Lizzie only spared Carl a fleeting nce before quickly averting her gaze.


    "I don''t know him," she said. She then turned to Cyrus with an innocent expression and reached out to hold his arm. "Cyrus, I have no idea who he is."


    Even with Carl standing right in front of her, she still tried to deny it.


    Ezra chuckled lightly. This woman was always good at feigning innocence, but no matter how much she denied it now, the truth would eventuallye out. He exchanged a knowing look with Finley.


    Before entering, Finley had managed to extract some information from Carl.


    "Mrs. Finch, although you im not to recognize him, it appears he is quite familiar with you," Finley dered, emphasizing the words "quite familiar."


    Lizzie''s heart skipped a beat, and a look of displeasure washed over her face. "Judging by his attire, he appears to be a bodyguard from the Azure n, which serves the Finch family. It''s not surprising he recognizes me," she countered. Indeed, it wasn''t surprising at all.


    Before Finley could respond, Lizzie continued, "The Azure n is loyal only to the head of the family, and Jonathan has never liked me.


    "If you wish to hold me ountable for tonight''s events for the sake of the Finch family, I will bear the consequences, even if I am not at fault. But..."


    Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip, and a mixture of frustration, righteousness, and a hint of despair crossed her face before she continued, "Why must you drag someone else into this to tarnish my reputation?"


    Ezra couldn''t help butugh, his voiceced with sarcasm. "Your reputation? Really?"


    "Ezra!" Cyrus barked, his voice filled with anger.


    However, Ezra paid no heed to Cyrus, not even sparing him a nce. Instead, he turned his attention to Carl.


    "Well then, let''s see just how innocent you are. So, Carl..." Ezra''s gaze bore into Carl.


    Ezra was usually carefree and detached, his striking features more beautiful than intimidating. Even with his status as a member of the Finch family, the members of the Azure n saw him as nothing more than just that. However, with that single look, Carl felt as if he were standing before the imposing Jonathan. As Ezra uttered Carl''s name, a shiver ran down Carl''s spine, his scalp tingling in apprehension.


    "Speak up," Ezramanded coldly. "Start with everything you did tonight, and don''t leave out a single detail, not even the slightest bit. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to make you go through the same treatment Finley gave you earlier." It was a tant threat. Ezra didn''t bother to sugarcoat it, and no one questioned his authority.


    Lizzie didn''t dare to challenge him. She was terrified that the more she said, the more she would slip up and get herself in trouble. At this moment, all she could do was stay silent and wait for an opportunity to present itself. Though she avoided Carl''s gaze, her attention was locked on him, not daring to rx even for a second.


    Cyrus wanted to speak up, but a single sharp nce from Eleanor silenced him.


    Finally, Carl''s shaky voice echoed in the hall. "I... I put some drugs in the greenhouse and used Mr. Jonathan''s name to lure Mr. Ezra there. Then, using the same trick, I brought Ms. Shaffer to the greenhouse..."


    His face was swollen from the beating, and his speech was slurred. But even through his muddled words, everyone understood what he was confessing to.


    He had confirmed Ezra''s suspicions. Someone had indeed set up Ezra and Rose.


    Eleanor''s anger red. "Why did you do it? Who ordered you?"


    She knew an Azure n bodyguard would never do something like this without a motive or orders. Someone had to be pulling the strings from behind. Carl stole a nce in a particr direction. "I..."


    Memories of what Finley had shown him during his punishment shed in his mind, the pain and fear still fresh. A flicker of determination began to settle in his eyes.


    Lizzie noticed the shift in his gaze and felt a surge of panic. She knew what wasing next, and her first instinct was to stop him from revealing her involvement. But how? With a pitiful expression, she gently touched the scarf around her neck.


    Hidden beneath it was a scar that everyone assumed was from a tree branch, but she and Carl knew better. It was a mark he had left on her.


    Her brow furrowed slightly, and she cast a vulnerable, pitiable look in Carl''s direction, hoping to stir his feelings for her, to remind him of his love and loyalty.


    If this was before Carl had seen what Finley showed him, Lizzie wouldn''t have needed to remind him. He would''ve willingly taken all the me, driven by his desire to shield the woman he loved and protect her at any cost.


    But he had seen it. It wasn''t Finley who had shattered his resolve-it was Jonathan. Jonathan had known about his and Lizzie''s rtionship all along, and that realization filled Carl with fear.


    Overwhelmed by the fear instilled in him by Jonathan, Carl lowered his gaze, sumbing to his defeat.


    To Lizzie, this seemed like a victory.


    She believed she had seeded in


    manipting Carl yet again. She knew he loved her, but after this, he would be a pawn she could no


    longer use. For now, it was enough if he didn''t expose her.


    As for the future... She could always find another pawn.


    Lizzie tightened her grip on Cyrus'' arm, knowing full well that Cyrus was the most important pawn she had in this game.


    She was already plotting how to use this incident to strengthen her hold on Cyrus when Carl''s voice echoed through the hall once more. "I... was acting under Mrs. Finch''s orders." Despite his slurred speech, his words were distinct enough for everyone present toprehend.


    The Finch family had once consisted of two "Mrs. Finch"-Lizzie and Be. However, following Be''s demise, only Lizzie remained.


    Carl had just admitted to following Lizzie''smands.


    This revtion came as no shock to many within the room. Ironically, the used turned out to be the most astonished person in the room.


    For a moment, Lizzie''s mind wentpletely nk. It was as if time had stopped, and the world had fallen silent. She couldn''t hear a single sound. But itsted only a moment.


    Quickly regaining herposure,


    Lizzie concealed the panic that


    surged within her. A session of.


    emotions flitted across her


    face-first, disbelief at the


    usation, then shock at the


    implications, and ultimately


    résigned eptance of her apparent


    "wrongful usation."


    "I said I would take responsibility for this. Was it really necessary to go this far?" she sighed, maintaining her aura of sacrificial innocence as though she were the victim once again.


    While her outward appearance


    remained the same, her heart was in


    turmoil. If there weren''t so many


    people present, she would have loved nothing more than to march up to Carl and p him, questioning his supposed love for her.


    But with so many eyes on her, she couldn''t say a word.


    Nevertheless, when her eyes locked with Carl''s, the unspoken question zed in her gaze. "Is this the love you spoke of?"


    Her gaze conveyed her reproach, pity, and admonishment-a blend of emotions capable of stirring up a primal protective instinct in most people. Sharp-witted and observant, Clover caught a glimpse of Lizzie''s repulsive attempt at maniption and couldn''t help butugh mockingly.


    "Seems like there''s something going on between you two, huh?"


    His words had a profound impact on everyone present.


    A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Ezra''s lips as he almost apuded Clover''s audacity.


    Meanwhile, Cyrus'' face darkened. A sudden realization sparked in his mind as he nced between Lizzie and Carl, his gaze turning suspicious. Realizing the damage that had been done, Lizzie hastily looked away in a panic.