Brandon’s expression darkened, his voice tinged with frustration. “Why should I leave?” He couldn’t understand why they were being thrown out of Fragrance Hotel, a property owned by the Edward Family, not the Stone Family. What authority did these people have to make such a demand? The manager remained composed, his tone firm yet polite. “Because you’ve disrupted the peace of our eldest miss.” Before Brandon could respond, a group of bodyguards appeared, moving swiftly to escort the family out. Serena, who was accustomed to being the center of attention wherever she went, was overwhelmed by humiliation. Her entire body trembled as she struggled to process what was happening. This was the first time she had been treated so disrespectfully. “The eldest miss of Fragrance Hotel?” Serena murmured, her voice laced with disbelief. “Why haven’t I heard of her before?” Mrs. Stone, on the other hand, was livid. She thrashed against the bodyguards’ firm grip, shouting indignantly, “Let go of me! What kind of wretched establishment is this? How dare they throw paying customers out? This must be Liza’s doing!” Before she could spew another word, Liam’s patience snapped. He raised his hand and slapped her, the sharp sound echoing in the air. “Enough!” he roared, his face a mixture of fury and exasperation. “Do you even understand what you’ve done? Being publicly thrown out of Fragrance Hotel is no small matter. From now on, no one will invite us to any banquets or events. Do you realize the damage this will do to our business connections? This is a disaster for the company!” Mrs. Stone clutched her reddened cheek, tears welling in her eyes. “I didn’t know it would be this serious! We don’t even know the Edward Family’s eldest daughter. This must be Liza’s fault! That wretched girl! I’ll—”“Enough, Mother!”Brandon cut in, his tone heavy with frustration. He couldn’t deny the sinking feeling in his chest. Ever since he chose Serena over Liza, nothing had gone right. His personal life was a mess, and now even the company was suffering setbacks. And now, this public humiliation was the final blow. Meanwhile, Serena kept her head bowed, but her eyes burned with silent resentment. She vowed to herself that she wouldn’t let this slide. Inside Fragrance Hotel Henry reclined in his chair with a haughty air, his tone dripping with disdain. “Your ex-boyfriend’s family is beyond ridiculous. Are they all completely out of their minds?” Liza nodded slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “And your so-called sister,” Henry continued, sneering. “What’s her name again? She’s ugly, yet she has the nerve to act all weak and pitiful. How revolting!” Liza seemed distracted, her mind caught on something else. She glanced at Henry and spoke up, her tone curious. “Henry.” He raised a brow. “What is it?” She studied him seriously. “Did you really hit Gavin before?” Henry froze for a moment, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his face before he quickly masked it with defiance. “When he hit me, I fought back—at least a little. That counts as hitting him, doesn’t it? Why? Are you doubting me?” Liza couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. “No, not at all.” Her concern eased. At least Gavin wasn’t someone who could be easily bullied. Remembering the purpose of her visit, Liza turned her focus back to the present. With a composed expression, she headed upstairs for her meeting. Meanwhile, Upstairs Gavin lounged casually on the sofa, his posture relaxed but exuding a quiet intensity. In his hand, he idly twirled a sleek knife, the blade gleaming under the light. George stood to the side, trying to mask his unease. His heart raced every time Gavin’s fingers brushed the knife, the air around them thick with an unspoken tension. “President, this is Fragrance Hotel,” George said nervously, his voice trembling slightly. “It wouldn’t look good if someone from the Stone Family were to die here.” Gavin, seated calmly, spun the knife in his hand with a lazy precision. His expression was impassive, but his tone carried a faint menace as he asked, “How’s the investigation going?” George straightened up, his face pale. “The findings are grim, President. Ma’s mother was murdered by Mr Sinclair and Victoria. After her mother’s death, the Sinclair Family locked her up and drove her out of the house ten years ago. “To cover it up, the Sinclair Family announced to the public that Ma had gone missing. In truth, it was Victoria who orchestrated her expulsion. “Later, they sought her out again. Serena repeatedly tried to harm her—there were even several attempts to kill her—but she failed each time. Instead, she twisted the narrative, accusing Ma of heinous crimes to tarnish her name. “To outsiders, Serena is seen as a saint—kind, understanding, and forgiving of Ma’s supposed ‘wrongdoings.’ But behind the facade, she stole Brandon from Ma and pinned false accusations on her. “President,” George hesitated, his voice dropping, “what are your orders for dealing with them?” Gavin’s eyes were cold and calculating, but a dangerous glint of fury flashed briefly. His voice, calm yet filled with resolve, cut through the air. “What does the Sinclair Family fear the most?” “They fear losing their reputation… and their business empire,” George answered, his tone uncertain. Gavin nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. “Then we’ll strike them where it hurts. We’ll destroy what they hold most dear.”His voice turned icy. “Liza has endured enough pain because of them. From this point on, I won’t let her suffer anymore—especially not at the hands of the Sinclair Family.” The Sinclair Family cherished their reputation above all else. In that case, he would ensure the world saw the truth. The carefully curated image of Victoria as a respectable matriarch would crumble when the truth about her origins as a mistress and her involvement in murdering Liza’s mother came to light. The Sinclair Family’s dark past would be laid bare for all to see. Their lies, schemes, and cruelty would cost them everything. Gavin’s lips curled into a faint, almost cruel smile. If Liza knew about this plan, she might even enjoy watching them fall. Upstairs at Fragrance Hotel Albert paced the room, his fists clenched and his expression thunderous. “Who the hell does the Sinclair Family think they are? Bullying Liza like that! I swear, I’ll make them pay for this!”Uncle Noah, seated calmly nearby, took a sip of tea before responding with quiet confidence. “Liza isn’t someone who lets herself be bullied easily. She knows how to stand her ground. You don’t have to worry too much about her.” But Albert’s anger didn’t subside. He slammed his fist on the table, his voice booming. “Even so, they’ve crossed a line! They’ve done too much harm to her already. I won’t let them off so easily!” Uncle Noah glanced at him, his tone steady as he replied, “Trust Liza. She’s stronger than you think. She doesn’t need anyone’s pity—just support.” Albert took a deep breath, his anger simmering but contained. He knew Uncle Noah was right. Liza was no ordinary woman. But even so, he couldn’t help but feel a deep need to protect her, especially from people as vile as the Sinclair Family.