As the banquet was about to commence, Madam Reed gave a graceful smile and addressed the crowd. “Alright, everyone, let’s proceed to the front hall. The banquet is starting soon.” She gestured warmly before turning to Sophia. “Sophia, if Liza wishes to admire Time Flows a bit longer, stay here with her. I’ll escort the rest to the hall.” Being the host and declaring ownership of the dress, Madam Reed’s words were final. Though some guests were still curious, they felt obligated to follow her lead. With polite smiles, they turned and began moving toward the front hall, leaving only Liza and Sophia behind. As the crowd drifted away, Sophia’s pleasant facade dropped. Out of sight from others, she cast a smug glance at Liza, who was intently examining the gown. This fool, Sophia thought. She’s so absorbed in that replica. Does she even realize the trap she’s about to walk into? Determined to make Liza regret ever stepping into this banquet, Sophia’s eyes gleamed with malice. Subtly reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small knife, carefully concealing it as she moved closer. Taking advantage of Liza’s distraction, she swiftly slipped the knife into her hand. Then, in a dramatic shift, Sophia cried out in alarm, her voice trembling with fear. “Liza! What are you doing? Are you trying to destroy Time Flows? Stop it right now!” Her loud exclamation immediately drew everyone’s attention. The guests, who had only just begun heading toward the hall, turned back in shock. What met their eyes was Liza standing frozen, holding a small knife in her hand, its tip dangerously close to the gown. Sophia wasted no time, throwing herself dramatically in front of the dress as though to shield it. “Please, Liza, stop!” she pleaded, her voice quivering with desperation. “This is Time Flows! The only one of its kind in the world! Even if you dislike it, you can’t destroy it!” As she grasped Liza’s wrist, she made sure the blade was visible to everyone, ensuring the scene was as incriminating as possible.The murmurs among the guests grew louder, their eyes wide with disbelief. “Wait, aren’t knives prohibited here? We were all searched before entering.” “Madam Reed and her daughter were so kind to invite Liza to admire the gown, and she wants to destroy it? That’s unforgivable!” “Could she have hidden the knife somehow? She must have brought it with ill intent. Who does something like this unless they’re jealous of the Reed Family’s success?” The whispers of disapproval filled the room, and it wasn’t long before suspicion and outrage filled the air. Many guests leaned toward the conclusion that Liza’s actions were born of envy rather than any rational motive. Amid the commotion, Madam Reed returned, her expression a mix of shock and concern. “What’s going on here?” she demanded, turning to Sophia. “Sophia, what did you just say?” The crowd, now too intrigued to leave, stayed rooted in place, awaiting an explanation from Liza. The atmosphere was tense, with all eyes on her as if she were guilty until proven otherwise. Sophia’s voice broke with feigned anguish as she wiped away tears. “I just wanted Liza to get a closer look at the dress. I never expected her to pull out a knife and damage it! I heard the sound of fabric tearing and turned around immediately. I tried my best to stop her from causing more harm, but…” Her voice trembled. “Mom, what do we do? The dress... It’s ruined!” Madam Reed rushed to inspect the gown. Her expression turned somber as she noticed a visible tear in the fabric. Letting out a heavy sigh, she addressed Liza, her tone filled with disappointment. “Liza, our family welcomed you here with sincerity and respect. Is this how you repay us? There were clear rules for this banquet: no one was permitted to bring sharp objects. Yet you managed to sneak in a knife. Why? Was this deliberate? Did you come here intending to destroy Time Flows?” Liza stood silently, the corners of her lips curling into an amused smile as she casually toyed with the knife. Clara, unable to contain her indignation, stepped forward, her voice rising with anger. “I knew you had an agenda when you came to this banquet! Do you even understand the value of what you’ve just destroyed? This gown is worth 800 million yuan! This wasn’t an accident—you did it on purpose. I’m calling the police! Damaging something of this worth is a serious crime. You’ll be locked away for the rest of your life!” The guests, now fully alert, exchanged murmurs of shock and condemnation. Their earlier suspicions about Liza seemed to solidify as they glanced at the knife still in her hand. “How ungrateful can someone be? The Reed Family treated her like a distinguished guest, and she repays them by ruining their most prized possession?” “Miss Sophia is right. This is a matter for the police. The amount involved is enormous—they won’t take this lightly.” The tension in the room grew as Madam Reedseemed to weigh the suggestion of involving the authorities. She placed a thoughtful hand on her chin, her expression serious, as though considering the implications of filing a police report. Sophia let out a soft, bitter laugh, then shook her head. “Let it go, Mom. Don’t call the police. If the authorities get involved, Liza’s life will be destroyed forever. Yes, she damaged Time Flows, but I can’t stand the thought of her being sent to prison.” Madam Reed’s face softened into an expression of maternal concern. “Sophia, you’re too kind. But what Liza has done here isn’t just a small mistake. It’s an enormous breach of trust.” Sophia stepped closer, her tone pleading. “Please, Mom, I’m begging you! It must have been a moment of impulsive anger. How can the value of a gown outweigh someone’s future? Let’s just give her one more chance. I can’t bear to see her life ruined over this.” Madam Reed hesitated, then finally nodded with a reluctant sigh. “Fine, Sophia, I’ll listen to you. This time, we’ll let her go. But she can’t stay here any longer.” Turning to Liza, Madam Reed’s tone turned cold. “Miss Liza, you’ve caused enough trouble for one evening. I think it’s best if you leave the banquet immediately.”