Liza couldn’t make sense of Gavin’s behavior. His words seemed cryptic and confusing, especially when he said she couldn’t "show her face." How could he expect her to endure the Reed Family’s blatant bullying without standing up for herself? Was he seriously suggesting she shouldn’t fight back? The logic behind his stance was infuriating. As the pieces fell into place in her mind, her frustration deepened. She convinced herself that Gavin's reluctance had nothing to do with her and everything to do with his past with Sophia. After all, they were childhood sweethearts, weren’t they? He must still care about Sophia and the partnership between the Reed and Stone families. That’s why he was trying to stop her. Her anger bubbled over as she clenched her fists. “Why do you even care what I do? Who are you to interfere with me?! Stop the car right now! I said, stop the car! If you don’t want me going to the Reed Family’s banquet, then guess what—I’m going no matter what you say!”Gavin kept his eyes on the road, his expression calm and indifferent. “I’m taking you home. Someone will be there to ensure you don’t leave until I return.” Liza’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?! You’re planning to lock me up? Gavin, you absolute bastard!” She had believed he was on her side, that they were working toward the same goal. In her mind, exposing the Reed Family’s lies would even help Gavin regain his standing. Yet, here he was, thwarting her efforts and siding with the Reed Family instead! He knew the Reed Family’s so-called Time Flows was a forgery, yet he wanted to shield them. Worse still, he was willing to imprison her, the original designer, just to prevent her from making trouble. Gavin shot her a calm glance. “Don’t overthink things. I’ll explain everything once I return.” “Explain?” she snapped, her voice laced with venom. “Explain what? I don’t need your explanations, Gavin! If you want to protect the Reed Family, then go ahead. But if you think you can stop me from exposing them, let me tell you—it’s not happening!”Gavin’s brow furrowed, irritation flashing in his eyes. Why couldn’t she just understand? He wasn’t protecting the Reed Family. He was only asking her not to confront them openly. Whatever needed to be done, he could handle it for her. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, a sharp noise shattered the tense atmosphere. His gaze snapped toward her, and his pupils dilated in alarm. “Liza!” Before he could do anything, Liza had made her move. With incredible agility, she had opened the car window and slipped halfway out. She clung tightly to the door handle, her body swinging precariously in the air as the car sped down the road. She looked like a kite caught in a fierce wind, defying all reason and safety. Gavin’s chest tightened as an overwhelming sense of panic consumed him. His mind raced with fear, freezing him in place. The image of Liza dangling recklessly from the car and the thought of her falling like a fragile leaf haunted him. His heart pounded in his chest, and for the first time, he felt a kind of helplessness he could not control.He was terrified—utterly terrified—that something terrible would happen to her. But Liza remained oblivious to his turmoil. Her cold snort cut through the tense atmosphere, her gaze filled with disappointment and defiance. She didn’t need any more explanations from Gavin. In her mind, his choice between her and the Reed Family was already made. She narrowed her eyes and said with finality, “Fine. Protect the Reed Family if that’s what you want. I’m done!” And then, she let go. Gavin’s heart stopped. He slammed on the brakes with such force that the car screeched loudly. “Liza, are you insane?!” His voice trembled with rage and panic as he threw the door open and leaped out of the car. Frantically, he ran to the back of the vehicle, his eyes scanning for her, but there was no one there. Jumping out of a moving car? That was suicide! His heart pounded so fiercely it felt like it might burst. His legs shook beneath him, but he forced himself to move, heading toward the edge of the steep cliff that bordered the road. “She actually let go…” he muttered, his voice barely audible. The sight of the jagged rocks below made his chest tighten further. How could she throw her life away so easily? His hands trembled as he fumbled for his phone. He immediately called George, his voice sharp and commanding despite the chaos in his mind. “Bring everyone here. Now!” Ten minutes later, George arrived with a team of bodyguards. After being briefed on the situation, George’s expression turned pale with shock. He quickly directed the men to begin searching the cliffside. The terrain was treacherous and progress was slow. The rescue team combed the area meticulously, but there was no sign of Liza—no footprints, no traces of blood. George glanced nervously at the cliff and then at the road. His throat tightened as he hesitated, unsure whether to speak. He finally swallowed his words when he caught a glimpse of Gavin’s stormy expression.The search dragged on for over an hour, but the result was the same—nothing. Then, beneath a rock not far from the road, a glint of silver caught George’s eye. Upon closer inspection, he found a thin silver wire and a small scrap of paper. “President Gavin,” George began cautiously, holding out the paper, “we couldn’t locate Madam, but… we found this.” Gavin’s heart skipped a beat as he grabbed the note. It was a napkin with a few hastily scribbled words written in eyeliner: See you at the Reed Family’s banquet, scumbag! For a moment, Gavin stood frozen, the tension in his chest finally easing. She was fine. Relief flooded him, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of frustration. This woman—was she deliberately trying to scare him to death? His jaw tightened as he folded the napkin and slipped it into his pocket. Without missing a beat, he turned to George, his voice calm but laced with steely resolve. “Let’s go to the Reed Family’s banquet.” This time, he wasn’t just going for business. He was going to drag that bold, reckless woman back himself.