The crowd’s eyes widened in disbelief. Could it be that Alora had provoked XL? Madam Clint, her voice tinged with indignation, exclaimed, “What does this have to do with Alora? My daughter is kind and gracious. How could she possibly have offended you? If you don’t provide a proper explanation, I’m not leaving here today!” “In that case,” XL replied with an icy sneer, his gaze sharp and unyielding, “allow me to explain it to you personally.” His tone was laced with disdain as he continued, his eyes radiating cold indifference. To XL, offending Liza was akin to challenging him directly. He was well aware of Alora’s reputation for being admired and supported by numerous men, but he wanted to see who would dare defend her today. Anyone who tried to bully Liza would have to answer to him. XL’s voice was steady and firm as he addressed Madam Clint. “The reason I canceled the Clint Family’s invitations is simple. The elders of your family have behaved in ways that are utterly disgraceful. An art exhibition is a space for the respectable and dignified. The Clint Family does not belong here. “Madam Clint, instead of directing your indignation at me, why don’t you ask Miss Alora what she’s done?” Madam Clint’s face turned ashen. Her lips quivered as she struggled to respond. Shameless? Could the elders of the Clint Family have truly offended XL? Under the weight of the crowd’s burning gazes, Madam Clint grew visibly uncomfortable. Her mind raced, but she quickly retorted, “What nonsense! What exactly have the elders of the Clint Family done? What could my daughter have possibly done wrong? Speak clearly! If you don’t, I’ll sue you for slander!” Amused by the unfolding drama, Henry leaned toward George and whispered, “Madam Clint’s belligerent behavior only confirms what XL said about their shamelessness.” George nodded eagerly, fully in agreement.XL’s voice dropped, his words measured. “Madam Clint, are you certain you want me to spell it out?” Panic flickered across Alora’s face. Unease crept into her posture as she quickly tried to interject. “Mr. Xavier, please—” XL cut her off without hesitation. His expression turned colder as he spoke. “Yesterday, Miss Alora encountered my sister and uncle at the mall. She had the audacity to mock my sister, insinuating that she was involved in an improper relationship with my uncle.” Gasps rippled through the crowd as they absorbed his words. “My uncle hadn’t seen my sister in quite some time and merely wanted to buy her a few outfits,” XL continued. “But in Miss Alora’s eyes, this gesture was twisted into something indecent. Perhaps it’s because the elders of the Clint Family are accustomed to such shameful behavior that Miss Alora would naturally interpret it that way. “Of course, I can’t entirely blame Miss Alora,” XL added, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “After all, she’s only reflecting the values instilled by the shameless conduct of her elders.” His gaze bore into Madam Clint as he finished, his voice sharp as a blade. “Did Miss Alora conveniently forget to tell you what happened yesterday?” The crowd’s disdain was palpable, their judgmental stares directed not only at Alora and her mother but at the entire Clint Family. In the professional world, XL was widely known as someone who kept to himself and rarely engaged in conflicts. Despite his aloof and easy-going nature, this time, he publicly chastised the Clint Family. It was clear they must have crossed a serious line. Moreover, XL revealed that the people Alora had targeted were his uncle and younger sister. How could he stand idly by when his own family was insulted? It was entirely justifiable that he banned the Clint Family from attending his art exhibition. “The Clint Family still has the audacity to show up here?” one person muttered in disbelief. “They insulted XL’s relatives and dare to act oblivious? Shameless!” Another chimed in, “Did you hear? XL’s uncle is Teacher Ewan!” “What? Teacher Ewan? The renowned master of musical instruments? And isn’t he an expert in medicine too?” “The Clint Family insulted Mr. Ewan? That’s incredibly bold! XL was being merciful by simply barring them from the exhibition. If it were me, I’d have humiliated them on the spot. How dare they demand an explanation with such arrogance?” Madam Clint stood trembling, her disbelief etched across her face. Alora hurried to steady her mother, who seemed ready to collapse. Her own face was pale, her lips trembling as she stammered, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Xavier. I didn’t mean to offend you yesterday. It was… It was a misunderstanding! Please let me apologize in person. I sincerely regret my actions!” Although most people didn’t know the identity of XL’s sister, Teacher Ewan’s reputation alone was enough to spark outrage among the attendees. With their heads bowed in shame, Madam Clint and Alora retreated from the venue, humiliated. Meanwhile, the crowd began to file into the exhibition hall, discussing the scandal with disdain. Moments later, James arrived in a rush, his face full of concern. “Alora!” Tears welled up in Alora’s eyes as she turned to him. “James…” “I heard you and Aunt were thrown out. What happened?” James asked, his voice tinged with worry. Looking aggrieved, Alora explained, “Yesterday, I saw Liza shopping with XL’s uncle at the mall. They were acting very close, and he even bought things for her. I misunderstood the situation and said something inappropriate…” Her voice trailed off, her expression pleading for sympathy.