Why was Gavin asking such a question? Was he…jealous? Liza quickly dismissed the thought. It couldn’t be. Gavin had never shown any sign of romantic interest in her. Perhaps it wasn’t about feelings at all, but rather a matter of pride. After all, no man would be comfortable seeing his wife—legal or otherwise—talking and laughing with another man so openly. Thinking about it this way, his reaction seemed almost…reasonable. Once she pieced things together, Liza decided it was best to ease the tension. Flashing a sweet, harmless smile, she said softly, “Why would you think that? I’m not close to Mr. Albert at all.” “Not close?” Gavin repeated, his tone light but clearly skeptical. He let out a low chuckle, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. “A few years ago, Stone Corporation sought a collaboration with Ruby Co. Do you know why she declined?” The sudden shift in topic left Liza slightly disoriented. Why was he bringing this up now? Back then, she had rejected Stone Corporation’s proposal because she didn’t want to be tied down by a corporate entity. As Ruby Co, she valued her freedom and preferred to work independently. She had heard that her refusal had caused significant losses for Stone Corporation and marked one of the rare occasions Gavin’s plans didn’t go as expected. But even so, she knew that Ruby Co wasn’t invincible. If Gavin had really wanted to retaliate, he could have crushed her career without breaking a sweat. Feeling a wave of unease, Liza swallowed hard and attempted to explain. “At that time…I didn’t really have much of a choice. Would you believe me if I said that?” She tried to sound sincere, hoping to defuse the situation. After all, hadn’t she already made amends? She had agreed to collaborate with Stone Corporation since then. Gavin tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp and piercing. “Albert is Ruby Co’s Brother Albert. Your identity as Ruby Co has already been exposed, and yet you’re still claiming you’re not close to him? Tell me—do you think I’m too naïve to see through you, or are you just too lazy to even bother lying to me?”Liza froze, her mind racing. Oh no. A chill ran down her spine. How had she forgotten that Gavin had addressed her Brother Albert by name earlier? He must have known their connection all along! Her expression shifted between shock, regret, and a desperate attempt to remain calm. She cursed herself silently. Years ago, when she and Gavin crossed paths, it had been from a distance. She had only seen his back, and after declining the collaboration, she made no effort to engage with him further. At the time, she had believed it was a one-off encounter that wouldn’t matter in the long run. She had assumed Gavin would forget the whole ordeal, especially given how far Stone Corporation had come since then. It was now an unmatched giant in the fashion world, leagues ahead of anyone else. Surely, a refusal from years ago wouldn’t still bother him? Yet, here he was, bringing it up as if it had happened yesterday. It dawned on her that Gavin didn’t forget—or forgive—easily. He had been quietly holding this grudge all along, and now it seemed to be fueling his interrogation. Liza felt trapped, her mind scrambling for a way to placate him. But with Gavin’s sharp gaze locked on her, every word she considered felt inadequate. Gavin held her hand lightly in his palm, idly tracing his fingers over hers as if he had all the time in the world. His expression carried a hint of amusement as he spoke, “Grand designer, after all these years, it seems your temper hasn’t changed one bit. Tell me, you’re not planning to go to the Reed Family’s banquet just to mingle, are you? You’re seeking revenge, aren’t you?” Though his tone was calm and his words framed as a question, there was no mistaking the certainty in his voice. It was as if he had already seen through her plans and was simply waiting for her to admit it. Liza tensed, immediately on high alert. “Stop making baseless accusations! I’m only attending because I received an invitation from the Reed Family. Besides,” she added with a pointed glare, “you were the one who agreed to attend with me in the first place.” Gavin met her defensive gaze with a soft chuckle, his amusement only growing. “Do you want to know why I agreed? Because when you mentioned the banquet, it was written all over your face. ‘I want revenge’—clear as day.” Liza stiffened, stunned into silence for a moment. So that’s why he had been watching her so intently earlier! Did this man have some supernatural ability to read her mind? How could he know exactly what she was thinking? Straightening her back, she refused to back down. “Alright, fine. So what if I’m going for revenge? That woman, Sophia, has lorded over me for far too long. Is it so wrong for me to get a little payback? And let’s not forget, they dared to imitate my designs. As a designer, don’t I have the right to defend my work?” Instead of arguing, Gavin reached out and gently ruffled her hair as if she were a child throwing a tantrum. “Liza, picking a fight with the Reed Family right now isn’t exactly the smartest move.” Swatting his hand away, Liza’s lips curled into a sneer. “Offending them? Do you think I’m scared of offending anyone?” she snapped. “And let’s not forget whose fault this is. The only reason the Reed Family is targeting me is because of you! Now you’re trying to make it seem like I’m the one looking for trouble?” Her eyes burned with frustration, and her words carried the weight of everything she had endured. “All I want is to stand up for myself and defend what’s mine. What’s wrong with that?” Gavin’s expression softened, but his tone remained firm. “I’m not trying to start an argument, and you don’t need to take it out on me. If you want to involve Albert to stir up trouble with the Reed Family, fine. But you shouldn’t expose yourself.” His voice was calm, but there was a quiet urgency in his words. He wasn’t worried about the Reed Family’s influence but about the consequences for her. Right now, the world saw her as nothing more than Liza—the eldest daughter of the Sinclair Family who had been sent away to the countryside. If she revealed her true identities—Ruby Co, the renowned designer; Black Tide, the legendary hacker; or even Mrs. Stone—she could crush the Reed Family effortlessly.But that wasn’t her style. She wasn’t ready to disclose her other personas. She preferred to fight her battles quietly, without relying on her hidden strengths. Yet, in doing so, she exposed herself to unnecessary risks. Gavin’s voice grew softer, tinged with concern. “As long as you hide who you really are, people will see you as someone they can step on. Even if I can shield you from most of it, there’s always the chance something could slip through. I don’t want you to get hurt because of that.” Liza looked at him, momentarily at a loss for words. His reasoning wasn’t wrong, but the thought of relying on anyone—even Gavin—left a bitter taste in her mouth.