Certainly not Lei. He knew his ce, understood his limits. Compared to these men, he wasn’t even worthy of being the dirt beneath their shoes.


    Just standing in front of them made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. And to think—Alice had tried to <i>throw</i> him into the lion’s den without a second thought.


    He instinctively took a step back.


    He hadn’t even realized he was being used as a pawn until now, and the realization sent a chill down his spine. His life was <i>actually</i> in danger.


    As a man, he could <i>see</i> it—Dave and the others weren’t just ying around. Their seriousness about Hera was undeniable. They weren’t like him, merely passing the time, toying with women for fleeting amusement.


    Sure, he had been interested in Hera the moment he saw her, coveting her beauty. But now?


    Now, he understood that if he dared to pursue that thought any further—he wouldn’t leave here alive.


    So when Alice silently pleaded for help with her eyes, Brother Lei didn’t hesitate—he immediately took a step back, distancing himself from her.


    That single movement spoke louder than any words.


    He was cutting ties with Alice <i>right then and there</i>.


    Alice’s face turned as pale as a sheet of paper. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something—<i>anything</i>—but no words came out.


    Noticing the fear in Brother Lei’s eyes, Dave slowly turned his head in his direction.


    Alice had looked at him first, and now Dave’s attention was locked onto the man.


    "And you!" Dave’s voice was low and dangerous. "What are you looking at? I can see it—you’re coveting my woman. Do you think you’re worthy?!"


    His words wereced with fury, spoken through gritted teeth.


    Dave was livid. The thought of another man eyeing Hera with such tant desire—like he was already undressing her in his mind—made his blood boil. The more he dwelled on it, the angrier he became.


    "No, sir! I wouldn’t dare! I’m not worthy! I’ll gouge my own eyes out to prove my innocence!" Brother Lei blurted out in a panic, his voice trembling as he desperately tried to cate Dave and the others.


    He was scrambling for a way out, grasping at anything to avoid offending them.


    But who would have thought...


    "Good. I’m waiting..." Dave crossed his arms, his gaze steady and unwavering. There was no mockery in his eyes—only cold, unshakable seriousness.


    It was at that moment that Brother Lei realized he had dug his own grave. His desperate attempt to defend himself had only trapped him further.


    Who would have thought Dave would be this ruthless?


    Brother Lei wanted to cry, but no tears came. Fear mped down on him like an iron vice, squeezing the breath from his lungs. He had trapped himself with his own reckless words, and now, there was no easy way out.


    If he followed through, he would suffer. If he backed down, he would lose what little credibility he had left—and worse, he would make an enemy of Dave.


    Brother Lei shot a venomous re at Alice, his frustration boiling over. But before he could speak, Rafael’s voice cut through the tension from the back.


    "Do you want me to help you? Because if I do, I might as well remove your eyes for you," His voice was smooth, almost amused, but the smile curling his lips was anything but kind. It was sinister—predatory even—and somehow, it was far more terrifying than if he had been outright furious.


    A shiver ran down Brother Lei’s spine. Panic wed at his throat. Without thinking, he jabbed his fingers into his own eyes—just enough to cause pain but not permanent damage.


    If he had inflicted the injury himself, the doctors might still have been able to save his eyesight. But if Rafael stepped in, there would be no saving him.


    The realization sent a chill through the crowd. Gasps of shock and fear rippled through the onlookers as they watched Brother Lei harm himself rather than face Rafael’s wrath.


    Dave shrugged nonchntly. "Hey, it wasn’t my idea. He offered, so we’re just respecting his wishes."


    Zhane raised his phone, the screen clearly disying an ongoing call. "Don’t worry, I’ve already called an ambnce," he said coolly. His expression remained serious and aloof, but the subtle lift in his tone hinted at his satisfaction with how things had yed out.


    His actions weren’t just practical—they were a silent show of support for his friends, reinforcing the unspoken bond between them.


    "Then what about thedy?" Luke’s voice drifted from the back, still smooth and gentlemanly, as if he were merely inquiring. But in reality, he had no intention of letting Alice walk away unscathed. She had relentlessly targeted Hera—both online and in person.


    Though Alice was already facing severe bacsh from inte users and being bombarded with hate, it hardly fazed her. After all, this was her second chance at life.


    She had weathered public outrage before, more than once, and had even learned to embrace the controversy. Hate was still attention, and attention kept her name relevant.


    However, the real consequence of her actions was the loss of professional opportunities. One by one, her coborations, endorsements, and projects had been canceled.


    That was precisely why she had sought Brother Lei’s invitation to this fashion show—an attempt to rebuild her connections, seek out powerful businessmen, and secure new opportunities with influential directors who were also in attendance.


    But with Luke, Dave, Zhane, Leo, and Rafael now standing firmly by Hera’s side—and actively making things difficult for her—Alice had no choice but to swallow her anger and retreat.


    Frustration burned within her as she stood there, her nspletely derailed. Instead of securing the opportunities she hade for, she would be forced to go home with nothing but simmering resentment and bitter disappointment.


    "Should she also be punished for spreading rumors? After all, nder is punishable byw, and we have plenty of witnesses here," Luke said casually, his tone unhurried yet carrying undeniable weight.


    Alice’s face turned even paler at his words. She hadn’t explicitly voiced the usations, but it didn’t matter—everyone in the room was a sharp-minded businessman, perfectly capable of reading between the lines.


    No matter how much she tried to wriggle out of responsibility, there was no escaping it, especially with Luke and the others intent on holding her ountable.


    Fury burned in Alice’s eyes as she shot a venomous re at Hera, her chest rising and falling withbored breaths, teetering on the edge of an outburst.


    Hera nced at Alice before turning to Luke with a sweet smile. "There’s no need, Luke," she said gently. "It would be a waste of everyone’s time to go to the police station just to give a statement. Besides, I wouldn’t want to spoil such a wonderful event over one person. Everyone’s time is precious, and we should respect that."


    Her gracious response only served to further elevate her image in the eyes of those attending the banquet.


    But this was exactly what she had learned from Athena’s teachings. If it were merely a matter of acting, Hera would never lose to Alice—she would make sure to return everything Alice threw at her.


    With her words, she subtly implied that Alice wasn’t even worth their time—nothing more than a clown desperately seeking attention, making a spectacle of herself.


    But that wasn’t Hera’s true intention—she genuinely wanted to let Alice go.


    Why?


    The reason was simple.


    Alice still possessed more than half of the female lead’s halo; she wasn’t just some minor supporting character or a disposable viin that could be easily dealt with and cast aside after a few conflict.


    The storyline still supported her, and even a cornered rat would bite.


    Hera knew now wasn’t the time to push Alice into a truly desperate situation—her downfall woulde in due time. For now, it was more important to give the spotlight to Athena and their parents.


    Besides, hadn’t Alice been spreading rumors, insisting that Hera was a mere woman relying on men to climb the socialdder? All the more reason for her to stay and witness what this banquet was truly about.