As his words fell, gasps rippled through the assembled guests.
"Who does he think he is?!" someone from the Ji Family shouted angrily.
"Threatening revenge at an engagement banquet? This is outrageous!" another guest chimed in.
"Love has turned to hatred. How tragic," an elderly man sighed.
"Young people these days have no respect for anything. They act without considering the consequences," someone from the Liu Family said, shaking their head.
"Has human nature really sunk this low?" another guest spat.
As Liu Ruyan's father listened to their remarks, his face gradually turned livid. He could not believe Ito Makoto had uttered such vicious words. They left him bitterly disappointed and heartbroken.
He had always treated Ito Makoto like his own son, never imagining that the boy harbored such malice and would try to destroy his daughter's happiness.
A jumble of emotions churned in his heart, anger, disappointment, grief, and helplessness all tangled together.
He turned away, leaving Ito Makoto alone to face everyone's condemnation and rebukes.
Just then, Liu Ruyan slowly spoke.
"Yes, you didn't want us to be happy, so you sent the Black-Clothed Men to kill us." Liu Ruyan's gaze sharpened as she stared hard at Ito Makoto, piercing into his heart. "No, I should say you wanted to kill Brother Bo Da!"
The instant Liu Ruyan exposed Ito Makoto, the entire venue fell silent. Even the air seemed to freeze.
Xixi and Xiao Yi, who had been leisurely enjoying the spectacle, stopped eating their strawberry cakes. The cakes suddenly lost all flavor. Their eyes widened, clearly shocked by this unexpected turn.
The grilled cumin lamb skewers slipped from Zhu Wuneng's hand, and his mouth formed an "O." He stared at Liu Ruyan, dumbstruck, momentarily forgetting even to pick up the fallen skewers.
Luo Zhenjun froze as