Sophia’s frustration boiled over as she screamed, throwing the phone violently to the ground. Her face contorted with rage as she charged toward Liza, shouting, “I will never apologize! Not now, not ever! This is all your fault! You’re the reason for all of this! Just disappear!” Liza, calm as ever, sidestepped Sophia’s reckless advance with an almost effortless motion. Her serene smile didn’t waver. “If you don’t want to apologize, then don’t,” she said nonchalantly. “But let’s not dismiss this as a mere joke, as Lady Reed suggested. For most, jokes don’t involve sending someone to prison. The Reed Family’s sense of humor is far too costly for me.” Leaning slightly toward Lady Reed, Liza’s voice dropped to a whisper, but its sharpness wasn’t lost. “I imagine you’re still wondering why the manager, your carefully chosen man, suddenly turned against you and exposed the hidden footage, aren’t you?” Lady Reed’s breath hitched. The thought had plagued her since the revelation.“Ah, you truly don’t know?” Liza chuckled softly. “Mingfeng Hotel might be under the Reed Family’s name, but do you really think you own it? You’ve been in the dark about who the real owner is all along.” Lady Reed’s eyes widened in shock, realization dawning painfully slow. Seeing her expression, Liza smirked. “Believe it or not, that’s the reality. But don’t worry; this place won’t remain under your name for much longer. You might want to take Miss Sophia and leave now. Unless, of course, you’re eager to bask in this final fleeting moment of your so-called glory. Such stupidity... truly fitting for the Reed Family.” Lady Reed’s composure cracked entirely. Panic etched itself onto her face as she grabbed Sophia by the arm. “We’re leaving. Now!” she barked. “Mom! Let go of me! I won’t leave until I’ve dealt with her!” Sophia shrieked, struggling against her mother’s firm grip. But Lady Reed wasn’t listening anymore. She practically dragged her daughter out of the hall, ignoring her protests and tears. Sophia’s parting words echoed in the air, venomous and shrill, “Liza, you’ll regret this! Just you wait!” As the mother and daughter fled, the room descended into an awkward silence. It didn’t take long for the guests to regain their wits. “We should probably leave too,” someone muttered. “Yeah, there’s no salvaging this banquet. The Reed Family’s reputation is as good as gone,” another agreed. “Let’s go. Honestly, partnering with people like them would be a disaster waiting to happen. Their underhanded tactics give me chills. What if we’re next?” The crowd dispersed quickly, the once-bustling banquet hall now eerily empty. The manager approached Liza nervously. “Miss, are you alright?” Stretching her arms lazily, Liza shrugged. “What a bore. The real fun hasn’t even started, and everyone’s already scattered.”The manager’s lips twitched with unease. “Miss, with all due respect, that knife Sophia had was real. Watching her pull it out had me scared stiff!” Liza raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Scared? Over her? Sophia’s nothing more than a weakling. If I hadn’t allowed it, she wouldn’t have gotten that knife anywhere near me. Relax.” Despite her calm demeanor, Liza sighed inwardly. The most amusing part—the revelation about the dress—hadn’t even come to light yet. She felt like she had only half-accomplished her goal. Shaking her head, she turned to the manager. “By the way, where’s Gavin? He was here just a moment ago.” … The banquet hall was tense, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken judgment. Grandpa reed’s expression remained unreadable as he cast a long look at Sophia. His voice was calm but firm as he instructed, “Take her home. Now.” Victor Reed hesitated, his brows furrowed. “Father…” Grandpa reed cut him off with a wave of his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument. “your daughter Sophia’s actions were exposed clearly in the surveillance footage. Do you think we can sweep this under the rug just because we want to? The evidence is undeniable. Liza might not hold a grudge now, but this has already damaged our family’s reputation.” He glanced at Sophia, his gaze sharp. “Bring her back to the family estate. She is not to leave until this storm passes. We’ll address this matter later.” The decision was final—a form of house arrest. Sophia’s face was streaked with tears as she reluctantly followed her mother out. Though resentment burned within her, she didn’t dare defy her grandfather. As they left, Victor’s face twisted with frustration. He turned to his father, his voice apologetic yet tinged with bitterness. “Father, I’m sorry about this mess. But I didn’t expect Liza to be so corning , especially at her age. Sophia only suffered because of her stubbornness. That girl… she’s more difficult to handle than anyone anticipated.” Before Grandpa Reed could respond, the sound of deliberate footsteps echoed through the hall. Gavin entered, his presence commanding and imposing. His cold gaze swept over the remaining members of the Reed Family, silencing the room instantly. Each step he took seemed to amplify the weight in the air. Without waiting for an invitation, he walked to the most prominent seat, settled himself, and leaned back, exuding an aura of dominance. His eyes narrowed, locking onto Victor. “Mr. Victor,” Gavin’s voice was cold, cutting through the tension like a blade, “what exactly do you mean by saying Liza doesn’t know what’s good for her? Are you suggesting she should have willingly allowed herself to be framed, humiliated, and trampled on by your daughter?” Victor stiffened, his words catching in his throat. “Gavin, that’s not what I—” Gavin raised a hand, silencing him. His gaze didn’t waver, sharp and unrelenting. “Your family’s arrogance knows no bounds, yet you blame others when your schemes unravel. Let me remind you,” he continued, his voice steady but laced with warning, “Liza isn’t someone you can manipulate or belittle as you please. The Reed Family has already crossed a line. I suggest you tread carefully moving forward.” The room fell silent, the weight of Gavin’s words leaving no room for argument.