Mr. Reed leaned forward slightly, his tone measured but laced with subtle persuasion. “Gavin, you know better than anyone that Sophia’s actions were never meant to be taken seriously. She’s just a little headstrong, that’s all. Her running away from the marriage wasn’t a rejection—it was impulsiveness. Besides, your engagement to Sophia wasn’t something casual; it was arranged by Old Master Stone himself. Don’t you think it’s rather ungrateful to disregard his wishes like this?” Liza, lounging on the sofa with an air of nonchalance, observed the family with faint amusement. The Reed family, it seemed, had perfected the art of ignoring her presence altogether. Here she was, Gavin’s lawfully wedded wife, yet they paraded into her home to undermine her. The daughter deemed her unworthy of Gavin. The mother implied Gavin’s heart still belonged to Sophia. And the father was now invoking Old Master Gu’s authority to guilt him. They weren’t even subtle—they simply didn’t care. Gavin set his coffee cup down, his movements deliberate as he replied coolly, “Uncle Reed, bigamy is illegal.” His calm tone only amplified the weight of his words. “I’m already married. Dwelling on the past serves no purpose. Life moves forward, not backward,” he continued, his voice steady but unyielding. His meaning was unmistakable: the engagement was a relic of the past, and his current marriage was final. Sophia , however, was far from accepting his words. Fresh tears cascaded down her cheeks, her voice breaking with emotion. “Gavin, I know I was wrong. I was selfish and childish. I didn’t think you’d give up on me so easily… How can you just move on like that? I—I still love you. I want to be your wife, have a family with you. I can’t just let you go!” Seeing her daughter’s anguished sobs, Madam Reed dabbed at her own teary eyes, her voice trembling with supposed compassion. “Sophia, stop crying, my dear. Gavin has made his decision. You have to respect it. You’ve always loved him with all your heart, but he’s already married now. Let it go.” Liza propped her chin on her hand, watching the mother-daughter duo in silent amazement. Their words were practically dripping with unspoken implications. It was a masterclass in manipulation—subtle jabs disguised as concern, heartfelt declarations veiling pointed accusations. She had to admit, dealing with them for even a short while was mentally exhausting. Mr. Reed sighed heavily, his voice thick with fatherly concern. “Gavin, you know I wouldn’t bring this up if it weren’t important. Sophia hasn’t stopped crying since the day she heard about your marriage. You know how much Old Master Stone dotes on her. Do you really think he’ll accept your marriage to Miss Sinclair once he finds out? I’m not suggesting anything drastic like divorce, of course. But it’s clear this situation isn’t sustainable.” Liza raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips twitching in faint amusement. The audacity of it all was almost impressive. Mr. Reed’s words were cloaked in feigned respect, but his intentions couldn’t be clearer. Every sentence was carefully crafted to nudge Gavin toward reconsidering his marriage. They weren’t explicitly demanding a divorce, but every word was designed to imply it.She glanced at Gavin, who remained composed despite the veiled attacks. His calm demeanor was almost unnerving, and Liza couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration. If she had to deal with the Reed family regularly, she wasn’t sure she’d have his restraint. Mr. Reed’s voice was calm, yet his words were sharp with implication. “Gavin, think carefully. Marriage is a serious commitment, not a fleeting whim. Miss Liza, I hope you’ll reflect as well. Are you really prepared to spend your best years with someone who doesn’t truly love you? If you agree to the divorce, the Reed family will ensure you’re compensated generously. You won’t face any hardship.” The room plunged into an uneasy silence. The butler, standing quietly by the side, watched the scene unfold with a mix of tension and anticipation. In any other situation, he might have found some merit in Mr. Reed’s words. But after last night’s events, he knew better. This family had no idea what they were walking into. If there was one thing the butler understood clearly, it was how fiercely protective Gavin was of Liza. And he was right. Bang! The sharp sound of a coffee cup being slammed onto the table shattered the silence. Gavin leaned forward slightly, his gaze cold and his tone calm yet chilling. “Uncle Reed,” he began slowly, “have you forgotten who leads the Stone family now?” His words were laced with an unmistakable warning. The subtle reminder of his authority left no room for argument. The days when his grandfather’s influence could be used against him were long gone, and Gavin wasn’t about to let anyone question his decisions. The butler took a step forward, his previously unassuming demeanor replaced with a composed confidence. Though he often stayed in the background, he had served the Stone family long enough to know the truth better than outsiders like the Reeds. “Mr. Reed,” the butler began, his tone polite but firm, “the Old Master never arranged an engagement between Young Master and Miss Sophia Reed. Where did you even get the idea that Miss Sophia Reed was ever his fiancée? Let’s be clear: it was Miss Sophia Reed who expressed interest in marrying Young Master. The Old Master only entertained the idea because the Reed and Stone families had a long-standing friendship, and Miss Sophia Reed had grown up alongside Young Master. At the time, he thought it might be a good match since Young Master wasn’t involved with anyone else.” The butler paused, letting his words sink in before continuing with a sharper edge to his tone. “But on the day of the supposed marriage, it was Miss Sophia Reed who abandoned Young Master at the Civil Affairs Bureau. You claim she was merely being stubborn and testing Young Master’s feelings, but in truth, it was nothing short of public humiliation. She didn’t just insult Young Master—she disrespected the entire Stone family.” He glanced pointedly at Reed before adding, “The Stone family never sought to hold you accountable for such a disgraceful incident. Yet here you are, barging in, claiming to be wronged, and spreading falsehoods in front of Young Master and Young Madam. It’s clear you don’t understand the position you’re in.” The butler’s measured yet cutting words left the Reed family visibly shaken. It was rare for him to speak so candidly, and the weight of his accusations struck a chord. Liza, meanwhile, was thoroughly impressed. She had always thought of the butler as a quiet, unobtrusive presence in the household. But now, seeing his poised yet fiery defense of her and Gavin, she felt a surge of admiration. A small smile played on her lips as she resisted the urge to applaud his eloquence. If nothing else, the Reed family had certainly underestimated the people they were dealing with.