The butler, trembling under Gavin’s icy gaze, stammered, “President, I’ll ask them to leave immediately.” “Wait,” Gavin commanded, his cold smile making the room feel ten degrees colder. “Since Mr. James is here, I can settle my business with him directly.” Hearing this, Liza felt a chill run down her spine. It was clear—James was about to face the full force of Gavin’s wrath. Inside the house, James and Alora were lounging on the sofa as though they owned the place, their faces lit with smug satisfaction. “James, don’t say such things. Liza might feel upset if she hears you,” Alora said softly, her tone laced with false concern. As she lifted her gaze, she spotted Liza at the doorway and exclaimed with feigned surprise, “Liza? You’re back!” James looked up, his expression souring immediately. His eyes brimmed with disdain as if her presence was an affront to him. Alora quickly stood, adopting a nervous and uneasy demeanor. “Liza, please don’t take James’s words to heart. He was just joking. I only see Gavin as a friend.” “Am I wrong?” James interjected, his voice filled with self-righteous indignation. “Alora and Gavin grew up together. They were childhood sweethearts! They even shared a bed when they were kids. He used to say he’d marry her when he grew up. How could you forget that, Alora?” Lowering her head shyly, Alora added in a soft voice, “Liza, it’s true that Gavin said that when we were kids, but it was just childish talk. Words spoken in jest hold no weight. It didn’t mean anything.” Liza sighed internally. Alora’s acting was almost Oscar-worthy. James’s words hadn’t ruffled her in the slightest, but Alora seemed determined to fuel the fire. She repeated the remarks, her shy demeanor carefully calculated to make Liza feel jealous and enraged.Alora then added with feigned concern, “Liza, please don’t be upset. I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just…” Before Liza could even respond, Gavin’s calm yet piercing voice cut through the air. “Alora, your memory seems faulty. The person who played with you back then wasn’t me—it was Henry.” Alora’s face froze, her expression faltering. Gavin continued, his tone indifferent but firm. “I wasn’t the type to play silly games like that.” Liza suppressed a chuckle. It all made sense now—how could someone like Gavin, calm and composed even as a child, have played such trivial games? The idea of him claiming he’d marry Alora was laughable. Alora’s smile turned stiff as she scrambled to recover. “I-I must have remembered it wrong. So it was Henry. That’s even better. Now Liza won’t be upset anymore.” James’s brows furrowed, irritation flashing across his face. “It’s been so long, Gavin. Isn’t it normal for Alora to misremember? Do you have to be so harsh?”Turning his attention to Liza, James added, “Gavin, you didn’t even tell us about your marriage. But what’s this I hear about Liza not letting us visit you anymore? Alora said that your wife isn’t welcoming. Is that true?” With mock incredulity, James pressed on. “We’re such close friends, Gavin. Are you really going to let her drive a wedge between us?” The room fell into an icy silence. The butler grew increasingly uneasy. Was James completely out of his mind? Barging into Longwan Residential to demand that the president choose sides in front of Young Madam? Gavin’s expression was cold, his sneer slicing through the tension in the air. The room fell into a deafening silence as he lifted his gaze toward Liza. “What do you think?” Liza sat gracefully on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, her expression calm and composed. With a faint smile, she replied, “I had initially intended to leave Miss Alora some dignity, but it seems she’s determined to throw that away by repeatedly forcing herself into situations where she isn’t wanted. So, let me make it clear—she’s the only one I do not welcome here.” Alora’s face drained of all color, her composure crumbling in an instant. James immediately stepped in, his voice sharp and accusatory. “Liza! This is Gavin’s house. We’re his close friends. What gives you the right to decide who’s welcome and who isn’t?” Gavin’s voice cut through the air like ice. “Everything Mrs. Stone says holds weight here. I support her completely.” Alora staggered back, her face pale as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. She clutched at her chest, her voice trembling. “I… I’m not feeling well. Please excuse me.” She hastily turned and fled, covering her face as tears threatened to spill. Gavin’s expression remained impassive as he gently held Liza’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.”“Gavin!” James’s voice rose in disbelief, his tone laced with anger. “What are you doing? You know Alora has always liked you. Her heart is devoted to you, and yet you treat her like this? Do you even consider us your friends anymore?” Gavin paused, his gaze cold and unyielding as if James’s words were nothing but noise. The silence that followed carried an undeniable weight, making it clear where his loyalty lay