As Liza reflected on the injustice Gavin endured, a pang of sorrow welled up inside her, making it impossible to savor the delicious meal before her. Her appetite vanished entirely. Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the private room, followed by a sneering voice. “Well, well! The Stone’s illegitimate son dares to dine here?” Liza’s expression darkened instantly. Laughter erupted from the hallway. “Gavin, an illegitimate child like you thinks you’re worthy of dining in the same establishment as us? Even your father doesn’t have the dignity to show his face here, yet you come strutting in as if you belong!” Gavin remained composed, his face an unreadable mask of calm. The lack of response only seemed to fuel their arrogance. One of the men kicked the door open, barging into the room with an air of entitlement.“Are you deaf, Gavin? We’re talking to you! What kind of ‘head of the Stone’ are you? Nothing but a joke!” A group of Smith Family members streamed into the room, their expressions dripping with disdain. Among them were mostly young men, led by a brash junior whose arrogance was palpable. A middle-aged woman trailed behind them, her gaze as cold as ice. Liza’s sharp eyes also caught a familiar figure—Sam, standing silently among them. The arrogant young man sneered and jabbed a finger at Gavin. “Do you even understand your place? Your existence is a stain on the Stone. Remember this: the Stone owes the Smith Family a life! And so what if I insult you? You deserve far worse! “It’s because of you and your mother—an illegitimate son and a shameless woman—that the eldest daughter of the Smith Family lost her life!” Liza clenched her fists tightly, her fury bubbling dangerously. She wanted nothing more than to silence this man’s vile mouth for good.But Gavin remained unruffled, picking up his chopsticks and continuing his meal with an air of unbothered elegance. The man’s face flushed with anger at being ignored. “Gavin! Are you too scared to speak? Say something!” As he continued his tirade, his gaze finally landed on Liza, who was seated opposite Gavin. “Oh, who’s this?” he sneered. “I thought you didn’t like women, Gavin. So the rumors were false, huh? Typical of an illegitimate child—no standards whatsoever when it comes to choosing women…” Bang! Before he could finish his sentence, a cup flew past his ear, smashing into the wall with such force that it nearly turned to dust. The room fell deathly silent. Gavin calmly picked up another cup, his movements deliberate as he spoke in an icy tone. “If you’re so eager to die, I’m more than willing to help you get there.”The young man froze, his face draining of color. His bravado crumbled as he stammered, “Y-You’re insane! Are you actually threatening me? What makes an illegitimate son like you think you can act so high and mighty?” Regaining a sliver of courage, he barked, “I’ll teach you a lesson today, Gavin, and avenge Aunt Prudence!” With that, he lunged at Gavin, his fist raised. Before he could get close, Liza swiftly kicked her chair toward him, the impact slamming into his leg. He stumbled back with a pained grimace, clutching his leg in shock. Liza’s gaze turned icy as she surveyed the faces of the Smith Family, her tone laced with disdain. “You’re here to avenge Madam Prudence?” “That’s right! We demand justice—” “Justice?” Liza’s lips curled into a mocking smile as she fixed her contemptuous stare on the young man who had spoken.“I’ve heard that the one originally promised to Chairman Stone was the second daughter of the Smith Family. But she refused the marriage and forced the first miss to take her place. Despite knowing how dangerous the Stone was, you all chose to sacrifice the eldest miss instead. How noble of you.” A collective gasp echoed through the room, and the atmosphere shifted. In the crowd, a middle-aged woman turned pale, her expression betraying her discomfort. Liza’s voice sharpened as she continued, “The eldest miss of the Smith Family married into a perilous household for the sake of the second miss. But when she was tormented and humiliated by the Stone, did the second daughter step in to defend her sister or take her away from that hell? “When Chairman Stone betrayed her, did the second miss demand justice on her behalf? If she had offered her support, would Lady Edna have endured such suffering? “During her lifetime, none of you had the courage to speak up for her or take a stand. You turned a blind eye to her agony. But now that she’s gone, you’re here, suddenly self-righteous, preaching about revenge? “The hypocrisy is astounding. The wealth and influence your family enjoys today were built on the sacrifices of the eldest miss. How can you still be so brazenly shameless?” Her cutting words hung in the air like a blade. Then, her sharp gaze fell on the middle-aged woman in the group. “And what do you have to say, Second Miss Smith ? Or should I call you Madam Fina?” The woman, visibly flustered, clenched her fists as her face darkened in fury and embarrassment. Liza smirked inwardly, having pieced together the truth. When she first noticed that this gathering of Smith Family members included only one elder amidst a group of juniors, it struck her as odd. This wasn’t a family celebration but a deliberate ploy. Their excuse of “seeking revenge for Prudence” was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to harass Gavin. And now, she knew why. The woman before her was Madam Fina—Prudence’s younger sister. Once destined to marry Chairman Stone, Madam Fina had refused, forcing her elder sister to take her place. In doing so, she condemned Prudence to a life of misery, while she herself married into the prestigious Lanier Family, securing a comfortable and prosperous life. Liza’s voice turned steely as she finished, “Your sister endured a lifetime of suffering because of your cowardice and selfishness, Madam Fina. Do you really think you have the moral high ground to stand here and demand justice now?” Madam Fina’s face turned ashen, her lips trembling as she struggled for a response, but Liza’s cold and unrelenting gaze left her speechless.