Liza arrived at Mingfeng Hotel, humming a light tune as she approached the grand venue where the Reed Family’s banquet was being held. However, she didn’t step inside—not because she didn’t want to, but because she physically couldn’t. Without an invitation, she had no choice but to wait patiently at the entrance. She had already contacted Albert, but he was likely delayed by traffic, as there was still no sign of him. Liza frowned, tapping her foot in irritation. If her Brother Albert didn’t show up soon, there was a real chance that Gavin would arrive first. That man wouldn’t hesitate to find a way to whisk her away. While she wasn’t afraid of facing Gavin directly, she knew today wasn’t the time to get tangled up with him. Her main objective was to deal with the Reed Family. A direct confrontation with Gavin would only complicate things, and she had no intention of letting that happen. Not far away, Sophia stood at the entrance, greeting guests with a polite smile plastered on her face. Suddenly, her expression darkened as her gaze landed on Liza. Her eyes narrowed in disdain as she whispered to the women around her, “What is she doing here?” The socialites surrounding Sophia immediately perked up, curious about whom she was referring to. One of them leaned closer and asked, “Miss Sophia, who are you talking about?” Sophia tilted her chin slightly, gesturing toward Liza. Her tone was filled with contempt as she said, “That woman over there. As far as I know, our family didn’t send her an invitation. I have no idea why she’s here. Perhaps she’s planning to sneak in.” The group exchanged looks of surprise and disapproval. A woman in a sleek white dress spoke up indignantly. “Who would be shameless enough to show up without an invitation? Don’t worry, Miss Sophia. I’ll call the security guards to deal with her right away.” Sophia let out an exaggerated sigh and raised a hand in mock protest. “Forget it… It’s better not to provoke her. You don’t know her like I do—she’s extremely cunning. Somehow, she managed to catch Brother Gavin’s attention. Even I can’t do anything about her.” The revelation caused a stir among the women. One of them, Clara, gasped in disbelief, her eyes widening. “Wait a minute. Are you saying that she seduced Young Master Gavin? That means she’s nothing more than a homewrecker who interfered in someone else’s relationship!” Sophia bit her lip, as though hesitant to speak further. “I don’t know what brought her here tonight. Maybe Brother Gavin brought her along. Either way, it’s best if we avoid her altogether. Let’s just pretend we didn’t see her.” Despite Sophia’s feigned reluctance, her words were carefully calculated, and they had the desired effect. Clara, eager to win Sophia’s favor, clenched her fists. Her family had tasked her with building a good relationship with Sophia, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to earn her gratitude. If she could help Sophia rid herself of this troublesome woman, she was certain Sophia would remember her loyalty. Clara clutched Sophia's hand tightly, her face twisted with indignation. “Sophia, how can you let this slide? I absolutely despise mistresses! What right does someone like her have to attend this banquet? If she isn’t embarrassed to show up here as a mistress in front of the legitimate fiancée, I’m disgusted for her!” Sophia hesitated, biting her lip in mock apprehension. “But… what if Brother Gavin finds out? He might blame me…” Clara, eager to prove her loyalty, quickly dismissed her concerns. “Don’t worry! It’s your family’s banquet today, and you’re the host. Why should you be afraid of her? Come on, let’s go and chase that shameless woman out!” Meanwhile, Liza was still waiting near the entrance, keeping an eye out for Albert. Unfortunately, her Brother Albert was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she noticed a group of well-dressed women approaching her, led by none other than Sophia. The other women seemed unfamiliar, but Liza could instantly sense their hostility. Clara took the lead, stepping in front of Sophia as if shielding her. She cast Liza a disdainful look and sneered loudly enough for the nearby guests to hear. “How can there be someone so shameless in this world? You know full well she’s already engaged, yet you shamelessly chase after her fiancé. Being a mistress is bad enough, but showing up here and flaunting it in front of the legitimate fiancée? You’re absolutely disgraceful!” Her words caught the attention of the guests entering and leaving the banquet. A few stopped to watch, whispering among themselves as their curious gazes shifted toward Liza. Liza remained composed, casting an indifferent glance at Clara but staying silent. Clara mistook her calm demeanor for guilt and became even more emboldened. She crossed her arms and mocked, “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? You don’t even have the nerve to defend yourself?” Liza sighed, exuding an air of exasperated patience. Slowly, she spoke, her tone sharp but measured. “If you have no use for your brain, you might as well donate it to someone who needs it. You’re accusing me of being a mistress without knowing the facts. Now tell me, who’s really embarrassing themselves here? Don’t you agree, Miss Sophia?” Sophia’s expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of unease crossing her face. Of course, Liza wasn’t a mistress, and Sophia wasn’t Gavin’s fiancée either. But none of that mattered. In the eyes of everyone around them, Sophia had always been viewed as Gavin’s rightful fiancée. By contrast, Liza was seen as the outsider—the so-called “mistress” who had supposedly come between them. Clara, recovering quickly, glared at Liza and snapped, “How dare you insult me? You’re nothing but a mistress, and you dare to talk back? Get lost! You don’t belong here, and you certainly have no place at the Reed Family’s banquet. Don’t tarnish their reputation!” Initially, Liza had been feeling a little anxious about her inability to get into the banquet. However, watching the situation escalate, a sly smirk formed on her lips. It seemed she didn’t need to set foot inside after all—this little drama was already working to her advantage.Casually, she pulled out her phone, made a quick call, and then slipped it back into her pocket. With nothing more to do, she leaned back slightly and waited, content to let the situation unfold on its own. Sophia sighed theatrically, as though she were deeply troubled. “Forget it, Clara. She’s clearly not going to leave. Let’s not waste our energy on her.” But Clara was determined. She clenched her fists and turned to the nearby security guards, her voice firm with authority. “Hey, come here! Miss Sophia didn’t invite this woman. Get her out of here right now!” The security guards hesitated briefly. They didn’t recognize Clara or Liza, but they knew Sophia as the eldest daughter of the Reed Family. Since the Reed Family was hosting the banquet at the hotel, the guards assumed Sophia’s word was final. Following Clara’s command, one of the guards approached Liza to escort her away. But before he could even say a word, the sound of a car engine interrupted the scene. A sleek, luxurious car came to a stop at the entrance of the hotel, its presence commanding attention. All eyes turned toward it, and the tension in the air thickened. Liza raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at her lips as she braced herself for what was about to happen.