Rita stormed forward, her voice sharp and full of rage. “My sister is only trying to help you out of concern! She’s afraid you’ll make a fool of yourself, yet you have the audacity to accuse her of pretending? You’re already married, but you’re still out here messing around with older men. You act so dignified, but you’re even more disgraceful than anyone else!” Her words grew harsher as her temper flared. “I’m sure this old man isn’t the only one. How many other men have you been fooling around with, huh? Are you completely out of your mind? My sister speaks to you out of kindness, and you dare twist her intentions into something malicious—” A sudden, cold laugh interrupted her tirade. The sound was calm yet icy, cutting through the tense atmosphere. “How talented the Clint family is,” a deep voice commented, dripping with sarcasm. Everyone turned toward the source. Gavin emerged from the shadows, his tall frame exuding an air of authority and power. His dark eyes held a dangerous edge, and his expression was icy, making the air around him feel heavy. Teacher Ewan glanced at Gavin’s face and felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t meant to stir up trouble—he only wanted to buy a few gifts for Little Liza. How had things escalated into this mess? He looked at the imposing man before him and sighed inwardly. If Gavin misunderstood their relationship and got jealous, it could spell trouble. Maybe it was best to leave. The women in this place were like ferocious tigers—unpredictable and relentless. Teacher Ewan fumbled for his phone, intending to call XL. Meanwhile, Rita glared at the newcomer, her annoyance overshadowing her fear. “Hey! Who do you think you are, interrupting me? I’m not done talking yet!” But her voice faltered when Gavin’s cold aura seemed to envelop the room. Though her pride made her resist showing fear, a shiver of unease ran through her. Still, she pressed on, determined to save face. “Liza, who’s this random guy you’ve lured in now—?” “Rita!” Alora interrupted sharply, her face draining of color. As the eldest daughter of the Clint family, Alora had learned how to maintain composure in difficult situations. Forcing a smile, she stepped forward and spoke in a soft, conciliatory tone. “Gavin, you’re here too.” But Gavin didn’t even spare her a second glance. His expression twisted into one of pure disdain as he turned his face away from her. George, standing nearby, stepped forward with a stern look. His voice was as cold as his master’s. “Miss Alora, it’s inappropriate for just anyone to address the president by his given name. Only those with a close relationship have that privilege. You, Miss Alora, should address him as ‘President Gavin’ moving forward.” Alora’s smile faltered, her composure slipping for just a moment as her chest tightened with unease. Standing beside her, Rita turned pale as the weight of George’s words sunk in. Her eyes widened in horror. “P-President Gavin?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. This man was the Gavin? The head of the powerful Stone family? Panic set in as regret washed over her. Why had she been so reckless with her words? She darted a nervous glance at Alora, who stood frozen in place, struggling to maintain her calm demeanor despite the tension now thick in the air. Gavin likely wouldn’t argue with Alora and Rita directly—after all, they were framing their actions as being "in his best interest." From their perspective, it was Liza who had strayed by associating with another man, while they were merely stepping in to offer advice. Gavin stepped closer to Liza, standing protectively by her side. He leaned forward slightly, his calm voice devoid of any discernible emotion. “Mrs. Stone, you’ve been wronged.” Teacher Ewan felt uneasy as he watched the interaction unfold. He considered how best to greet Gavin without making the situation worse. If Gavin misunderstood his connection with Liza, things could become even more awkward. Before Teacher Ewan could say anything, Liza’s typically cold demeanor softened into one of grievance. Her lips quivered slightly as she looked up at Gavin, her eyes misty with suppressed emotion. “Gavin,” she began, her voice tinged with vulnerability, “I feel so wronged! Miss Alora claims to be your friend and insists she’s only looking out for me. But she wouldn’t even listen to my explanation before scolding me. I didn’t know how to respond. “And if I had said anything harsh, wouldn’t that have ruined your supposed friendship?” Alora’s heart sank. Liza was playing her cards perfectly! Every word she spoke sounded like she was trying to maintain peace, but in reality, she was casting blame without directly accusing her. Gavin’s brow furrowed slightly. Without sparing Alora a glance, he spoke firmly, “George.”George, always quick to understand his employer’s intentions, stepped forward with an air of authority. “Miss Alora,” he began, his tone firm yet polite, “the president knows you, but let me make it clear—you are not friends. “Even if Young Madam had made a mistake, it isn’t your place to reprimand her. Have you considered the implications of attempting to get close to the president while simultaneously disrespecting his wife? You’re an intelligent woman, so I trust you’ll understand the gravity of your actions without me needing to elaborate further.” Alora’s face darkened, her composure faltering. Her jaw tightened as she clenched her teeth in frustration. Was Gavin truly severing all ties with her—for Liza’s sake? They had known each other since childhood, shared over two decades of memories, and yet he was willing to discard all of it so easily. All because of her! This woman dared to twist the situation to her advantage, casting herself as the victim.Alora’s mind raced with bitter thoughts. Could it be that Gavin genuinely had feelings for someone as manipulative as Liza? No, that couldn’t be it. Perhaps he was simply entertained by Liza’s personality—a fleeting fascination. Her heart filled with regret. Had she been too reserved all these years, too conservative? If she had been more daring, more willing to take risks to win Gavin’s affection, would things have turned out differently? Choking back her bitterness, Alora forced herself to sniffle, feigning remorse. “You’re right. I overstepped,” she admitted, her voice trembling as if she were holding back tears. “I shouldn’t have interfered in matters concerning President Gavin and Young Madam. That was my mistake.” She bowed her head slightly, swallowing her pride, though her heart burned with resentment.