At this point, the bodyguard suddenly stepped forward to explain, his tone steady and calm. “Students, please don’t misunderstand. Our miss has no ill intentions. We simply heard that Mr Gavin and Miss Liza left in the same car earlier. Mr Gavin’s phone has been unreachable, which made our miss a little worried. She just wanted to ask if anyone knows Miss Liza’s whereabouts so she could check on Mr Gavin.” The students exchanged uneasy glances, suspicion flickering in their eyes. Wasn’t Miss Sophia supposed to be Mr Gavin’s fiancée? If so, why would she need to inquire about her fiancé’s location through Liza? Shouldn’t she be the first person to contact him directly? Some students quickly caught onto a more unsettling implication. If Liza knew Miss Sophia was present but still chose to leave with Mr Gavin, was she intentionally stirring up trouble? Was she trying to insert herself where she didn’t belong?Sophia observed their shifting expressions, her plan quietly taking shape. She let out a soft sigh, as though resigned. “It’s fine. There’s no need to trouble yourselves. I trust Brother Gavin will come back eventually... As for Liza, I won’t dwell on it.” Her voice carried a note of grievance, barely holding back tears, which only fueled the students’ growing indignation. Moments earlier, they had praised Gavin and Sophia as a rare, genuine couple among wealthy families. Now, this situation felt like a rude awakening. “How could Liza act like this? She knows they’re engaged yet chose to leave with him anyway?” one student exclaimed. “Poor Eldest Miss Sophia,” another chimed in. “I remember someone posting on the forum about Liza being a mistress. I didn’t believe it then, but this confirms it!” A flicker of satisfaction flashed through Sophia’s eyes, though she maintained her helpless facade. “Is that really what people think? Then… what should I do? I…”Her voice trembled, deliberately fueling the students’ outrage. Some were already reaching for their phones, eager to update the forum and expose Liza further. But before they could act, a calm yet commanding male voice interrupted the chaos. “Miss Sophia,” the voice cut through the crowd, “it’s better if you clarify the situation instead of being vague and misleading everyone.” All eyes turned toward George, who approached with a composed smile. “I didn’t want to say anything, but this concerns both President Gavin and Miss Liza’s reputations. I have no choice but to intervene. The Reed and Stone families are currently collaborating on an important project. While the Reed Family may highly value this partnership, there’s no need to spread ambiguities that might lead people to wrongly believe President Gavin is romantically interested in you, Miss Sophia. The Stone Family does not rely on rumors or scandals to promote business ventures.” Sophia froze, her composure faltering under the weight of George’s words. The students, previously brimming with righteous anger, were left stunned and uncertain, the narrative they had so eagerly embraced suddenly crumbling. George’s lips curled into a composed smile as he scanned the crowd before letting his gaze rest firmly on Sophia. “Miss Sophia,” he began, his voice calm yet edged with authority, “I apologize if this comes as a surprise, but while the Reed Family may aspire to enter the luxury fashion industry, President Gavin has no interest in leveraging your assets. With that in mind, we’ll be terminating the collaboration. President Gavin has no tolerance for business partners who resort to underhanded tactics.” Sophia stiffened, a chill running through her. “Assistant... Assistant George, please—” Still smiling, George continued, cutting off her protest. “Also, Miss Sophia, you’re well aware of the responsibilities and expectations tied to an engagement. So, I advise you to clear up the rumors circulating. Should we hear further claims that President Gavin has feelings for you or that the Stone Family is pursuing a marriage alliance with the Reed Family, don’t blame President Gavin for taking action. He won’t hesitate to sever all ties and hold your family accountable.” Sophia’s face turned ashen, her usual confident demeanor shattered. Publicly humiliated by George, she struggled to suppress the anger and humiliation bubbling within her. Her thoughts seethed with bitterness. This is because of Liza—of course it is! That woman! Why does Brother Gavin protect her so fiercely? What makes her so special? Meanwhile, the surrounding students, who had been spectators to the unfolding drama, quickly pieced things together from George’s words. “Wait a second. So all those rumors about the Stone Family wanting a marriage alliance with the Reed Family are lies? Did the Reed Family spread those stories to push through their collaboration?” “That’s so underhanded! And to think I believed in this so-called love story. I thought Gavin genuinely liked Miss Sophia. Looking at it now, someone like him wouldn’t fall for her in the first place.” “Is anyone else wondering why Miss Sophia dragged Liza into this? Could it be because Liza and Gavin are actually together? And she’s jealous?” The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as more students voiced similar theories. The realization sent ripples of shock and intrigue through the onlookers. George calmly adjusted his glasses, feigning indifference to the murmured speculation. He glanced away, as though the buzzing crowd wasn’t worth his attention. For Sophia, however, the humiliation was unbearable. She had grown up surrounded by admiration and praise, basking in the adoration of those around her. Yet here she was, the subject of scorn and judgment. Red-faced and trembling with fury, she glared at George before storming off to her car, her bodyguards following closely behind. George, unbothered, watched her retreat with a faint smirk before turning back to his own business. Meanwhile, Liza sat quietly in a different car, her gaze drifting toward Gavin as he settled into the seat beside her. His expression was cold and distant, but she couldn’t help her curiosity. “Why did Sophia come to Li City University?” she asked after a moment. “Was she looking for you?” Gavin turned his head slightly, a hint of amusement breaking through his frosty demeanor. “Mrs. Stone,” he said with a raised brow, his voice low and teasing, “are you jealous?”