Liza felt a wave of dizziness sweep over her, accompanied by a queasy sensation. The events of the previous day had left her drained—she had lost a significant amount of blood and hadn’t managed to get proper rest. Instinctively, she brought her hand to her mouth, trying to suppress the discomfort. Henry’s eyes widened in alarm as he misread her reaction. “Are you trying to extort me?” he demanded, his voice rising in accusation. “You’re way too scheming for that!” He paused, his expression morphing into exaggerated horror. “Wait… No! Don’t tell me you’re pregnant! Is this your plan to get rich? You’re going to use a baby to trap Gavin for life, aren’t you?” Liza stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. Did this man truly believe the nonsense coming out of his mouth? Pregnant to get rich? Trap Gavin with a child? Henry’s imagination was truly running wild.Her silence seemed to reassure Henry. When she made no move to accept the bank card he had offered earlier, he let out a visible sigh of relief. At least she wasn’t a gold digger, he thought. Gavin’s woman might be tolerable after all—not as money-hungry as he’d feared. Meanwhile, Liza’s mind buzzed with her own thoughts. Is Henry seriously okay? He needs help, and he needs it fast! Just as she was preparing to walk away and leave the bizarre interaction behind her, something about Henry’s attire caught her attention. His clothes looked familiar—strikingly so. Her eyes narrowed as realization dawned. Those were her designs. Under her pseudonym as Ruby co, she had created that very outfit. It was one of the few male ensembles she’d ever designed, and now, here it was on none other than Henry. Noticing her gaze, Henry shifted uncomfortably. His confident demeanor faltered slightly. “Don’t get any ideas,” he muttered, his face reddening. “I just wanted to try out the clothes you designed. After all, you represent the Stone Family now. It’s not a big deal.” For someone so brash, he suddenly seemed awkward, as though he didn’t quite know how to handle the situation. The memory of the Song brothers’ comments at Longwan Residential surfaced in Liza’s mind. They had revealed her identity as Ruby co, which explained how Henry had ended up purchasing her designs. Her expression softened as she regarded him. In his own clumsy way, Henry was almost… endearing. Despite his bluster, he continued, “Don’t think this means I approve of you. Buying your clothes doesn’t mean I like you. I just wanted to see if you’re really as good as the rumors claim. Got a problem with that?” “No, none at all,” Liza replied quickly, suppressing a chuckle. Before the conversation could progress further, a soft yet familiar voice drifted over from behind her. “Liza, it’s been a while.”A chill ran down her spine at the sound of the voice. She turned to find herself face-to-face withBrandon. The sight of him triggered an immediate sense of irritation. He stood there, his expression haughty as he cast a disdainful glance toward Henry. “And who’s this kid?”Brandon sneered, his tone dripping with condescension. “He looks like a complete waste of space.” Henry’s jaw dropped. “…” Liza blinked. “…” Seriously? she thought. How does Brandon not recognize Henry? They’re both from the Stone Family, for crying out loud! Standing beside Brandon was none other than Serena, clinging to his arm as though she lacked a spine of her own. She leaned into him in a way that screamed dependency, their bodies pressed close enough to draw attention. Behind them,Brandon’s mother glared daggers at Liza, her expression twisted with resentment. Serena’s gaze flitted between Liza and Henry before her lips curled into a sly, knowing smile. “Oh my, Sister, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you here. Today’s a special day—it’s my engagement with Brandon. Our families are here discussing the details of our marriage.” Her voice was sickly sweet, but her words carried a sharp undertone meant to provoke. Liza looked at her coldly, her expression unreadable. Serena leaned even closer to Brandon, her entire posture screaming triumph. It was as if she wanted to hammer home the point that she had “won.” Liza maintained a calm expression as she spoke in an indifferent tone, “Congratulations to the both of you. I truly hope your union lasts forever and that you’re blessed with a child soon.” Her words were polite, but her demeanor carried a subtle air of dismissal.Serena, ever the dramatist, immediately put on an aggrieved expression. “Sister, are you still unwilling to forgive me? I know you’re upset, and you have every right to hate me, but Brandon likes me. Love can’t be forced. Please, let go of this relationship and move on.” Liza felt her patience wearing thin. Her mind reeled at the absurdity of Serena’s statement. When had she ever had feelings for Brandon? Her well-wishes for this deceitful pair had been entirely genuine—but not for the reasons they thought. She hoped their engagement would keep them so preoccupied with each other that they wouldn’t have time to create chaos for anyone else. Brandon, with his usual self-righteous air, pressed his lips together and said, “Liza, even though things didn’t work out between us, I still think of you as my younger sister. You shouldn’t act impulsively and get involved with just anyone. You might regret it later.” Liza fought the urge to roll her eyes. She had no intention of entertaining their nonsense, yet they seemed determined to pull her into their melodrama. With a sharp glance, she responded, “Don’t speak as if you know me. We’re not related in any way, and I certainly don’t need your advice. Besides, when have you ever seen me ‘casually’ looking for a man?” Brandon’s gaze shifted subtly to Henry, his meaning clear without needing words. At this point, Mrs. Stone , ever ready to throw in her two cents, sneered with disdain. “You still have the audacity to deny it? My Brandon was kind enough to end things with you, and here you are, shamelessly dining with another man. Have you no shame?” She turned her sharp gaze to Henry, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “And you, young man. Are you Liza’s new lover? How pitiful. Do you really not mind being with the woman my son cast aside?” Brandon, adopting a concerned tone, chimed in, “Liza, don’t do this to yourself. Don’t throw yourself into a relationship just to spite me. It’s not worth it.”Henry, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up, his tone incredulous. “Liza, who is this idiot? Am I allowed to hit him?” Liza, her voice calm but with a hint of amusement, replied, “Do as you please.”