Olena completely abandoned her poised socialite demeanor. "You little tramp! Are the things online true?!" Zane helped Zora up and shielded her, frowning at his mother. "Mom, why would you hit her? We agreed to move past what happened on stage. Dragging it out is pointless." He then looked down at Zora, touching her cheek gently. "Are you okay? Does it hurt? There's still some time. Have the makeup artist fix it." A hot fury burned in Zora's chest, but for Zane's sake, she held it back. The engagement ceremony had to be completed. She needed the world to know she was the future Mrs. Vance. She turned to head to the makeup room, but Olena grabbed her arm. "Fix what? So you can go out there and be a bigger laughingstock?" Olena pressed a hand to her chest, enraged. Whether the online rumors were true or not, the gossip was at a fever pitch. If they went out now, the whispers alone would bury them. Zora's restraint finally snapped. "What is your problem? Mr. Viktor Vance said we'd let it go and even suggested solutions. Why are you bringing it up again? Seems to me you just don't want Zane and me to have a smooth engagement!" Olena was stunned. The Zora she knew was always sweet, obedient, and docile in her presence. Now, the girl was baring her fangs. So it was all an act, was it? That made the online leaks seem all the more credible. This little bitch! Olena was beside herself. Her son, the pride of her life, whom she'd raised with such care, and this woman dared to cheat on him? She wanted to tear Zora apart! "You little tramp!" Olena snarled. Seizing a moment when Zane was distracted, she lunged and slapped Zora again. Not satisfied, she raised her other hand, ready to strike from the other side. Susan and John rushed in just then, catching Olena's arm. "Now, now, let's all calm down! We can talk this through without resorting to violence!" Susan said with a forced, placating smile. "Mom!" With backup here, Zora's grievance exploded. "Look at my face! She hit me! If you hadn't come, this old witch would have beaten me to a pulp! How would I ever show my face again?" Old witch?! The words made Olena see red. Breath tight, she snorted, "If I didn't hit you, you think you'd have a face to show?" "You've been sniping at me since you walked in. What are you trying to say?" Zora shot back defiantly. Susan tugged at her daughter's arm, urging her to lower her voice."Why should I? I didn't do anything wrong! Mom, even you're not on my side?" Zora began to cry, accusing her own mother of betrayal. "Oh, you have the nerve to cry?" Olena bent down, shoving her phone in Zora's face. "Take a good look at what's online! You'd better pray none of it's true, or else—" Viktor's stern voice cut through the tension from behind her. "I see no reason for this engagement to proceed any further!" Harlan stood silently beside him, his furious gaze making his stance clear. Zane's expression was grim, his heart sinking. What could have possibly provoked such extreme reactions from both his parents? He immediately turned to look at Zora—and the phone in front of her. The dark red, trending hashtags made his heart lurch violently. Zane snatched the phone, his fingers scrolling rapidly. When the series of explicit photos loaded, his hand trembled visibly in the air.Zora's face had gone deathly pale. Her mind went blank for a full ten seconds before tears began to stream down her cheeks unbidden. She clutched at Zane's sleeve, sobbing. "No, Zane, it's not true! None of it's true! Someone is trying to ruin me! They're framing me!" Yes, that was it. It was all fabricated. A smear campaign. She could never admit it. Never. Susan quickly rallied to her daughter's defense, raising her voice. "She's right! This is clearly slander! You can't believe anything you read online—rumors spread every second! Besides, everyone here knows what kind of person Zora is. You've been around her long enough, haven't you? You'd rather trust some thrown-together post than the living, breathing person in front of you?" Her words had weight. Zane, his hand still unsteady, handed the phone back to Olena. He tugged at his tie with trembling fingers, desperate for air.Once his head cleared a little, he addressed his family. "Grandpa, Dad, Mom, this whole thing is too convenient. The timing is suspicious. Why would these rumors explode today of all days? I agree with Mrs. Parker. Someone is deliberately targeting Zora to smear her reputation and sabotage our engagement. That's the play." Zora and Susan exchanged a fleeting glance, a wave of relief washing over them simultaneously. As long as Zane believed them, there was still hope.