As soon as she finished speaking, the people nearby all reacted. Their expressions shifted, and the looks they gave Liz turned cold and unfriendly.


    Zac’s face grew darker as he watched Liz stubbornly refuse to ask for help. His fingers tightened around his wine ss, his knuckles turning white.


    The woman quickly picked up on the shift in mood. She turned to a nearby housekeeper and snapped, “Well? What are you waiting for? Get this party crasher out of here. If she ruins Ms. Stone’s birthday celebration, are you ready to take the me?”


    The housekeeper was new and didn’t recognize Liz. Since the woman was dressed in expensive designer clothes and Liz looked more modest byparison, she quickly took the woman’s side.


    After all, everyone attending this party was either wealthy or well–connected. Offending a guest could cost her the job.


    “I’m sorry, miss, but I need you to leave right now. Otherwise, I’ll have to call security.”


    Liz frowned slightly, her expression cooling. “I’m just here to deliver something. I’ll leave as soon as I do.”


    The woman let out a harsh, mockingugh. “Deliver something? What, yourself? That only works if someone here actually wants you.”


    A few people around them chuckled. Several men gave Liz suggestive nces, their eyes lingering too long.


    Zac noticed the way they were looking at her. His jaw tightened, and a wave of anger rose


    in his chest.


    Still, he stayed silent. He was waiting for Liz to ask him for help.


    Ignoring the stares, Liz turned to the woman with an icy tone. “You keep bringing up sleazy things between men and women. Sounds like you’ve got plenty of experience.”


    “What did you just say?”


    The woman’s face twisted in fury. She raised her hand and swung toward Liz’s face. Zac instinctively stepped forward to stop her, but Xena grabbed his arm and held him back. Just as the woman’s hand was about tond, another hand shot out from the side and caught her wrist in midair.


    She turned around in anger, ready tosh out but when she saw who it was, she froze in ce and backed up two steps.


    “Mr. Stone…?”


    Jack Stone gave her a sharp, cold look, then walked straight to Liz. Without saying a word, he draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.


    Zac’s pupils narrowed, and his face wentpletely cold.


    “Liz, are you alright?” Jack asked in a low voice)


    Liz hadn’t expected to see him. She blinked in surprise, then shook her head. “I’m fine, Jack.”


    He let out a quiet breath of relief, then turned sharply to the woman who had just tried to hit her. His tone turned cold. “Miss Harris, do you really think it’s eptable toy hands on a guest invited by the Stone family? At a Stone family event?”


    Victoria Harris went pale. Her eyes widened in disbelief.


    “She’s a guest of the Stone family?” she thought, stunned.


    She wasn’t the only one surprised. The guests around them exchanged confused nces. Aside from Zac and Xena, everyone looked caught off guard.


    After all, Jane’s birthday was a high–society event. Most of the guests came from the city’s elite circles and recognized one another. Liz’s simple outfit didn’t exactly scream wealth or status, and many had assumed she didn’t belong.


    “Mr. Stone, there’s been a misunderstanding,” Victoria said quickly. “She bumped into me earlier and knocked over the champagne tower, I only asked her to apologize, but she refused.”


    Jack gave her a long, steady look. His voice was calm but firm. “Miss Harris, I was standing on the second–floor balcony. I saw everything. You slipped and ran into her. And now you’re twisting the truth and ming her? That’s bold. Should I pull the security footage so everyone can see for themselves?”


    The garden fell silent.


    Victoria could feel the mocking and contemptuous stares from everyone around her. Her face turned ashen, then flushed red with embarrassment. It felt like all eyes were on her, stripping away every ounce of dignity she had left.


    She had never been so humiliated.


    But the Harris family couldn’t afford to offend e Stones. Pushing back would only make things worse.


    “I’m sorry, Mr. Stone. I was out of line,” she mumbled.


    Jack didn’t even give her a second nce, “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”


    Victoria bit her lip hard but managed to turn to Liz. “I’m sorry.”


    Liz could clearly see the resentment and unwillingness in her eyes, but since today was Jane’s birthday, she didn’t want to escte things or create unnecessary drama.


    She didn’t respond to Victoria. Instead, she looked up at Jack. “Where’s Jane? I came to drop off her gift.”


    “She’s still upstairs getting ready. Your clothes are wet<i>. </i>Come with me and I’ll have her find you something to change into.”


    “That’s alright. I know the way. I’ll go on my own.”


    “All right then,” Jack replied with a nod.


    “Thanks again for earlier.”


    “You don’t have to thank me.


    Liz turned and walked away.


    Jack watched her until she disappeared from view, then turned back to Victoria. “Miss Harris, I hope you remember this lesson. If you ever insult someone with real power, the consequences might be more than you can handle.”


    Victoria forced a stiff smile. “Yes, Mr. Stone. I understand.”


    Not far away, the housekeeper who had tried to throw Liz out shrank back, silently hoping Jack hadn’t overheard her earlier remarks.


    But she could feel the weight of his cold starend directly on her.


    “As for you,” Jack said calmly, “go to the steward and collect your final paycheck. You’re dismissed, effective immediately.”


    The housekeeper’s face went pale. She looked up at Jack, desperate to plead her case.


    But when she met his ice–cold stare, her mind wentpletely nk and she couldn’t say


    a word,


    “Yes, sir.”


    After she left, Jack turned to the guests and offered a polite smile. “Apologies for the earlier incident. I hope it doesn’t ruin your evening. Thank you all for being here to celebrate Jane’s birthday. Please enjoy yourselves. I have something to take care of, so if you’ll excuse me.”


    Once Jack walked off, the crowd immediately started whispering.


    “Who was that woman just now? Why was Mr. Stone being so protective?”


    “I don’t know, but judging by how he treated her, she must be someone really special. You think she might be his girlfriend?”


    “Are you kidding? He’s engaged to the rk family heiress. You might want to zip it before Ms. rk hears you.”