Henry held up his poker cards with a triumphant grin, his voice brimming with confidence. “This round is mine! Just admit defeat already!” But before he could bask in his impending victory, Henry turned around and noticed a crowd suddenly barging into the room. Confusion spread across his face as he asked, “Liza, what’s going on? Why are they storming in like this?” The other two people at the table, clearly in on Liza’s plan, exchanged amused glances. Their smiles hinted at the satisfaction of a well-executed setup. One of them, Richard Ryker, stood up lazily and looked at the intruders with mild irritation. He had been looped into the plan by Liza, who had asked him to bring along some friends for this little “scene.” Annoyed at the interruption, Richard Ryker crossed his arms and addressed Mr. Sinclair in a tone dripping with sarcasm. “President Sinclair, what exactly are you doing? You barged in here like you’re trying to catch someone red-handed. Care to explain yourself?” Meanwhile, Henry, who had been blissfully unaware of the underlying scheme, scratched his head in genuine confusion. “Are you people out of your minds? What’s your problem with me playing cards in a suite? We’re just having a game with Liza, but you all look like you’re ready to interrogate us. What is wrong with you?” Mr. Sinclair’s face turned pale with embarrassment, his mind racing. He scanned the room, his heart sinking with each passing second. Where was President Louis? The scene before him didn’t make any sense. Instead of finding Liza in a compromising situation with President Louis, there was Henry, Richard Ryker, and a third person, all casually sitting at the table, playing cards. The confusion was palpable. Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, their earlier assumptions crumbling under the weight of the unexpected reality.Victoria and Serena were in a silent panic. Their eyes darted around the room, searching desperately for any sign of President Louis. Victoria was certain she had seen him enter the suite earlier. How could he have vanished without a trace? This wasn’t how things were supposed to play out. According to the plan, President Louis should have already been asserting his dominance over Liza. Instead, Liza sat comfortably with her companions, calmly playing cards as if the entire debacle unfolding before her was none of her concern. The awkward silence thickened, broken only by a few nervous chuckles. None of the intruders dared to offend Henry, who was, after all, the second young master of the prestigious Stone Family. Richard Ryker, as the heir to the influential Ryker family, commanded equal respect. And the third person, Hazel, was none other than the daughter of the powerful Edward Family. Each of these individuals was a figure of influence and power, capable of inspiring both awe and fear in the room. Yet here they were, casually gathered around a card table with Liza, of all people.At this moment, Liza was supposed to be in a compromising situation with President Louis. After all, President Louis’s secretary had confirmed seeing the two of them enter the suite together, and their interaction had seemed far too intimate to be innocent. Richard Ryker placed his cards on the table with a disappointed sigh, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group that had barged in. His tone was laced with icy disapproval. “President Sinclair, is there some rule against playing cards with friends? Liza was just sitting here with us, enjoying a game. What exactly did she do wrong? And what’s this about you wanting to sever ties with her?” Henry’s frown deepened as he crossed his arms, clearly displeased. “This is ridiculous! Here I am, enjoying a game I paid for, and you all come crashing in like this? Do you think you get to call the shots just because you feel like it? Don’t you have better things to do?” Meanwhile, Hazel, a friend Richard Ryker had invited to join the game, took in the scene with an air of detached amusement. Though she hadn’t been briefed on all the details, it didn’t take her long to piece things together. It was clear that the Sinclair Family had orchestrated this little stunt. They were hoping to catch Liza in a scandalous situation, ruin her reputation, and force her out of the company. Hazel rose from her chair, her demeanor calm but laced with quiet authority. She glanced at Mr. Sinclair and asked casually, “President Sinclair, you seemed to have a purpose when you stormed in. Were you looking for someone? Or are you implying Liza did something wrong?” Mr. Sinclair froze, his composure slipping. He had charged in so confidently, expecting to see President Louis with Liza. Instead, he was met with three powerful figures, and President Louis was nowhere in sight. Victoria, seething with frustration, clenched her fists in anger. The plan had not only failed spectacularly but had backfired. Instead of humiliating Liza, they had walked straight into a situation that could cause trouble for themselves. Desperate to smooth things over, Victoria forced a smile and said in a sugary tone, “Oh, it’s nothing like that. We were just worried about Liza’s safety, so we came to check on her. Sinclair may seem impatient, but he only has her best interests at heart.” Her explanation sounded reasonable, and the tension in the room seemed to ease slightly. The crowd started to believe the matter wouldn’t escalate. However, Hazel wasn’t so easily appeased. She raised an eyebrow and asked coldly, “And who might you be?” Victoria’s practiced smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly replied, “I’m with Sinclair…” “Oh, I see,” Hazel interrupted with a sudden flash of realization. Her voice dripped with mockery as she chuckled. “You’re his mistress, aren’t you? That explains it. But let me make something clear—you’re just a mistress. You have no standing here and no right to speak. Liza, on the other hand, is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Sinclair Family. You should address her as Miss Sinclair.” Victoria’s face turned ashen, her earlier confidence crushed under Hazel’s cutting words. Serena, standing quietly to the side, bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. Her resentment boiled over as she realized the three influential figures were clearly on Liza’s side. But she consoled herself with a silent promise—once she married Brother Brandon and became the lady of the Stone Family, she would put these people in their place. Mr. Sinclair’s expression was dark with barely concealed anger, but he forced a strained smile. “I-I only brought everyone here because I couldn’t find Liza and was worried she might have gotten lost. It seems I was mistaken. She’s clearly safe and sound, so we won’t disturb you further. Please, carry on.” As he spoke, his thoughts seethed with fury. This girl was nothing but trouble, and she had made a complete fool of him in front of everyone. But he didn’t dare show his true feelings, not when the situation was so precarious.