Just moments ago, Ivan had even casually told the Gibson family that they could come to him anytime if they needed custom clothing in the future. With that single statement, the Gibson family had gone from a fading legacy to reclaiming their position at the top of Seacity’s elite. Just like Arthur, they were now in a position where high society elites would go out of their way to curry favor with them—all for the chance to connect with Ivan or, better yet, acquire one of his exclusive designs. The resources that had once seemed out of reach for the Gibson family would now be handed to them effortlessly. Stephen and Maris had clearly come to the same realization. They took deep, uneven breaths, struggling to keep their emotions in check. Meanwhile, Zane felt his world spinning. He had spent so much time and effort crushing the Gibson family, forcing them into decline. Yet today, with just one sentence, all his years of scheming and hard work were about to be undone. The Gibson family was about to rise again. How could he accept this? How could he possibly accept this! At that moment, fury consumed Zane. He wanted nothing more than to rush forward and eliminate them—Arthur, Spencer, and Nancy—every last one of them. If he could, he would rip them apart and make sure they never had a chance to fight back. Stephen and Maris, sensing his boiling fury, grabbed hold of his trembling hands, holding him back with all their strength. They understood his anger better than anyone. Zane felt the restraint of his sons and forced himself to calm down. No. I can’t let this end like this. I refuse to lose! He had spent decades plotting to reach his current status—there was no way he would let Spencer rise again and stand in his way! With a few deep breaths, Zane managed to steady himself, his trembling subsiding.His mind worked at full speed, taking advantage of the chaos to come up with a new strategy. They had already caused a massive scene at Arthur’s engagement party—there was no salvaging their relationship with the Gibson family now. Making amends was no longer an option. If he couldn’t use them to his advantage, then he would take them down. There was no way he would let them rise again. If he let today slip by without taking action, bringing down the Gibson family and Arthur in the future would be nearly impossible. Zane took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain control. With the help of his two sons, he pushed himself up, straightened his posture, and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Quickly adjusting his expression, he put on a warm, practiced smile. Then, stepping forward, he approached Ivan with a tone of forced familiarity. “So, you’re Mr. Ivan! What an honor. I’m Zane Yarbrough. I must apologize for my earlier oversight—I didn’t recognize you right away.” Stephen quickly joined in. “I assist my father with his work in Seacity’s municipal government. I never expected to have the honor of meeting you today.” Having been trained in diplomacy since childhood, Stephen handled situations like this with ease. Maris had no formal job besides dealing in antiques. Unlike his brother, he lacked the refinement for social etiquette, so he simply said, “Mr. Ivan, it’s an honor to finally meet you! I’m Maris Yarbrough, Mr. Zane’s youngest son.” Ivan cast an indifferent glance at the three of them but said nothing. Zane was momentarily embarrassed by Ivan’s cold reaction, but he quickly adjusted himself. He knew that Mr. Ivan had never been one to be swayed by power or influence. His position in Seacity’s municipal government meant nothing to a man like Ivan. So, Zane brushed it off, keeping his smile intact as he said, “Mr. Ivan, I never expected that you and Arthur knew each other.” As he spoke, he cast a subtle glance at Arthur—his expression filled with hidden meaning, as if he were implying he knew some kind of scandalous secret. Ivan immediately noticed the look and frowned, clearly displeased. “What? Am I not allowed to be Arthur’s friend?”Seeing Ivan’s displeasure, Zane quickly backtracked. “No, no, of course not, Mr. Ivan. That’s not what I meant at all! I just… I’m only worried that you might be getting deceived.” Zane leaned in closer to Ivan, lowering his voice as he spoke. “Deceived?” Ivan instantly pulled back, his tone cold and direct. “If anyone here is trying to deceive me, it’s you.” Zane’s expression stiffened awkwardly, his smile faltering for a brief moment. Realizing he had no choice but to be more direct, he forced another chuckle and pressed on. “No, no, that’s not what I meant!” he said hurriedly. “I just thought you might not know—this estate is privately owned. Arthur sneaked in and is holding his engagement party here without permission. Someone like that—how could he possibly be worthy of your friendship?” Zane’s tone was full of exaggerated concern, as if he were genuinely looking out for Ivan. Then, once again, he threw another knowing glance at Arthur before leaning in even closer to Ivan. “And there’s something else, Mr. Ivan,” he added in a hushed voice. “My son personally witnessed those emerald jade rings on Arthur’s hand being auctioned off to someone else. And yet, somehow, they ended up with him. Who knows what kind of tricks he used to get them?” He didn’t say it outright, but the implication in his tone was clear—whatever Arthur had done, it wasn’t anything honorable. Zane’s voice wasn’t low at all—everyone nearby could hear him clearly.