The bodyguards immediately released Serena, allowing her to crumple onto the floor. Her face, swollen and nearly unrecognizable, was numb from the assault. Her voice trembled as she mumbled incoherently, “Sister, I didn’t mean to hurt you… I swear, I didn’t…” Liza stood silently for a moment, her gaze unwavering, before turning her attention to the leader of the bodyguards. He crouched before Serena, a sneer twisting his features. “Miss Liza ,” he began mockingly, holding out the check, “this 600,000 is for you. Miss Liza wanted to return the favor since, in your eyes, her life is worth no more than this amount. Though, if we’re honest, you probably don’t think it’s worth even that much.” He tilted his head slightly, his expression turning sharper. “Let’s think about this logically. Miss Liza, the rightful eldest daughter of the Sinclair Family, is supposedly worth 600,000 in your mind. What does that make you? An illegitimate daughter brought in by a mistress? Surely, your worth doesn’t even come close.” Serena’s face turned ashen, her fear evident in her wide eyes. Her humiliation deepened as the bodyguard continued to mock her, the words cutting deeper than any slap. Unbeknownst to them, Gavin stood silently at the edge of the stairwell, his piercing eyes watching the scene unfold. A faint smirk played on his lips as he muttered under his breath, “Miss Liza? How intriguing.” It dawned on him that the bodyguards addressed Liza as "Miss Liza," a title that carried significant weight. This revelation only added to his interest in her. Meanwhile, the bodyguard crouched closer to Serena, his voice dripping with disdain. “Take the check, Miss Serena . If you ever lose your life, you won’t have the right to blame Miss Liza. After all, she’s already compensated you for it, hasn’t she?” Serena trembled, her pale face betraying her fury and fear. How dare Liza threaten her like this! Brandon, standing nearby, frowned deeply. His expression was one of frustration and concern. “Liza, aren’t you taking this too far? Serena has always been kind to you, even when you’ve tried to harm her. She forgave you without hesitation. What happened today wasn’t her fault—it was an accident. Isn’t it enough that you’ve had her beaten like this?” Liza slowly raised her gaze to meet his, her tone cold and unwavering. “You say I’ve always tried to kill Serena? When?” Brandon’s expression darkened, his voice carrying the weight of past grievances. “Two years ago, when you returned to the Sinclair Family, you drove Serena off a cliff. You didn’t even know how to handle a car properly and nearly killed yourself in the process. When everything came to light, it was Serena who pleaded on your behalf. Uncle Sinclair chose not to involve the police, thanks to her generosity.” As Brandon finished, Liza regarded him with an almost amused expression, as though she were staring at a fool. Two years ago, when Liza first returned to the Sinclair Family, she was met with hostility and malice. Serena and her mother wasted no time in plotting against her, eager to remove her from their lives. One fateful day, Serena orchestrated an ambush. Taking advantage of Liza’s lowered guard, she rammed into Liza’s car and had a group of accomplices surround her. Cornered and desperate, Liza was left with no choice but to jump off a cliff to save herself. She spent two harrowing days and nights unconscious at the base of the cliff, her body battered and broken. If not for her brother, who tirelessly searched for her and brought help in time, she might never have survived. Thanks to his efforts, her injuries were treated, and she managed to recover and return to the Sinclair Family. But her return was far from a relief. Instead of compassion or concern, she was greeted with Serena’s crocodile tears and the family’s relentless accusations. Serena cried her way into their sympathies, painting Liza as the villain. It was as though Liza’s mere existence was an unforgivable crime. Her family’s scorn and disdain made her life in the Sinclair household unbearable. Now, standing before Brandon, she saw the same ignorant loyalty to Serena that had always blinded him. He looked at Liza with misplaced indignation and scorn. "Back then, you tried to kill Serena,” he accused. “Even after all these years, you still haven’t shown any remorse. Liza, today—" His voice abruptly stopped. A cold, unyielding object pressed against his temple—a gun. Serena and Lucy screamed in terror as the leader of Liza’s bodyguards stepped forward, his demeanor calm and composed. “Mr. Brandon,” the bodyguard said in a measured tone, “I suggest you choose your words carefully.” Brandon froze, his heart pounding. The cold metal of the gun against his skin made his blood run cold. His voice wavered as he tried to appear calm. “This is Li City University,” he stammered. “If you fire a gun here—” The bodyguard cut him off with a smirk. “Mr. Brandon, let me educate you. If I have the audacity to press a gun to your head, it means I’m not afraid of the consequences. Do you honestly think Miss Liza needs to resort to petty tricks like driving someone off a cliff to deal with Serena?”His voice was full of contempt as he leaned closer, the muzzle still firmly pressed against Brandon’s temple. “Miss Liza doesn’t waste time on such childish schemes. If she wanted, she could have you eliminated in an instant. For example,” he continued with chilling nonchalance, “I could make your brains paint the wall right here and now. Would you like to test that theory?” Sweat poured down Brandon’s face as fear gripped him. He couldn’t even form words, his throat parched from terror. The bodyguard’s menacing tone and piercing eyes conveyed an unmistakable intent to kill. Finally, Liza’s voice broke the tense silence. “That’s enough,” she said lazily, a hint of boredom in her tone. She cast a dismissive glance at Brandon and the others. “If you kill him now, it’ll just create unnecessary trouble for me. Cleaning up after them isn’t worth my time or energy.” The bodyguard straightened, holstering his gun with a casual flourish and even blowing on the barrel as if it had been fired. “As you wish, Miss Liza. You’re far too kind-hearted. We’ll let them off... for now.”Serena, still crumpled on the floor, trembled in silence, her pale face betraying the depth of her fear. Meanwhile, Brandon stood rooted to the spot, his stiff body drenched in sweat, fully aware that his life had just been spared by a mere whim.