Albert smiled politely but with a hint of mischief in his tone. “If anything were to happen to Miss Serena here at the Fragrance Hotel, it would reflect poorly on all of us. Why don’t we head upstairs and check on her together?” Serena’s eyes lit up momentarily before she quickly masked her excitement with a look of concern. This was exactly what she wanted—more people witnessing what was about to unfold. The larger the audience, the greater the humiliation for Liza. Standing to the side, Victoria’s lips curved into a cold and sinister smile. She could hardly contain her anticipation. The humiliation that awaited Liza would be the perfect spectacle. It reminded her of the past when she had dealt with another thorn in her side. That woman had met her end at Victoria’s hands, and now her daughter, Liza, would suffer a similar fate—though this time in a public and disgraceful manner. Tonight’s banquet was filled with influential figures, and Liza’s downfall would spread through every social circle like wildfire. Once her reputation was in tatters, no man would ever consider marrying her. And if Henry—the young master of the Stone Family—were to witness her entangled with another man, he would undoubtedly abandon her without hesitation. Victoria’s thoughts grew darker as she pictured the moment. The sheer humiliation might push Liza to the brink, perhaps even to the point of taking her own life. But Victoria felt that death would be too merciful for her. Despite being the Sinclair Family’s eldest daughter by blood, Liza had always been a source of irritation for Serena, Victoria’s own daughter. Serena was the daughter of a mistress, and though her life appeared perfect on the surface, she carried an innate envy and resentment toward Liza, who represented everything she wasn’t—legitimate, strong, and independent. Victoria’s lips curled into a malicious smirk. Soon, Liza would marry that vile President Louis, a man known for his cruelty and insatiable appetite. Once she was tied to him, her life would be reduced to nothing but torment. Yet, the Sinclair Family would reap the benefits of her sacrifice, enjoying the wealth and status that Liza’s suffering would bring. In time, everything the Sinclair Family had would be Serena’s to control. Serena would rise higher, leaving Liza crushed beneath her feet, unable to recover from the fall. Victoria glanced around the banquet hall, her expression smug and triumphant. At this very moment, she imagined Liza upstairs, drowning in despair and pain, powerless to stop what was coming. ... Half an Hour Earlier Liza lounged casually on the sofa, her expression indifferent as she watched the live surveillance footage on her phone. The voices of Victoria and President Louis echoed through the speakers, their conversation dripping with malice. Victoria’s voice, laced with insincerity, came through first. “President Louis, she’s waiting for you in the room. I assure you, she’ll cater to your every need. Here’s the room card.”Her tone became even more ingratiating as she added, “Our eldest daughter doesn’t have many skills, but she’s quite the beauty and knows how to serve others well. You’ll definitely be satisfied. Once you marry her, she’ll be entirely at your disposal.” Though the other party’s response was inaudible, Victoria’s sycophantic laughter followed. “President Louis, we’ve delivered Liza to you as promised. Now, about the resources you mentioned... can we count on your support?” Liza’s lips curled in disdain. Victoria’s behavior was no better than that of a common pimp. It was clear to Liza that Victoria and Serena had carefully orchestrated this plan. The idea was simple: trap her in a room, have President Louis show up, and then "accidentally" bring in witnesses to catch them in a compromising situation. With her reputation utterly destroyed, Liza would be left with no choice but to marry President Louis to save face. The door creaked open, snapping Liza out of her thoughts.Her cold smile deepened as she rose from the sofa. Standing in the doorway was President Louis, a man with a large belly and an even larger ego. His grin was lecherous as he stepped inside. “Ah, little beauty, come here! Let me spoil you properly…” Before he could finish, Liza grabbed his outstretched hand. With a sharp twist, the sickening sound of cracking bones filled the air, and President Louis’s face contorted in pain. Without hesitation, Liza reached for the bedsheet, swiftly tying him up like a package. “What—what are you doing?!” President Louis stammered, utterly stunned by her sudden attack. “Are you out of your mind? Your father already handed you over to me! How dare you—Ah!” A sharp kick landed on his knee, sending him howling in agony. Liza’s voice was calm but chilling. “President Louis, I’d suggest you behave yourself. Otherwise, things will get even worse for you.” Her piercing gaze silenced his protests momentarily. But his defiance returned as quickly as his anger flared. “You filthy wench! Do you know who I am? Once you’re my wife, I’ll make you regret this. I’ll—” Before he could finish, Liza picked up a knife from the table nearby and stabbed it into his arm with unflinching precision. Blood oozed from the wound as President Louis let out another scream. “You still dare to curse at me?” Liza asked icily, withdrawing the knife only to replace it with a fork, driving it deeper into his flesh. President Louis’s face paled, his bravado giving way to fear. “Your father sold you to me! You belong to me now! When I get out of here, you’ll pay for this—Ahh!” Liza sneered at his bluster. “Oh, please. A predator like you, preying on innocent women and now trying to harm me? Even if I killed you, it would be self-defense. The worst I’d face is a few days of detention before I’d walk free.” Her calm and matter-of-fact tone sent chills down his spine. His eyes filled with terror as he realized she wasn’t bluffing. “W-what are you planning? If you kill me—” Liza cut him off with a cold laugh. “Oh, don’t worry. Killing you outright would be far too merciful.” She cast a glance at the doorway, thinking briefly of Gavin and her Albert. If they were here, President Louis wouldn’t have lived long enough to spout his threats. The man’s entire body trembled as he groaned in pain. Desperation replaced his earlier arrogance. “Y-you’ll regret this, you vicious woman! Victoria will be here soon, and when she sees what you’ve done, I’ll tell her you attacked and extorted me. You won’t escape punishment!” Liza simply smirked, unfazed by his threats.