Zane's cold, furious gaze bore into her. "After what you said up there? You think we still have the face to go out and toast people? I guarantee every single person in that room is laughing at us right now. I've become the punchline!" On the floor, Zora's eyes flickered with a trace of guilt. The heat of her outburst had faded, and now the recklessness of her actions was sinking in. But Zora was far too proud to ever admit she was wrong. She countered in a small voice, "No, you're overreacting. People will talk for a minute, then move on. No one would dare say anything to our faces. Come on, Zane, just get changed so we can go out." She got up, called for her makeup artist to fix her smudged foundation, then approached Zane with a softened expression. "I won't go behind your back again. From now on, I'll discuss everything with you first."What was done was done. The priority now was damage control. Zane let out a heavy sigh and turned to fetch his change of clothes. That was the moment the Vance family entered. "Grandpa. Dad. Lilian." Zane's face went ashen. He'd known a reckoning was coming, but not this fast. His lips trembled. "I'm... I'm sorry about what happened on stage—" Crack! His words were cut short as his grandfather, Harlan Vance, delivered a stinging slap across his face. "You disgrace!" he thundered, his voice trembling with fury. "Do you have any idea who is out there? You've made a laughingstock of the entire Vance family!" Viktor stood grim-faced. Usually doting on his youngest son, he made no move to stop his own father's wrath.Today, his pride and the family's reputation had been trampled. He imagined walking out there and seeing clients and friends grinning like they were watching a circus, and anger flared hot. Only Olena had tears in her eyes. She stepped forward. "Harlan, Zane didn't know! It wasn't his fault! It was... it was..." She shot a venomous look at Zora, who shrank back in fear. "Harlan, it's his engagement day. Please, don't humiliate him further. If you continue, the guests will have even more to gossip about!" Olena pleaded through her tears. Harlan was exasperated. He thumped his cane on the floor. "Stop that sniveling! Is this how you raised him?!" "It's my fault. All my fault," Olena immediately capitulated, taking all the blame upon herself, not daring to argue. Harlan exhaled heavily, falling silent. Seizing the lull, Olena nudged Zane and gave him a pointed look. "Go. Change your clothes. We need to prepare for the toasts." Zane moved towards the inner changing room, but a voice from behind stopped him. Lilian spoke up, "Grandpa, please, don't upset yourself. What's done is done. Managing the situation now is what matters most. If you want to punish him, save it for when we get back to the Vance Manor—use the family rules." At the mention of "family rules," Olena visibly trembled. She paled, turning to glare at Lilian, whose lips curved in a barely perceptible, smug smile. Lilian had always resented them. But jumping out now to stir Harlan into using the family rules? That was vicious. Olena blurted, "Harlan, surely the family rules are too severe for a mere misstep! Zane knows he was wrong. It won't happen again!" Harlan remained silent, considering. Desperate, Olena turned to her husband. "Viktor, say something!" Viktor's brow was deeply furrowed. "Dad, this isn't the time. Containing the fallout is our priority. The emcee already provided cover by calling it a 'joke'. I've sent my assistant to speak with Ms. Gale. We'll ensure her cooperation. No matter who asks, we stick to the story with Ms. Gale—it was a planned bit. People won't keep digging." Harlan sighed, some tension leaving his shoulders. "You're right, Viktor. That is the prudent course." But Lilian raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Is it, Dad? Are you so sure Ms. Gale will cooperate? After all, everything Zora said was true. My dear brother did abandon her. And I heard Ms. Gale never wanted to come today. Zora dragged her mother over to force the issue. Ms. Gale's got to be furious." What?! This new information stunned the Vances. All eyes swung back to Zora. Zora cowered. "No, that's not it. I invited them! Darcy and I—we're practically sisters! Her biological father is John. Since we're family, inviting them to witness my big day was only natural." No one in the room believed a word of it. Olena, so mad she forgot her polished society manners, couldn't help rolling her eyes hard. Harlan cut Zora a stern look and ordered Lilian, "Lilian, go talk to Ms. Gale yourself. Whatever she wants, meet it if you can. As long as she helps us sell this 'performance' today, the cost is secondary. Make it happen."