As she spoke, the woman casually positioned herself between Gavin and Liza, subtly separating their intertwined hands. Her face lit up with an innocent expression as she turned to Liza. “Wow, Sister Liza, how is your skin so flawless? There’s not a single pore! Did you use makeup? I’m so clumsy with it that I usually just go out bare-faced. Could you teach me sometime?” Liza stared at her silently. This woman was clearly a master of veiled insults. Beneath the surface of her seemingly admiring words, she was undoubtedly taking a jab at her. Before Liza could respond, Gavin spoke first, his tone calm yet pointed. “You’ve put on makeup? I didn’t see you doing that.” He glanced at her, puzzled. From the moment the servant had knocked on their door to when they came downstairs, barely ten minutes had passed. Could Liza have possibly found the time to do her makeup? She had only gone to the bathroom to rinse her face.Liza: “…” Well, there was no need for her to say anything now. Gavin’s words had already done the job. The woman, Sophia Reed, suddenly stepped back, her expression shifting dramatically. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Gavin in disbelief. “Gavin, are you… living with Liza?” Gavin’s face reflected mild confusion. “Isn’t it normal for me to live with her?” He hadn’t planned on mentioning that it was his first time staying in the master bedroom since Liza moved in. Last night’s arrangement had been purely circumstantial. But there was no reason to explain this to Sophia —it was personal and irrelevant to her. Sophia Reed’s eyes grew even redder as tears streamed down her face. “Gavin, do you still resent me for not marrying you back then? I…” Her gaze shifted toward Liza as she spoke in a trembling, sorrowful tone. “I know you’re married now. I shouldn’t have come to disturb you, but I just couldn’t help it. I thought that even if we couldn’t be together, we could still remain friends.” The room fell silent. Liza observed Sophia’s dramatic performance with mild amusement. It reminded her of her stepsister, Serena, who excelled in similar theatrics. If the timing weren’t so awkward, Liza might’ve clapped for her. Sophia’s combination of emotional delivery, tearful gaze, and delicate expressions could easily rival Serena’s talent for manipulation. Gavin, however, showed no patience for the display. His voice was firm as he called for a servant. “Escort the guest out.” The servant quickly approached, and Sophia’s tears fell even harder. Her voice broke as she protested, “Gavin, are you really throwing me out? Is this how you treat me, just because you’re married to her? She’s only a substitute for me—what gives her the right—” Before Liza could retort, a soft, elegant voice interrupted. “Sophia , stop this nonsense.”A graceful woman entered the room, her presence commanding yet composed. She carried herself with dignity, her features well-maintained and her expression serene. Offering a polite smile, she turned to Liza, her tone apologetic. “Miss Liza, I must apologize for Sophia’s behavior. She was originally supposed to marry Gavin, and I suppose the change in circumstances has been difficult for her. Please forgive her for being a bit emotional.” Liza raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her expression neutral. It was no surprise Sophia turned out to be so pretentious—her mother was just as insufferable. Did anyone in this family know how to speak without cloaked insults? Why was it necessary to keep hinting that Liza’s position as Mrs. Stone was merely because she was a “substitute”? Madam Reed, wearing a composed and gentle expression, addressed Gavin. “Gavin, I apologize for this unannounced visit. my husband and I intended to come personally, but when Sophia heard the news, she insisted on coming instead…”Gavin’s reply was calm yet cold. “Is that so?” His indifferent tone was unmistakable, but Mrs. Reed acted as if she hadn’t noticed. Perhaps Gavin’s aloof demeanor toward their family was something she had grown accustomed to, so his reaction didn’t faze her. Liza, observing from the side, raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued by Gavin’s composed attitude. Her subtle reaction didn’t escape Madam Reed’s notice, and a glimmer of disdain flickered in her eyes. However, when she spoke to Liza, her voice was warm and deliberately sweet. “Miss Liza, you’re truly stunning. I can see why Gavin would be drawn to you. We used to wonder what kind of woman he’d eventually marry. We even imagined she might resemble Sophia . “But now that I’ve met you, it’s clear you’re nothing like Sophia in personality. I suppose Gavin got tired of Sophia’s strong-headed ways, so he chose you. And honestly, that might not be a bad thing. Yes, it’s probably for the best…” Madam Reed trailed off, dabbing her eyes in what seemed to be a rehearsed show of emotion.Liza leaned against the railing, her posture relaxed as she watched Madam Reed’s theatrics with quiet amusement. Madam Reed’s carefully chosen words painted a clear picture, sending subtle messages under the guise of compliments: Liza lacked any substance or talent; her looks were her only asset. Gavin’s heart still belonged to Sophia Reed. Though circumstances prevented their union, Liza was a stand-in—a reflection of his longing for Sophia Reed. Marrying Liza, with her vastly different personality, was simply Gavin’s way of moving on from Sophia Reed. Resting her chin on her hand, Liza allowed herself a faint, meaningful smile, fully grasping the game being played. Gavin, however, had no patience for Madam Reed’s insinuations. His sharp gaze flickered toward Liza momentarily before turning to Madam Reed. His voice, calm but cutting, broke the tension.“Madam Reed, you’re openly trying to sow discord between us in my presence. Do you think I’m stupid?” The color drained from both Madam Reed and Sophia Reed’s faces as their carefully crafted facades began to crumble.