Elise narrowed her eyes.

Amanda began to strut away, confident that Elise wouldn't dare stay now.

But then…

Riiip.

The sound of tearing fabric echoed sharply through the grand hall.

Amanda froze, her mind blank for a moment.

Her chest area of the gown had ripped open.

Her skin-toned breast pads were exposed for everyone to see.

The humiliation was unbearable.

Nearby, Sophia stood stunned for a second before subtly shifting away.

She clearly intended to distance herself from Amanda's embarrassing spectacle.

When Amanda regained her senses, she quickly wrapped her arms around her chest.

She turned and glared viciously at James.

His pristine leather shoes were firmly planted on the hem of her dress.

He looked up with an expression of pure innocence. "You wouldn't get angry at a little boy, would you? I'm only six. It was an accident."

Amanda flushed bright red, the color spreading down her neck.

How dare that little brat use her own words against her!

If he weren't William's son, she would have strangled him right there.

Meanwhile, James blinked his large dark eyes, looking utterly pure and naive.

"Your dress is torn, ma'am. You wouldn't stay at such an important event, right? That would be disrespectful to my great-grandfather and my father."

Elise couldn't help but laugh aloud.

James had definitely inherited his father's sharp wit.

She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't witnessed it herself.

How could a six-year-old react so quickly?

To be honest, she herself would never have thought to retaliate in such a manner.

How utterly satisfying!

"Ahhh!!!" Amanda finally broke down and screamed in madness.

She never imagined she could be so thoroughly humiliated by a child.

Richard Mitchell and Jennifer Mitchell rushed over immediately.

Their faces darkened when they saw their daughter's tragic state.

Richard quickly removed his suit jacket and draped it over Amanda's shoulders.

"Dad! He stepped on my dress!" Amanda burst into tears when she saw her father.

But when Richard turned to James, the child met his gaze fearlessly with childish innocence.

Richard certainly didn't dare offend the boy.

He snapped at his daughter instead. "Go home with your mother now! Do you want to embarrass us further?!"

"Dad!" Amanda certainly didn't want to leave in such a disgraceful state.

"What's going on here?" A deep, magnetic voice cut through the tension.

Elise turned to see William's tall frame striding toward them.

"Daddy!" James hurried to his side, complaining immediately. "I accidentally stepped on her dress, but she insists I did it on purpose!"

William glanced briefly at Amanda before turning to Elise.

Noticing her white gown stained with red wine, he asked quietly, "What happened?"

As he spoke, he removed his suit jacket and gently draped it over Elise's shoulders.

Elise's heart skipped a beat in surprise.

Nearly everyone in the hall was watching them.

They all looked utterly astounded.

"It's nothing. The waiter just tripped," Elise said, ignoring the stares.

"No! That woman tripped the waiter on purpose! He accidentally spilled wine on Mommy's dress. I saw everything," James declared with righteous conviction.

"Really?" William's gaze turned icy cold.

Amanda gasped sharply.