Gavin’s voice cut through the room like a blade. “Butler! Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me?” Startled, the butler immediately snapped to attention. “Yes, Young Master!” He turned to the Reed family, his tone calm yet firm. “Mr. Reed, Madam Reed, Miss Reed, please follow me this way.” However, the trio remained frozen, their pride and anger rooting them in place. The butler’s expression remained composed, but his words carried a warning. “Mr. Reed, you’re well aware of the young master’s temperament. If he orders us to use force, we will not hesitate. And when that happens, I’m afraid your family’s reputation will suffer irreparably.” The weight of his words made Mr. Reed’s expression darken further. For a moment, it seemed as though he might argue, but the reality of their situation was undeniable. Their visit had failed spectacularly. Instead of achieving their goal, they had enraged Gavin and embarrassed themselves.Reluctantly, Mr. Reed motioned for his wife and daughter to leave. They followed him, their steps heavy with defeat. From a distance, Sophia Reed’s angry cries echoed through the hallway. “I’m not leaving! Why should I? You promised me I’d marry Brother Gavin! Why can’t I marry him now? Liar! You’re all liars!” “Enough!” Mr. Reed’s voice thundered, his patience finally snapping. He turned to his daughter, his face livid with frustration. “If you hadn’t pulled that ridiculous stunt of running away from the marriage to ‘test’ Gavin, do you think Liza would’ve had the chance to take your place? This entire mess is your doing!” His words stung, and Sophia Reed’s face crumpled in frustration and shame. If she had simply gone through with the wedding as planned, she would now hold the esteemed title of Mrs. Stone, elevating both herself and the Reed family’s status. Instead, her impulsive actions had cost them everything. Mr. Reed leaned closer to his daughter, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “The Stone family won’t accept Liza as their young madam for long. Sophia, there’s still a chance for you. If Liza were to… disappear, or if something unfortunate happened to her, the position of Mrs. Stone would naturally fall to you.” Sophia Reed’s sobbing ceased, her tear-streaked face stiffening as she absorbed her father’s words. She turned to her mother, who gave her a small, firm nod. “Your father is right, Sophia,” Madam Reed said softly. “This isn’t over. You still have an opportunity.” Liza was nothing more than an insignificant upstart, a country girl who didn’t belong in their world. Getting rid of her might be challenging, but ruining her reputation? That was something the Reed family could manage. Sophia Reed’s gaze flickered with a dangerous light. Lowering her head, she whispered, “Alright, I’ll do as you say, Dad.” As they walked away, her heart hardened with resolve. Liza, she thought, if you dare to steal my man, then you’d better be ready to face the consequences. I’ll make you regret ever crossing me. …In the villa, Gavin gestured for the servants to get to work. They moved with precision, throwing open windows and beginning to rearrange and clean the space. Some carried out furniture while others collected various items for disposal. Liza stood frozen in disbelief as she watched the sofa, which had only just been used, being carted away. “What on earth is happening?” she asked, her tone baffled. Gavin didn’t answer. Instead, he swiftly made his way up to the third floor. The butler, noticing her confusion, stepped forward to explain. “Madam, Young Master is very particular about cleanliness. Anything the Reed family touched—the sofa, the cups—must be discarded. The entire living room is scheduled to be sanitized.” Liza was momentarily speechless. Her thoughts spun as she stared at the items being removed. What a waste! The sofa, the ornate cups, and even the carpet were all luxury goods, each worth a fortune. Now they were being thrown out without hesitation.As much as she had enjoyed seeing the Reed family humiliated, Liza felt a pang of regret at how costly this act of defiance had been. Next time, she thought, she wouldn’t let them off so lightly. With a wry smile, she resolved to find a way to make up for the loss. She turned to head upstairs for some much-needed rest, but her phone buzzed with a message from her father, Mr Sinclair. [Black Tide,] The share transfer is in progress, but it’s taking longer than expected due to complications. In the meantime, could you help us deal with Liza’s behavior? She’s becoming more and more unreasonable. Serena can’t eat or sleep well because of her. It’s heartbreaking to watch. Reading the message, Liza’s lips curled into a small, amused smile. Her father’s plea couldn’t have come at a better time. If they were willing to pay, she was more than ready to step in. She replied with deliberate ambiguity: [That will depend on your sincerity.]Meanwhile, at the Sinclair family home, chaos reigned. News had spread quickly about Serena’s deception—claiming to be Ruby co’s disciple only to be publicly exposed by the real Ruby co. Once admired by many, Serena was now the subject of ridicule. Her disgrace had caused her to avoid university entirely, unable to endure her classmates’ scorn. Their praise of Liza, now revealed to be the renowned Ruby co, only added to her misery. Victoria, seething with anger, paced the room. “Sinclair,” she snapped, “what is Liza trying to pull? Why didn’t she tell us she’s Ruby co? Was she deliberately waiting to humiliate Serena like this? She’s ruined her dignity!” Brandon, standing protectively by Serena’s side, frowned as he addressed her gently. “Serena, are you saying Liza never mentioned she was Ruby co? Not even once?” Tears welled in Serena’s eyes as she shook her head. Her voice trembled with emotion. “No, Brother Brandon. My sister never told me anything about being Ruby co. Honestly… I thought she didn’t know much about fashion design at all. That’s why I tried to look out for her at university. But who would’ve thought…” Her words painted a picture of herself as kindhearted and caring, in stark contrast to Liza’s supposedly conniving nature. Brandon’s frown deepened, and Mr Sinclair’s face darkened. Both men’s perception of Liza worsened with every word Serena uttered. The room was filled with an air of condemnation for Liza, their opinions shaped by assumptions and misdirected loyalty. Yet behind Serena’s tears lay a flicker of satisfaction—her portrayal of innocence had further turned her family and Brandon against Liza.