The number of participants had dropped to a single digit (almost), highlighting the urgent need for participant engagement. There was a lot of room to upgrade all the participants, and this issue cannot be overlooked.

Regrettably, the competition committee seemed to have overlooked this crucial aspect. It appeared that they had never considered the possibility of commoners reaching the finals, a stark indication of the competition's lack of inclusivity.

As per tradition, a banquet was to be held a day before the final round so that all the participants could get to know each other and all the important people who monitored this competition.

Some prominent kids who did well were also selected to participate.

This was the perfect time for these kids to attract attention and get sponsored by these wealthy families (more like targeted to be slaves).

This party was a huge deal with a lot of music and cheer. Everyone enjoyed this party, which was said to be a status symbol to be invited to one as a guest.

Surprisingly, the number of participants was at an all-time high, yet the atmosphere was unusually somber. A sense of unease filled the air as everyone observed the top ten contestants sitting calmly in their seats.

Layla would not have to worry if that were the only reason this atmosphere was so tense.

No! This atmosphere looked gloomy because of the nobles who attended and how they glared at Layla and Liam for taking their seats.

And that meant to harass the poor pair.

It started as soon as the pair stepped into the final banquet.

Layla looked at her seat, only to see it occupied by the kid she had been asked to step down for.

She did not mind, and she chose another table to sit at. It was the biggest insult Layla could show this establishment—not acknowledging the place and message they wanted to send her.

But just because she did not make a fuss did not mean that Liam sat quietly.

"Hey! This is my seat! Get out of it right now."

Liam spoke rudely, and he had no manners. The noble kids instantly ignored him, and their bodyguards tried to pull him away softly.

But Liam was not having it. He would have attacked these nobles outright if his mother had not noticed and decided to drag him back toward Layla's table with a sorry expression on her face.

"Please, forgive my son. He is still young and does not know what he is doing! I will talk to him regarding this."

That lady was the only reason Liam stepped back, and he followed her to Layla's table.

As soon as he sat down, he angrily slammed his fist onto the table.

"Why do you keep stopping me? Those people might be the reason Father died! And if so, then they all deserve to die. Father never did anything wrong! He was the best."

Liam spoke with confidence, but his mother kept quiet. She seemed to know her husband's faults and all the evil he committed.

She could not say that her husband had been a good and honest man, but she did not want to criticize him.

After all, he was the man she had married out of love.

Layla had every intention of staying out of this drama, but Mary looked sinister when she saw the pair heading toward her and Layla.

The young miss had a bad feeling about it, and her maid proved her right by starting a conversation with the pair in front of her.

"Ah, are you talking about your father, young one? Did he recently go missing? What a poor man! My heart goes out to you both.

I heard you say your father was a nice and innocent man who never did anything wrong! I never realized that kidnapping people to sell as slaves was a noble task. Tsk, what kind of rock am I living under?"

Mary's words had a little hint of anger when she spoke. She had still likely not forgiven that dead man for coming after Layla as he did.

Her words caused the pair in front of her to freeze before Liam shook and almost rushed toward Mary.

"What did you say, you bitch? Say it to my face-"

"Liam, stop it! Please, you need to be quiet and not talk like that. Look! These people look like they are nice. We don't need to make enemies with them."

The female spoke softly before she forced her son to sit down quietly.

Liam settled down angrily, and Layla knew he would never get along with her or Mary again.

"Tsk, fine! Do what you want to. I no longer care. I just want you to find Father so that we can leave."

The kid spoke with a grumpy expression, and then he turned everyone else out.

His mother made a sorry face when she turned to look at the pair before her.

"Please pardon my son and his mood. But do you two know my husband? Do you know where he is and what he is doing? I feel worried that he had never been away from home for this long."

The lady asked in a begging tone, and Layla had half a mind not to tell her what happened.

But Mary did not seem to think the same as she quickly spilled the beans.

"Your husband is dead. As far as I heard, his dead body was found mauled by wild beasts when he was trying to kidnap slaves and bring them to their hideout. I only know about this because your son looks like his father."

The lady who looked hopeful about getting the news of her husband froze as soon as she heard this terrible news.

Layla could only sigh as Mary delivered this devastating news to the family.

It made the older one stagger in her seat while the younger…. could not control his temper, and he reached out to grab Layla.