Facts?

"Child? Are you joking? Please don't play games with me, Mr. Edrick, because I'm no longer your child. So I could kill you without a second thought," Liza hissed.

"Andrew is my son. He's my biological son, Liza. I only found out a few weeks ago, thanks to Gavin's help. He's the son I lost years ago. I hope you understand why I'm so angry that you hurt him," Edrick said firmly, wrapping his arms around Liza's body, which was still frozen from the shocking news she had just heard.

"Are you serious? Andrew, your son?"

"Yes. I hope you understand and are willing to accept him as your brother. I can't lose you, Ma Cherie. You're so precious to me, and I've always considered you like my own daughter. So never even think about leaving me alone."

Liza furrowed her brow, then her eyes lit up as she looked at Damian. The man who would be her husband in a few weeks returned her gaze with surprise.

A cynical grin appeared on Liza's face as she watched Damian's eyes widen when he realized that Liza's plan had worked.

It was a grand plan to play on Edrick's feelings so that the man who had become her adoptive father would feel guilty and his trust in Liza would grow over time. Edrick didn't kill Liza even after she caused his other child to go blind.

"I'm sorry for making Andrew lose his sight. I swear, I didn't know anything," whispered Liza as she tightened her embrace.

"If that's the case, Dad wants you to guide Andrew in leading this organization. Dad trusts you, but Dad wants the Crocs de Lion organization to be led by a man. Do you understand?"

Liza pouted her lips as her plan didn't go as she had hoped. With a sarcastic smile, she said, "Alright, I'll carry out your orders gladly, Mr. Edrick."

Edrick smiled contentedly after hearing Liza's answer, then left after making sure his daughter wouldn't run away.

"Are you satisfied, Mademoiselle? You're being too harsh for making Young Master Andrew lose his sight just for this plan. You're ruining his future," Gavin hissed, holding back the anger that had been building up in his chest.

"Why are you being so formal, my dear cousin? Aren't you usually the one who speaks loudly as if I were your subordinate, hm?" Liza replied with a condescending glance.

"Ck! Enough, I'm tired of lecturing you. Do whatever you want, Liza. If you die, it's no longer my concern."

Gavin left Liza in a rage, even kicking one of Liza's favorite vases that was right in front of her room.

"You don't know anything about me, Gavin. You only see me as a little girl who lost her parents, but you never knew how painful it was to see them all die in front of me!" Liza shouted emotionally.

"I don't know anything? I know everything, Liza. I know! I know you intentionally hurt Andrew so Edrick would reveal the truth about that man's identity. I also know you deliberately said you wanted to leave the organization so Edrick would forgive you after hurting Andrew. What's all this for, Liza? For that stupid vendetta? Is that it? You're the most foolish person I've ever met," Gavin retorted just as fiercely.

For the first time in a long time, Liza shed tears. For Liza, her tears were precious, especially after the death of two people who were very dear to her—her parents. With sobs growing louder, Liza fell to her knees on the floor, covering her disheveled face.

"You don't know anything about me, Gavin. You don't know anything."

"Don't say that again, Liza. I've known you since you were a child. I know you're just a weak girl trying to be strong after your mother and father left. But you still have me, who will always try to protect you. Stop crying because I'll always be here for you."

Gavin helped Liza into her room, leaving Damian standing frozen, staring at the scene before him.

"My plan will fail if that man is always by Liza's side," Damian muttered with a sour expression.

**

Liza closed her eyes, enjoying the morning atmosphere, which felt refreshingly cool to her. With a cup of coffee in her hand, she recalled some of the events that had occurred recently, including her conversation with Gavin after Edrick's outburst a few days ago.

"Was it all just an accident? Should I trust Gavin this time? But he was in the same place as Dimitri when the bombing happened. Gavin may be one of Dimitri's men," Liza muttered as she sipped her coffee slowly.

For Liza, the events of several years ago were deeply etched in her memory. After the death of her parents, she and Gavin were placed in an orphanage and later adopted by Edrick, who had accidentally saved her while she was crossing the street.

The reason Edrick gave at the time was that he was captivated by her eyes, which bore a striking resemblance to those of his late wife. To this day, she and Gavin live a life of luxury and comfort thanks to Edrick.

"Should I forget everything? Gavin has shown some evidence that Dimitri is innocent, but I'm certain he's the mastermind behind all of this. What should I do?" she continued.

With heavy steps, Liza left her comfortable chair and headed to Gavin's room to ask him some fundamental questions.

"What's wrong?" Gavin asked after Liza knocked on the door several times.

"There's something I want to talk to you about," Liza replied.

Gavin invited his cousin into his room and threw her a bottle of soda and some snacks to enjoy.

"I don't eat unhealthy things like this," Liza muttered, causing her cousin to frown.

"Unhealthy? Ah, I forgot. Now you're the lady, the right-hand woman of the Crocs de Lion organization. It's only natural that you feel this is all unhealthy," Gavin replied sarcastically.

"I didn't come here to argue, Gavin. I want you to explain what happened a few years ago. I think you're right; I am a weak girl. I'm tired of pretending to be strong to please Edrick and everyone in this organization. I need to decide my future from now on—whether to keep drowning in a sea of hatred or be happy with what I have now."

"Are you sure you want to hear everything? Are you ready?" Gavin asked, making sure.

"Yes, I'm ready. No matter how bad it is, I need to hear the truth. I hope you're honest and the evidence you give me isn't just empty words."

"A few years ago, you saw me with Dimitri, right? At that time, I approached him after being given a signal to follow him. I didn't know anything either, but what is clear is that I was with Dimitri at that time, and he didn't do anything. Even his men were fighting off several intruders. So, it wasn't Dimitri who caused the explosion," explained Gavin.

Liza was lost in thought and couldn't believe her cousin's explanation. It all sounded like nonsense to her.

"It could have been one of his men who blew up the place, Gavin. I'm sure he planned it all," Liza insisted.

"Are you saying that because you saw us all gathered together? If Dimitri had planned the bombing, he wouldn't have let you run away after catching us discussing it behind the building at that time."

Gavin stared at Liza, who remained steadfast in her belief, until an envelope handed to Gavin changed Liza's expression 180 degrees.

"T-this-" Liza choked as she saw one of the photos that shocked her deeply.

"You must know that man. Don't trust anyone around you, Liza. I'm the only one who cares about you here, not anyone else."

"You're lying. You're a liar!" Liza screamed, throwing the photo in her hand at Gavin's face and leaving him alone in the room.

Liza roughly pulled her hair while running and screaming after remembering the figure in the photo.

The figure of a man she knew very well—Edrick.