Serena’s chest heaved as rage and humiliation overwhelmed her. Tears streamed down her face, smudging her carefully applied makeup. Despite her inner turmoil, she had no choice but to remain silent. Albert, however, appeared quite satisfied. He finally broke into a smile. “President , it seems you truly understand where your priorities lie. It’s good to see you haven’t been completely bewitched by a mistress and her illegitimate child. With this, our collaboration can proceed as planned.” He paused for effect, letting his words hang in the air before continuing. “By the way, I’ll also be attending the Reed Family’s banquet later. Naturally, I’ll be taking the Sinclair Family’s eldest daughter with me—someone who rightfully holds her status. As for the second daughter of the Sinclair Family…” His words trailed off deliberately, adding weight to what came next. With a faint smirk, he said, “President , you’ve just clarified that both cars belong to Liza. Since that’s the case, it seems Miss Serena doesn’t have a vehicle of her own. If she has no car, well, she’ll have to make her way to the Reed Family’s banquet on foot. After all, the venue isn’t too far from here, is it?” Mr Sinclair instantly understood the veiled warning in Albert’s tone. His position as head of the family left him no choice but to comply. Even though it pained him to humiliate Serena, he had to prioritize the larger picture. Clenching his jaw, he nodded begrudgingly. “President Albert, you make an excellent point. Serena, you’ll walk to the banquet.” “Dad!” Serena exclaimed, her voice breaking with disbelief and indignation. Ignoring her outburst, Albert turned to Liza and extended a hand toward her in an inviting gesture. “Miss Liza, shall we?” Liza’s lips curled into a polite yet faintly mocking smile. She turned toward her stepsister, her voice tinged with feigned sympathy. “Oh, dear sister, it seems you’ll have to walk to the banquet after all. Believe me, I feel terrible about it, but since Dad has already made the decision, there’s nothing I can do to help you. Truly, it pains my heart to think of your struggle, but… well, life as an illegitimate daughter is never easy. Perhaps you’ll have better luck in your next life.” As the car sped away, leaving Serena behind, she finally crumbled to the ground, her cries echoing through the air. Mr Sinclair’s heart clenched at the sight of his favorite daughter’s misery. Lowering himself to her level, he gently coaxed her, “Serena, please be patient. You must understand, I’m doing this for the greater good. We need President Albert’s investment to save the company, and for that, you’ll have to endure this slight injustice for now.” His tone softened as he continued, trying to soothe her. “Once the funds are secured, everything will go back to how it should be. We’ll force Liza out of the company and out of this family. You’ll get the recognition you deserve as the true daughter of the Sinclair Family. The car, the title, and everything else will be yours. Just bear with it a little longer, my good girl.” But Serena could barely hear her father’s words over the sound of her own sobs, her fury burning hotter with every moment she remained powerless.… As Albert’s car approached the Reed Family’s banquet venue, it suddenly came to a halt. He frowned, his voice sharp with annoyance. “Who dares to stop my car? Are they looking for trouble?” In the passenger seat, Liza had been casually scrolling through her phone, seemingly unconcerned. However, she abruptly froze when she sensed something unusual. Looking up, her gaze fell on the figure standing outside. There, leaning casually against the railing, was Gavin. Dressed in a sleek black trench coat, his demeanor exuded effortless authority. He raised his hand lazily in a half-wave, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Mrs. Liza Stone,” he drawled, his tone calm yet unmistakably teasing. “What a coincidence.” Liza felt her breath catch, a sense of impending doom washing over her. Gavin adjusted his sleeves with deliberate precision, retrieving a pair of gloves from his pocket. As he slipped them on, his movements were slow and calculated, exuding an air of menace veiled by charm. With a graceful bend, he rapped lightly on the passenger-side window where Liza sat. His gaze was sharp yet playful. “Mrs. Liza Stone,” he began, his voice smooth but edged with subtle reprimand, “you promised to attend the Reed Family’s banquet with me. Yet here you are, riding in another man’s car. Care to explain?” Albert, sitting in the driver’s seat, took one look at the man outside and froze. His initial surprise quickly morphed into shock, though he quickly composed himself. Glancing at Liza, he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Ruby Co,” he asked casually, “is this your husband?” Liza’s lips twitched. “…” Gavin’s eyes flicked to Albert’s hand resting lightly on Liza’s shoulder. His voice was calm, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of displeasure. “Mr. Albert,” he greeted with detached politeness. Albert’s first impression of Gavin was surprisingly favorable. There was an unmistakable air of strength and composure about him. More importantly, he trusted Liza’s judgment, and if this was the man she had chosen, then Albert was inclined to approve. With a disarming smile, Albert extended his hand in greeting. “Mr. Gavin, a pleasure to meet you.” Turning to Liza, he added with a chuckle, “Ruby Co, you have good taste. So this is the fiancé who has a reputation for being mysterious and elusive.” Gavin’s smile widened, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. The words "fiancé" seemed to linger in the air, carrying a subtle irony. To Albert’s surprise, Gavin’s polite veneer barely masked a palpable hostility. Albert puzzled over this reaction, wondering if it stemmed from jealousy over his close friendship with Liza. Despite this realization, he decided not to provoke Gavin further. Instead, he tactfully suggested, “Ruby Co, why don’t you go with Mr. Gavin from here? I don’t have an invitation letter with me anyway. I’ll join the banquet at a more opportune moment.” Without waiting for agreement, Gavin reached out and unceremoniously pulled Liza out of Albert’s car.Albert blinked, his mouth twitching in disbelief. “…” Watching the scene unfold, he felt a new certainty. Gavin is insanely jealous. All of this over my friendship with Ruby Co? This man is unreal. Now seated in Gavin’s car, Liza couldn’t shake the feeling of unease creeping up her spine. Gavin’s hands rested on the steering wheel, but he made no move to start the car. The air between them grew heavy with unspoken tension as she sat obediently in the passenger seat, waiting for him to speak. Finally, Gavin’s cool gaze turned toward her, his expression unreadable. “Mrs. Stone,” he began slowly, his voice carrying a deceptively light tone, “you seem to have quite a close relationship with Mr. Albert, don’t you?” Liza felt her throat tighten. “…” Was this some kind of punishment?