Alora’s expression faltered momentarily, but she quickly forced a smile, her tone gentle yet patronizing. “Gavin, I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” she said softly. “Everyone is watching. Let’s not escalate things unnecessarily. My cousin and Susan are both prominent figures in Li City. Perhaps we should handle this with care. Otherwise, people might think Liza is being unreasonable, and that could damage her reputation.” Her words were calculated, a subtle attempt to shift blame while cloaking herself in the guise of peacemaker. Gavin’s gaze turned colder, his expression unreadable. Liza, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back a bitter laugh. This woman is truly shameless! It had been Susan who bumped into her, demanding an apology as if she were the victim. Then Jason had barged in, throwing insults and calling her a mistress. And now, Alora had the audacity to make it seem as though she was the unreasonable one? Liza’s temper flared, the injustice boiling within her. She was about to speak when Henry beat her to it. “Miss Alora… no, Sister Alora,” Henry interjected, disappointment evident in his voice. “Let’s set the record straight.” His eyes met hers, filled with an uncharacteristic sharpness. “It was Susan who bumped into Liza. Not only that, but she called her a mistress. Then your cousin, Jason, tried to force her to apologize for something she didn’t even do. And now you’re asking Liza to forgive them? What gives you the right to meddle when you clearly don’t know the full story?” The room fell silent, tension crackling in the air. Henry, who had always seen Alora as a gentle and kind woman, now looked at her with disillusionment. Her words, while outwardly considerate, were nothing more than veiled attempts to pressure Liza into submission.Alora’s lips tightened, her anger barely concealed. Why is Henry siding with Liza? she thought bitterly. And why can’t I intervene in this matter? Seeing her silence, Henry let out a bitter smile. “Sister Alora, your silence speaks volumes. It only proves that I’m right.” For a brief moment, Alora faltered under the weight of his words. Her heart sank as she glanced at the cold expressions on both Gavin and Henry’s faces. Summoning her resolve, she stepped forward, her voice soft and trembling. “you’ve misunderstood me,” she said, her eyes glistening with tears. “I was just a little anxious. Jason is my cousin, and I know him well. Seeing him and Susan kneeling like that—it hurt my heart. I spoke rashly… I should’ve handled it better.” She lowered her gaze, letting a few tears roll down her cheeks, playing the part of the innocent victim. But Henry wasn’t moved. His usual warmth toward her was gone, replaced by indifference.It was Gavin who broke the silence, his voice calm but laced with icy sarcasm. “So, Jason is a prominent figure in Li City? And you’re worried about Liza’s reputation suffering if this incident gets out?” Hearing Gavin’s voice, Alora’s eyes lit up briefly, her hope rekindled. She quickly put on an aggrieved expression. “Gavin, this is my fault. I didn’t fully understand the situation and overstepped by asking Miss Liza for forgiveness. I only did it with everyone’s best interests at heart…” Gavin’s lips curved into a cold smirk as his sharp gaze bore into her. “The Ashton family and Clint family… ‘prominent figures’ in Li City?” he echoed, his tone dripping with mockery. “Truly remarkable. You must be so proud of these so-called big shots.” His words landed like a slap. Both Alora and Jason paled, their confidence crumbling under his withering stare. Alora’s body trembled, her carefully constructed façade threatening to collapse entirely under the weight of his disdain. She couldn’t understand why Gavin was doing this to her. Gavin didn’t even like Liza—or so she believed. If he did, then why hadn’t he held a proper wedding with her? Why wasn’t their marriage officially announced to the world? These were glaring signs that Gavin didn’t care about Liza. So if that was the case, why was he taking Liza’s side? Why was he making her, Alora, and her cousin suffer for Liza’s sake? While Alora was lost in thought, Jason had already realized the gravity of the situation. It became clear to him that if he didn’t apologize immediately, he wouldn’t be allowed to leave this room unscathed. Without hesitation, he yanked Susan down to her knees in front of Gavin. His voice was sharp and commanding. “Apologize! Right now!” Susan’s eyes widened in shock, her face flushed with a mix of anger and humiliation. She stayed silent, her lips tightly pressed together. “Apologize, you idiot!” Jason hissed, growing more frantic. “You offended Mrs. Liza! Admit your mistake before it’s too late!” Jason knew the stakes. If Gavin decided to retaliate, both the Ashton and Clint families would face catastrophic consequences. To save himself, he was left with no choice but to push all the blame onto Susan. Liza watched the scene unfold with an air of calm detachment. She saw through Jason’s intentions immediately. He wanted Susan to become the scapegoat so he and Alora could walk away unscathed. But life wasn’t that simple, and Liza had no intention of letting them off so easily. Before anyone else could speak, Henry stepped forward, his expression serious and his tone firm. “Jason, I have a question for you, and I want an honest answer. Did you know that Liza is already married to my brother? Or did you assume she was just his mistress?” The unexpected question sent shockwaves through the room. Alora stiffened, her face turning pale. Henry’s gaze didn’t waver as he pressed on. “Don’t try to deny it. Think carefully before you answer. If you truly didn’t know Liza, how would you even recognize her as someone connected to my brother? No one outside this room knows about their marriage—not the public, not even most of our associates. And yet, somehow, you knew to associate her with Gavin. Why is that?” The room fell silent, every word slicing through the tension like a blade. Henry’s eyes narrowed, and he delivered the final blow. “There’s only one explanation for this. Someone must have told you. And that someone… is Sister Alora!” His words landed with devastating precision. Alora flinched as all eyes turned to her, their expressions filled with suspicion and accusation.