Henry’s eyes swept coldly over Serena, Mrs. Stone, and finally Brandon. Without warning, his fist shot forward, landing squarely on Brandon’s jaw. A sharp cry of pain tore from Brandon’s throat as he staggered backward, ultimately collapsing onto the floor. The sound of the impact echoed in the room, drawing everyone’s attention. Brandon groaned, attempting to push himself up, his face a mix of anger and humiliation. "Liza, stop this madness!" he barked, glaring at Liza. Mrs. Stone’s shriek broke the tension. "How dare you hit my son!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in disbelief. She pointed an accusatory finger at Liza. "Brandon was only trying to advise you not to ruin your life, but instead, you commanded that man to attack him? Just because Brandon and Serena are getting married doesn’t mean you have to let your jealousy drive you to such violence! How could you stoop so low?"Serena, standing nearby, took a cautious step forward, her gaze flitting to Henry. Her sharp eyes lingered on his tailored clothing and the gleaming watch on his wrist. It didn’t take long for her to realize that this man wasn’t just anyone—he carried an air of power and wealth. Feigning concern, Serena spoke softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Sister, I only wanted to help you. Running around with someone like him will only hurt you in the end. You might not see it now, but you’ll regret this sooner or later. We’re trying to guide you because we care." Liza clenched her fists, her patience wearing thin. Every word out of Serena’s mouth made her want to lash out. As if reading her mind, Henry smirked. "Why is it that every time she opens her mouth, I feel like hitting her?" Liza chuckled coldly, her lips curling into a smirk. "Well, in that case, I owe you my thanks." A sudden cry of pain pierced the air. Serena had crumpled to the floor, her sobs echoing in the room. Henry stepped back, shaking his head. Though he wasn’t someone who usually hit women, something about Serena tested his limits. His restraint seemed to vanish when faced with her infuriating presence. Serena huddled on the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks as she whimpered pitifully. "Sister, I didn’t think you hated me this much. All I wanted was to stop you from making a mistake, but you… you told someone to hurt me? Why? What have I ever done to deserve this from you?" Mrs. Stone crossed her arms and huffed. "As her sister, you should be looking out for Serena, not opposing her at every turn! She’s only doing this to protect you, to keep you from throwing your life away with some… some random man!" Liza’s eyes narrowed, her anger sharpening into a pointed retort. Her voice was calm, but her words sliced through the room like a blade. "You know, Mrs. Stone, it makes perfect sense why you’re so fond of Serena. After all, you two have so much in common. Both of you know what it’s like to play the mistress."The room fell silent, the color draining from Mrs. Stone’s face. Beside her, Serena’s sobs faltered, and Brandon froze mid-motion as he struggled to stand. Mrs. Stone’s face twisted in fury, her voice dripping with venom. "Liza! You’re just bitter because my son left you. This is all about revenge, isn’t it? Brandon didn’t want you anymore, so stop embarrassing yourself and learn your place!" Henry’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had encountered difficult people before, but this woman was on another level entirely. It was as if she thrived on being unreasonable. He leaned slightly toward Liza and asked in a low voice, "Liza, can I…?" His sentence trailed off, but the unspoken words were clear. Was it okay to hit her? For a moment, Henry seriously considered it. Today was testing his patience, and he wasn’t sure how much more he could handle before snapping. Before he could finish his thought, Mrs. Stone rounded on him. "Listen here, pretty boy. Let me make this clear: Liza is just a discarded woman—someone my Brandon didn’t want! Mark my words, you’ll regret being associated with her!" Henry clicked his tongue, shaking his head in mock pity. "Liza, what were you thinking when you got involved with someone like him? Honestly, it’s a relief you’re done with him now." Liza blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness. Mrs. Stone’s rage flared even brighter. She pointed an accusing finger at Henry. "How dare you insult my son! Liza, you wretched girl! It’s a good thing Brandon broke up with you. You still have the audacity to hit people? Well, I’ll show you today—you won’t dare to cross us again!" With that, she raised her hand, ready to strike Liza. Before her hand could connect, Henry’s firm grip stopped her in her tracks. He caught her wrist mid-air, his expression hard and unyielding. "Let go of me!" Mrs. Stone shrieked, her voice shrill. "How dare you interfere?"Brandon, who had been silently observing the scene, frowned. While his mother was being overly emotional, he convinced himself it was out of concern for Liza. She only wanted to keep Liza from making poor decisions—or so he told himself. Still, the look on Liza’s face said otherwise. It was clear she felt harassed and cornered. Before Brandon could step in, a stern voice interrupted. "What’s going on here?" Everyone turned to see an older man approaching. Mrs. Stone’s demeanor changed instantly. She rushed toward him, her voice taking on a plaintive tone. "Old Stone! You’re just in time. Liza brought some wild man to attack our Brandon! Not only that, but she’s trying to destroy Brandon and Serena’s engagement. When I tried to stop her, this man had the nerve to grab me!" The older man, Mr. Stone, glanced at the scene with a heavy expression. He had always been aware of his son’s shortcomings, including his infidelity. While he didn’t condone Brandon’s behavior, the upcoming engagement to Serena was supposed to smooth things over and save face for everyone involved. But now, it seemed the situation had spiraled completely out of control. He sighed deeply, preparing to step in and mediate. However, just as he was about to speak, his eyes landed on Henry.