Madam Reed recovered quickly, her face lighting up with a practiced smile. “Oh, no, no. I was merely reminiscing about when you and Sophia Reed were younger. It seems my old age is catching up with me, saying such things in front of you . Miss Liza, you won’t take it to heart, will you?” Liza raised an eyebrow and replied coolly, “What if I do mind? Will you take back your words and pretend they were never said?” Gavin, standing silently, glanced at her with a mix of amusement and satisfaction . This woman never let herself be walked over. For a fleeting moment, Madam Reed’s smile faltered. It was clear she hadn’t anticipated Liza’s bluntness or her disregard for maintaining pleasantries. But she quickly composed herself. “You’re absolutely right, Miss Liza. It’s natural for you to feel upset. As your elder, it was thoughtless of me to bring up such matters. Please accept my sincere apology.” Her tone was soft and humble, yet her words subtly placed the weight of propriety on Liza. By emphasizing her role as an elder, she attempted to paint any further objection from Liza as unreasonable or petty. Liza’s lips twitched into a faint smile. There was an undeniable skill to Madam Reed’s approach—she knew how to twist situations to her advantage with finesse. But Sophia, standing nearby, couldn’t contain her frustration any longer. Her face flushed with indignation as she exclaimed, “Mom! Why are you apologizing to Liza? She’s the one who should apologize to me! She stole my fiancé!” Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. “Gavin, how could you marry her? I didn’t mean to run away on our wedding day—I just wanted to test your love for me. But you went and married someone else instead! “Do you know how heartbroken I was? You were supposed to marry me! If she hadn’t shown up so quickly, I would have come back to you. But you chose her—a woman who can’t compare to me in any way!” Sophia’s sobs grew louder, her breaths coming in uneven gasps.The air in the room grew heavy as Gavin’s expression darkened, his patience visibly wearing thin. Madam Reed sighed, stepping closer to Sophia Reed and gently pulling her to her side. With a tone of motherly regret, she addressed Liza, “Miss Liza, I must apologize again. Sophia is still so young and doesn’t always think before she speaks. She doesn’t mean any harm, but this situation has been hard for her to accept. I’ll be sure to discipline her properly when we return.” She paused, her gaze softening as if recounting a bittersweet memory. “Sophia has always relied on Gavin’s love for her. It made her willful at times, which is why, on the day of their wedding, she staged her little act of running away. She only wanted Gavin to prove his feelings for her. But life is unpredictable. On that very day, he met you instead, Miss Liza. “Perhaps it was fate. Sophia and Gavin were simply not meant to be. It’s a shame, really, but sometimes even the deepest bonds aren’t enough to overcome such twists of destiny.” Her words dripped with regret, carefully portraying Sophia as the tragic heroine of an ill-fated love story. Liza, sensing the manipulation in Madam Reed’s tone, turned her head slightly and caught Gavin’s eye. Her glance was a clear warning for him to stay calm. Gavin clenched his jaw but nodded almost imperceptibly, holding back the storm of frustration brewing within him. He stood silently, his face like stone, refusing to engage. Turning her attention back to Madam Reed, Liza tilted her head with a wry smile. “So, Madam Reed, what you’re saying is that Gavin harbored a deep love for Miss Sophia Reed. Even when she abandoned him on their wedding day, you believed he’d simply wait for her to return. But fate intervened, and he met me instead. Is that right?” Her smile widened, her tone light yet sharp. “Well, if that’s the case, it must mean I’m truly extraordinary. After all, just one encounter with me was enough to make Gavin forget his childhood sweetheart entirely.” Madam Reed stiffened, visibly taken aback. Her subtle mockery had somehow been twisted into an inadvertent compliment in Liza’s mind. It was infuriating yet baffling—how did this woman turn veiled insults into something that fed her confidence? Meanwhile, Liza tapped her fingers lightly on the railing, her expression contemplative. She wasn’t ignorant to their intentions. Whether it was Madam Reed’s polished barbs or Sophia Reed’s melodramatic tears, their underlying message was clear: Gavin had shared a special bond with their family, and Liza was nothing more than an opportunist—temporary and replaceable. Sophia’s crying, however, grated on Liza’s nerves. The exaggerated sobs, paired with her pitiful wails, felt more like a poorly executed stage performance than genuine heartbreak. Liza found herself wondering if she should end the spectacle altogether. Was it worth letting this absurd drama continue? Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a composed, authoritative man who strode into the room with a commanding presence. “Why are you crying?” His voice was firm yet measured as his gaze fell on Sophia . “You were the one who decided to run away from your marriage. The outcome is entirely your doing. Losing Gavin is a consequence of your own actions, and no one else is to blame.” The man, introduced by the housekeeper, carried an air of authority. He glanced at Sophia Reed disapprovingly. “Sophia, you’re no longer a child. It’s time to take responsibility for your mistakes instead of crying about them.” Sophia Reed’s tears fell harder as she whimpered, “Dad, I understand. I made a mistake. I won’t act out anymore. I just want Gavin to come back to me. He was never like this before… but ever since that woman appeared—” Her words dissolved into sniffles as the man, now identified as Sophia Reed’s father, Mr. Reed , turned his attention to Gavin. Despite his stern demeanor, there was an underlying tone of regret in his voice. “Gavin,” he began, his authoritative presence unwavering, “our family owes you an apology. I know we’ve let you down, but I hope you’ll allow me to speak my piece.”Gavin’s expression darkened, his patience clearly stretched thin. It wasn’t even midday, and he had already endured this tiresome family dynamic. His usual temper was sharp enough, but even someone more tolerant would be tested by this trio’s relentless antics. Sensing his irritation, Liza gently reached for his hand, her fingers brushing against his in a soothing gesture. It was an oddly tender moment, as though she were calming a restless cat. Gavin’s posture eased slightly before he took her hand firmly and guided her toward the living room. “Uncle Reed,” he said evenly, though his tone lacked warmth, “let’s sit and talk.” Mr. Reed hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. He gestured for Mrs. Reed and Sophia to join him as they settled on the sofa. His sharp eyes flickered toward Gavin and Liza’s interlocked hands, lingering just long enough to betray his thoughts before he shifted his focus back to the conversation at hand.