Alice instinctively moved closer to her brother Lei, seeking his protection from the others’ piercing gazes. However, Lei, still reeling from the pain in his injured eyes, was filled with resentment.


    He knew he was fortunate that Rafael hadn’t pursued further punishment—had he hesitated even a moment longer, he might have been permanently blinded.


    And it was all because of Alice. She had dragged him into the spotlight, spouting reckless nonsense that provoked Rafael and the others.


    If he had known that the woman Alice had been offering him belonged to those monsters, he wouldn’t have even considered it.


    After all, while he didn’t keep up with entertainment gossip, he was well aware of the rumors circting within their social circle. No matter where he went, people constantly talked about these men’s achievements.


    Even if he had no interest in knowing, he still heard about them—especially since their parents always made endlessparisons. And now, with everything that had happened, all he could do was simmer in fear and resentment.


    So, when Alice reached out to Brother Lei, even without seeing who was trying to hold him, he instantly recognized the trembling, small hands as hers. Unable to contain his fury, he snapped.


    "Fuck you! Don’t even try to touch me, you motherfucker! This is all because of you! You brought me bad luck! Just wait and see what I’ll do to youter for putting me through this pain!"


    His enraged voice echoed through the banquet hall, loud enough that even Hera, despite already ascending the stairs, could still hear his outburst.


    Alice trembled in fear but still clung to the hope that her tears would soften Brother Lei’s anger.


    "Brother Lei, listen to me," she pleaded, her voice choked with sobs, sounding so pitiful that it could easily stir someone’s protective instincts.


    If Brother Lei hadn’t suffered so much, he might have fallen for her act. But the searing pain in his eyes was a constant reminder of what had happened. Instead of pity, all he felt was a sharp, throbbing agony in his head and eyes, fueling his rage even further.


    Panic set in as he instinctively reached up to touch his face. A warm, wet sensation coated his fingers—blood. His chest tightened at the realization that his injuries might be worse than he thought.


    The possibility of needing surgery to save his eyesight sent a wave of fear crashing over him, only intensifying his fury toward Alice.


    But what had Alice really suffered? Just some humiliation and a mild reprimand? Meanwhile, he was left to endure unbearable pain and the possibility of losing his sight—all for something he hadn’t even done. Why was he the one paying the price?


    His anger surged to a boiling point.


    "Shut up!" he snapped, his voice venomous. "You love acting so much, don’t you? Just wait—I’ll make sure yound a role in an adult film. Let’s see how well you cry then, when men are fucking you senseless!"


    His words were cruel,ced with pure malice, meant to cut deep and shatter Alice’s dignity. His fury blinded him to everything else, and he didn’t care about the gasps of shock around them. Even the onlookers, already sneering at Alice, erupted into jeers, their contempt for her only growing.


    "Right! Wasn’t she just calling someone else a whore? But look at her—clinging to some man just to be brought here. What even is her status? Is she an A-list celebrity? An heiress to some majorpany? A close family friend? No, right? So doesn’t that mean she got in using her body? And isn’t that the perfect example of a thief using someone else of stealing?"


    One woman sneered, her voice dripping with mocking disgust as she looked Alice up and down with pure contempt.


    "Exactly! Only people with dirty minds would think so poorly of others. Hera was chosen as the model for the masterpiece of the fashion show, and even after it ended, she continued wearing the dress—unlike the other models."


    "That alone proves her close rtionship with the designer. Plus, they even arrived at the banquet together, showing that they’re genuinely friends. With all that, she more than qualifies to go up to the second floor and mingle—she has the connections. And let’s not forget, her admirers aren’t just some old businessmen; they’re young and powerful men in their own right."


    "But what’s wrong with older businessmen? Just because we sponsor young talents, does that automatically mean we’re sleeping with them? Can’t it simply be that we’re making a smart investment in promising individuals? This kind of nder is going too far!" one of the older businessmen finally spoke up.


    When he first heard Alice’s words, he was already displeased. After all, he had sponsored many individuals with good intentions, all while maintaining a harmonious family in private.


    Yet with just one carelessment, Alice had lumped all older businessmen together, implying that their support came with ulterior motives.


    Such usations could easily tarnish their reputations and even create problems at home. He thought of his wife—soft-hearted and gentle—who would be heartbroken if she ever heard such things.


    Earlier, he had held his tongue, not wanting to draw attention to himself or be used of siding with Hera for hidden reasons. But now, Alice’s baseless ims were pushing things too far.


    Thanks to the others turning on Alice, he was finally able to voice his earlier dissatisfaction. He had never once regretted sponsoring young talents before, but after witnessing Alice’s behavior, he realized the need to tighten his screening process.


    People like her were the type to bite the hand that fed them—never acknowledging their own faults and refusing to change even when reprimanded. Instead, they would act in the shadows, striking when no one was looking.