The truth had unraveled, exposing the ugly reality. Sophia, who had always presented herself as a kind and dignified woman, was the orchestrator of the entire debacle. She had not only framed Liza but had also attempted to appear noble by pretending to forgive her. The crowd could no longer contain their disdain. “This is appalling! The Reed Family targeted Liza just because she’s alone and lacks support. What if Mingfeng Hotel hadn’t installed hidden cameras? She would’ve been sent to prison for something she didn’t do!” “Prison? Do you realize the dress cost 800 million ? She’d be behind bars for years!” Shivers ran down their spines. To think that someone who appeared so benevolent could push blame so cruelly and convincingly was chilling. Sophia stood frozen, her face shifting between shades of pale white and burning red as whispers and sneers grew louder. She glared at the crowd, seething with hatred, her composure shattered. Unable to contain her fury, she lashed out at the manager. “This hotel is under the Reed Family! You work for us! Why are you siding with Liza?” The manager maintained his calm demeanor and responded firmly, “Miss Sophia, I may work for your family, but I also have a conscience. I can’t bear to see an innocent person framed for something they didn’t do, regardless of who employs me.” His words struck like a dagger, and laughter rippled through the crowd. “He’s calling her out for being heartless,” someone murmured with a chuckle. Sophia, humiliated, felt a surge of anger so intense it made her hands tremble. She wanted to scream at the crowd to stop mocking her, but her words caught in her throat. In desperation, she resorted to a baseless accusation. “Liza, you must be having an affair with the manager! You’ve stooped so low as to bribe him to help you! You’re shameless!” Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd at Sophia’s audacity. “Miss Sophia, your words are disgusting. The manager has already explained his reasons—he acted out of integrity and couldn’t stand seeing the Reed Family bully an innocent girl. Besides, it was your own friend who demanded the footage be shown. This has nothing to do with Liza!” “It’s truly shocking. Instead of apologizing after being exposed, the Reed Family is doubling down, slandering others with baseless accusations. What kind of upbringing is this?” Their sharp words made Lady Reed’s face pale as she attempted to intervene. “Sophia, stop this!” But Sophia had lost all sense of reason. Her reddened eyes fixated on Liza with a mix of fury and humiliation. “Liza, admit it! You slept with the manager, didn’t you? You’re nothing but a cheap, filthy b*tch!”“Enough, Sophia!” Lady Reed shouted, “Get a hold of yourself! Have you lost all sense? There’s a line you don’t cross, even in jokes!” Lady Reed hissed, her voice low yet biting. “Have you considered how uncomfortable Liza must feel because of your behavior?” Liza’s lips curved into a faint smile. It was almost amusing how Lady Reed tried to frame Sophia’s actions as a mere joke. Did they really think they could escape the consequences so easily? Sophia clutched her stinging cheek, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mom, you hit me! And all because of that… that Liza!” Lady Reed’s gaze softened momentarily at her daughter’s tear-streaked face. She felt a pang of guilt, but the stakes were too high. If Sophia’s behavior spiraled further out of control, years of carefully cultivated reputation would crumble in an instant. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Lady Reed addressed Sophia firmly, “You need to apologize to Liza. This joke of yours has gone far beyond what anyone would find acceptable. Look at the harm you’ve caused. Own up to it, Sophia.”Sophia’s face twisted in disbelief. Her mother, the woman who had always protected and coddled her, was now asking her to bow her head? To apologize to Liza? The humiliation made her heart burn with indignation. “No!” she snapped, her voice breaking. “I won’t do it! I was the one who was wronged here! Why should I apologize to her? Mom, don’t you see? This is all Liza’s fault! If she had just stayed quiet and taken the blame like she was supposed to, none of this would’ve happened!” Gasps rippled through the crowd at Sophia’s brazen outburst. Her words hung in the air like a bitter truth, exposing her twisted sense of entitlement. Lady Reed’s heart sank further as she watched her daughter spiral into irrationality. She could hardly believe this was her child. How had Sophia grown to be so blind to reason and decency? “Enough!” Lady Reed barked, her tone icy. Her patience had reached its limit. “Do you hear yourself? You’ve embarrassed yourself enough already. Apologize to Liza now, before you destroy everything completely!” But Sophia’s stubbornness was unyielding. She shook her head vehemently, her tears streaming faster. “No! I’ll never apologize to her! She ruined everything for me!” Lady Reed’s expression tightened, her frustration evident. She scanned the faces of the onlookers, their expressions filled with judgment. She knew time was running out to salvage what little dignity they had left. “Sophia,” she said, her voice low and strained, “if you won’t apologize now, the consequences will be far worse than you can imagine.”