Liza covered her face with trembling hands, tears streaming down as she sobbed, “None of you want me here. I’m just an outsider, someone the Sinclair Family refuses to accept. Even when I came back, the security guards wouldn’t let me in. Dad always says he hopes I’ll return, but he doesn’t answer my calls and only blames me for being late!” Gavin, who stood silently at the side, disguised as a bodyguard, raised an eyebrow. His lips twitched slightly. Mrs. Stone’s ability to play the victim has truly reached new heights, he thought. If he hadn’t been privy to her inner thoughts, even he might have been fooled by her convincing act. Half an hour earlier The two of them had already arrived at the entrance of the Sinclair Family villa. Gavin glanced at his watch and noted, “The banquet was supposed to begin at 7:30 PM. It’s already 8 PM.”Liza shrugged nonchalantly, her expression calm. “Even if I had arrived on time, Mr. Sinclair would’ve found a way to delay me. He wants me to be late so everyone thinks I’m rude and disrespectful.” Her eyes flickered toward the security guards stationed at the gate. “Do you see those guards? I can guarantee they’ll stop me from going in.” True to her prediction, the moment Liza approached the gate, the security team stepped in her path. One of them sneered, “The Sinclair Family only has one young miss—Miss Serena. You? You’re not welcome here. Get lost.” Liza stopped, unbothered by the confrontation, and retreated to a nearby spot. Calmly, she retrieved a mirror and a small blush compact from her bag, touching up her makeup with meticulous care. “I knew this was their plan. They want to humiliate me in front of everyone, ensuring I can’t hold my head high at Li City University after this banquet.” Gavin’s gaze darkened. His tone was icy. “They’ve deliberately set this up. The students waiting inside will undoubtedly be upset about your tardiness. They won’t bother asking why—you’ll be the one they blame. You’ll face not just the Sinclair Family but their wrath too.” Liza chuckled lightly, exuding confidence. “What’s there to worry about? Those people won’t dare cause trouble for me.” Her lips curved into a sly smile. “After all, I have my people among them.” … At that moment, Gavin’s gaze shifted to Helen. She had to be the one. As a member of the esteemed Hoskins Family and a celebrated musical prodigy, her presence was impossible to ignore. The Sinclair Family members’ faces turned a deep shade of red. They had not anticipated Liza exposing their actions so openly. So this little btch has learned to fight back now?* Serena seethed internally. Back when Liza was naïve and silent, Serena had taken full advantage of her, spreading slander and ruining her reputation, confident that Liza would endure quietly. But now? Liza had not only cried at the banquet but also dared to expose them. As Liza turned to leave, her tears streaming, Helen stepped forward and stopped her. Helen’s expression was icy, her sharp gaze landing squarely on Mr. Sinclair. “So, it wasn’t Liza’s fault she was late. President, you instructed the security guards to stop her and then deliberately ignored her calls, didn’t you?” The guests whispered among themselves, but Helen silenced them with a glance. She continued, her voice firm, “I’ve been at the university long enough to hear about Liza. She’s known for being polite, talented, and kind. There’s no way she’d be late without reason. So, this was your doing all along, wasn’t it? You’ve wronged her and still had the audacity to scold her?!” Her piercing gaze shifted to Serena. “It’s all clear now. This is about your illegitimate daughter, isn’t it? If Liza’s brilliance outshines hers, your precious Serena will fade into the background. To elevate her, you’re dragging Liza down, tarnishing her reputation. “President Sinclair, your strategy is truly despicable.” A heavy silence fell over the venue. The tension was palpable, and the weight of Helen’s words pressed down on everyone present. No one dared to refute her. Going against Helen was tantamount to challenging the entire Hoskins Family, one of the most powerful families in the capital. The Sinclair Family members froze. They understood Helen’s background too well to retaliate. Serena’s face turned ghostly pale, and she bit her lip hard. How could Helen humiliate her like this, calling her an illegitimate daughter in front of everyone? If it weren’t for Liza and her slutty mother, I’d be the rightful eldest daughter of the Sinclair Family! she thought bitterly.Serena’s resentment burned hotter. To her, Liza was unworthy of her position and should have been out of the picture long ago. Grandma Sinclair suddenly cleared her throat, pulling Serena protectively by her side. She patted her hand in a show of comfort before looking coldly at the crowd. “We invited Liza back out of goodwill. How could we possibly instruct the guards to stop her? This is all a fabrication. She’s late and trying to blame Sinclair and Serena. Liza, you owe us an apology!” Helen’s expression darkened, her eyes blazing with anger. She was about to speak up when Liza gently placed a hand on her arm, stopping her.