He sighed, the weight of unspoken truths hanging heavily in the room. “Ma, you’re intelligent. You must realize how complicated this is. Even if the president could prove his parentage, do you know how many powerful interests he’d be challenging?”Liza had long suspected the truth: Gavin wasn’t Lady Edna’s biological son. Instead, he was most likely the child of Prudence. If Gavin truly didn’t belong to the Stone Family, Lady Edna could have easily exposed his identity and expelled him. Yet, her evident fear of him suggested otherwise. The only plausible explanation was that Gavin was the child of Prudence and Chairman Gu. But if that were true, why hadn’t Gavin turned to the Smith Family for support? If the Smith Family were aware of his existence... As if reading her thoughts, George interjected. “I know you’re wondering why the president hasn’t sought help from the Smith Family. The truth is, he did try when he was younger.” Liza’s gaze sharpened as she waited for him to continue. George explained, his tone heavy with regret, “When the president was young, he wanted to prove his lineage. He attempted to take a paternity test with Lady Edna , hoping to uncover the truth. But at that time, the old master of the Smith Family was gravely ill. After Madam Prudence passed away, no one in the Smith Family had the time or inclination to care for him.” “Later,” George added, “the Smith Family adopted Sam .” Liza’s breath hitched at the mention of Sam , the heir of the Smith Family. Rumors swirled that he was Prudence’s child. A lump formed in her throat, and her voice trembled slightly as she asked, “But why didn’t the Smith Family conduct a paternity test? Sam isn’t even their blood relative. They should’ve known...” George sighed deeply, a mix of frustration and resignation coloring his expression. “The Smith Family investigated the matter long ago. They know who the president’s real parents are. But the feud between the Stone and Smith families has been deeply rooted since Miss Prudence’s passing. Acknowledging the president wouldn’t erase those years of resentment, nor would it benefit the Smith Family’s reputation.” Liza felt a sharp pang in her chest as the gravity of the situation sank in.It all made sense now. Even though the Smith Family was aware of Gavin’s true identity, his life had unfolded under the public eye as Lady Edna ’s son. He had spent years within the Stone Family, enduring their schemes and animosity. If the truth were revealed now—that Gavin was actually Prudence’s biological child—the revelation would ignite a firestorm. Questions would erupt: How did Prudence’s child end up with Lady Edna , the mistress? Was it due to negligence on the Smith Family’s part? For a prestigious and influential family like the Smith Family, such scandals were unacceptable. They would rather remain silent, ignoring Gavin’s existence entirely, than risk tarnishing their impeccable reputation. In severing all ties with Gavin, they preserved their honor, no matter the cost to him.