To preserve the reputation of both families, President Clint was left with no choice but to expel Jason from the Ashton family. Jason stood frozen, his face pale with despair. A bitter smile spread across his lips as the reality of the situation sank in. He had been nothing more than a pawn in Alora’s schemes, but by the time he realized it, it was already too late. His voice was hollow as he muttered, “I deserve this… I should never have insulted Mrs. Liza. All of this… none of it has anything to do with Alora. Mr. Henry, please don’t misunderstand her.” Alora stepped forward, her expression one of feigned innocence and hurt. “Jason, how could you think this of me? Don’t you know me better than that?” Henry’s gaze hardened as he stared at her. There had been a time when he truly believed he understood Alora, but now, standing before her, he realized how wrong he had been. The woman he once trusted seemed like a complete stranger.He let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Sister Alora, I’m not the fool you think I am. I won’t let you deceive me again.” His words sliced through the air with an icy edge. “You know perfectly well whether or not you told Jason the truth. But let me remind you of something. I recall you once saying that you despise mistresses—those who destroy families. Isn’t that right? So, let me ask you this: are you familiar with Susan?” Alora’s heart skipped a beat, but she tried to maintain her composure. “Yes, Susan is my friend,” she replied cautiously. Henry’s sharp gaze didn’t waver. “If she’s your friend, then why did you encourage her to date your cousin? From what I’ve gathered, Jason already has a fiancée. Or are you tolerating your friend becoming a mistress because you have a personal grudge against his fiancée?” The room fell deathly silent. Henry’s words struck like a thunderbolt, exposing Alora’s hypocrisy. She claimed to despise mistresses, yet she had orchestrated Susan’s relationship with Jason to spite someone she disliked. It was no different from her relentless pursuit of Gavin, even after learning of his marriage to Liza. The stark truth laid bare, Alora’s face turned ashen. Her confident facade crumbled, leaving her speechless. Without waiting for her response, Henry turned on his heel and left the room, his frustration evident in his every step. Seeing him leave, Liza quickly followed, concern etched across her face. Once they were gone, Alora tried to steady herself. She looked up at Gavin, her voice trembling with desperation. “Gavin…” But Gavin’s expression was cold and unyielding. He turned to his assistant, George, and ordered, “Inform President Clint that unless Liza forgives Alora, all business dealings with the Clint family will be suspended immediately.” George nodded without hesitation and pulled out his phone to relay the message. Alora’s eyes widened in shock. Panic surged through her as she realized the gravity of Gavin’s decision. Losing Stone Corporation’s support would be a death sentence for the Clint family’s business. Her voice trembled as she called out again, “Gavin! Please—” But Gavin didn’t spare her another glance. Without a word, he strode out of the room, leaving her to face the consequences of her actions. … When Liza returned to the restaurant, the barbecued food on the table had already gone cold. George noticed and quickly instructed the staff to prepare a fresh batch. Henry sat slumped in his chair, his head lowered, looking deeply upset. Liza sat beside him, her expression soft with concern. “Are you feeling down?” she asked gently. Henry turned his face away, refusing to meet her gaze. His eyes were slightly red, betraying the emotions he was trying to hide.Liza understood. Henry had always regarded Alora as a close friend, even family. To suddenly realize that someone he trusted so deeply was manipulative and deceitful must have been a bitter pill to swallow. In an attempt to cheer him up, she nudged a plate of food closer to him. When he didn’t respond, she picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and offered it to him. Henry’s face remained serious, but after a long pause, he broke the silence. “Liza, you figured out what kind of person Alora was the first time you met her, didn’t you?” Liza hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t sure if being completely honest would hurt him even more. Henry let out a bitter laugh, his handsome features clouded with disappointment. “Everyone knew, didn’t they? Even Jason knew the truth. He took the blame today, not because he was innocent but because he wanted to protect the Ashton and Clint families. It’s just me—I’m the idiot who let myself be fooled by her lies.” His voice grew unsteady, revealing the pain he was feeling. “I thought of her as family. I believed she was kind, gentle, and trustworthy. I treated her like my own sister! But all this time, she was just using me…” Liza watched him struggle with his emotions, unsure of how to comfort him. Henry’s frustration began to surface. “I see her for who she really is now, but I can’t believe it took me this long. I’m so disappointed. How could she do this?” He clenched his fists tightly, his voice trembling as he continued, “I’m the only one who didn’t see through her. I was so naive, so stupid. You must be laughing at me. You probably think I’m pathetic for being tricked by someone like her. I’ve known her for years and still couldn’t see the truth.” Liza’s heart ached for him. The arrogant and carefree Henry, always so full of energy, was now completely shattered by the betrayal of someone he had trusted deeply. Hearing him call himself stupid only made her feel worse. She had always known that beneath Henry’s bold and sometimes reckless demeanor was a young man with a strong moral compass. He hated dishonesty and manipulation, perhaps because he had endured so much criticism for being born into a complicated family. Despite everything, he carried himself with integrity. But Alora had exploited his trusting nature, and none of this was his fault. It wasn’t stupidity—it was innocence. Liza sighed softly, her voice filled with both care and determination. “Henry.”