Mr. Sinclair had called her for one reason—to convince her to get Albert to spare the Sinclair Family. If there was anyone in the world who wished for the Sinclair Family’s downfall more than anyone else, it was Liza. Why would she possibly plead on their behalf? She picked up the phone, her tone indifferent. On the other end, Mr. Sinclair took a moment, inhaling deeply before speaking in a tone laced with false weakness. “Liza…” Liza raised her eyebrows, unimpressed. He continued, feigning frailty. “I’m not feeling well. Can you come back and see me? I miss you.” Liza’s lips curled into a cold smile. Sick? Missing her? The man had gone so far as to concoct such an absurd lie in a desperate attempt to deceive her. Did he think she was gullible enough to believe him?Still, she remained calm and unbothered. If he wanted her to come back, then she would. After all, what better way to entertain herself than by toying with the Sinclair Family’s schemes? She chuckled lightly. “Alright, I’ll come right away.” With nothing else pressing on her schedule, she decided to pay them a visit and see what drama awaited. At the Sinclair Family Residence Mr. Sinclair paced back and forth, his face etched with anxiety. “She agreed to come, but I don’t think she’s going to be easy to handle. What about President Albert?” Two days prior, Albert An had made it clear that unless the Sinclair Family obtained Liza’s forgiveness, their entire standing in Li City would crumble. But what on earth had Liza done to provoke such staunch backing from both the Albert family’s head and their eldest daughter? Now, cornered and desperate, the Sinclair Family had no choice but to beg for her forgiveness. Initially, Grandma Sinclair had flatly refused to apologize to the “wild girl,” and Mr. Sinclair couldn’t bear the thought of asking Victoria and Serena to lower themselves either. As a result, the matter had been dragged out to the brink of disaster. However, Grandma Sinclair eventually devised a plan, leading Mr. Sinclair to make that phone call. Still, his nerves remained on edge. “Are you sure this plan will work?” Grandma Sinclair scoffed with disdain. “Why wouldn’t it? We’re her family, after all. We’ll humbly ask for forgiveness in front of the students. With a few kind words and a little humility, what more could she possibly demand?” Turning to him with authority, she added, “Tell Victoria and Serena to put aside their pride for now. I’ll do the same. Once we plead for her forgiveness in front of those students and she sees everyone siding with us, she’ll have no choice but to relent.”Her tone turned icy. “If she still refuses, the story will get out, and her reputation will take a hit. People will accuse her of being heartless toward her own family.” Though somewhat reassured, Mr. Sinclair hesitated. “What if she agrees in front of everyone but changes her mind later?” Grandma Sinclair smirked. “We’ll record everything. If she dares to go back on her word, we’ll upload the video online. Let the world see how cold and ungrateful she is. She won’t have any reputation left!” Finally, Mr. Sinclair felt a measure of relief. He had instructed Serena to invite students from the university as witnesses. With so many people present, surely Liza wouldn’t dare to refuse their pleas. They believed they had everything under control. … Liza descended the stairs slowly, her dress flowing gracefully around her. Teacher Ewan looked up from his tea, only to choke and spit it out in shock.She wore a simple yet elegant dress that accentuated her delicate frame. Her makeup was understated, giving her an air of fragility. Her lips were pale, her eyes slightly reddened, and her loose hair cascaded down her shoulders. She looked so vulnerable that anyone seeing her would feel an instinctive urge to protect her. Teacher Ewan blinked in confusion. “What’s happening here?” Gavin’s expression was unreadable as he observed her transformation. Liza’s lips curled into a subtle, victorious smile. Perfect! This is exactly the reaction I wanted. They’ll think I’ve been through something terrible. Look at my slightly flushed cheeks and these teary eyes! The drops I used are doing wonders. Now everyone will believe I’ve suffered some grave injustice. Teacher Ewan wiped the tea from his chin, his expression a mixture of disbelief and horror. “Liza, did someone hit you in the eyes?”Gavin’s lips twitched. Liza raised an eyebrow, her inner monologue triumphant. Exactly the reaction I aimed for! My makeup skills are impeccable. It’s practically a work of art—like special effects makeup! Nobody will suspect a thing. But Gavin spoke up, his tone calm and even. “She’s just wearing makeup.” Liza froze, her victorious smirk faltering. What?! How did this bastard figure it out? Even most men can’t spot makeup this subtle. Is Gavin some kind of makeup connoisseur? Gavin’s faint smile revealed his amusement. Even without the ability to hear her thoughts, he could easily tell she was pretending. After all, Mrs. Stone was an expert at playing the victim. Her choice to feign weakness was a calculated move in her plan to confront the Sinclair Family.As Liza silently fumed, another thought struck her, sending a jolt through her mind. Oh no! Could it be… Is Gavin gay? That’s the only explanation! A straight man wouldn’t have noticed this level of detail!