Tess shook her head in disbelief. Her words painted a clear picture for the onlookers. Many remembered Lilah speaking up for Effie.

Someone in the crowd murmured, “Tess is such a caring relative. It's sad that Lilah was fooled by someone like Effie."

“If I were Lilah, I'd be furious at myself for not distinguishing between true and fake friends."

"Effie's behavior is despicable. I can't believe she tried to seduce Mr. Harris."

Effie scoffed in response, “Who am I supposedly hitting on? Gerard?"

“Don't pretend," Tess retorted, her eyes full of contempt. "I saw your little act, trying to throw yourself into Mr. Harris' arms."

Just then, Lilah approached the scene. Tess‘ expression softened into one of sympathy. “Lilah, my dear, you need to be more discerning.

Some people wear masks. You might have been betrayed without even realizing it."

Lilah maintained a stoic demeanor, showing no hint of emotion. "Aunt Tess, I think you're reading too much into it," she calmly stated.

Her words seemed to infuriate the female star nearby. "“Lilah, you defend Effie, but she's trying to lure your boyfriend away. You don't believe your aunt, who got slapped by Effie while standing up for you," the star argued heatedly.

With no change in her expression, Lilah queried, “Why would you assume Effie is trying to seduce Gerard?"

“I saw it with my own eyes," Tess interjected. “Effie deliberately fell into your boyfriend's arms."

Lilah let out a sardonic Laugh. “It's your perception that colors your judgment of others. Effie isn't like that."

Even faced with the unfolding drama, Lilah's stubbornness was apparent. The crowd around them began to murmur, questioning Lilah's judgment. Could someone so naive effectively run a company?

Tess was taken aback by Lilah's reaction, wondering if Lilah was intentionally opposing her.

“Well, Lilah, you've certainly grown up," she said, her eyes reddening. “I can't protect you forever. Just be more cautious going forward."

As Tess turned to leave, the onlookers expressed their discomfort.

"Lilah, your aunt is trying to help you," one said.

“Why are you being so heartless? Didn't you see Effie slap Tess?" another chimed in.

"How foolish Lilah is," someone else muttered.

Tess, however, couldn't hide a small, triumphant smile. She believed that once word spread, everyone would see Lilah as a fool and Effie as a seductress. She felt the slaps were a small price to pay for exposing them both.

"You're the fools," Effie retorted loudly. "Ridiculous! Why would I need to seduce my own brother?"

Tess halted in her tracks. The bustling scene fell into a sudden hush, every eye turning toward Effie and Gerard.

Under closer scrutiny, the resemblance between the siblings became unmistakable-their eyebrows, their eyes, they were strikingly similar.