During the wait for Addison's response, Lance swirled his glass on the table, observing the intense red wine mixed with faint yellow hues, casting an ominous aura. Once Addison agreed to meet, Lance swiftly emptied the glass. "Why are you drinking so early, Mr. Johnston?" Lana, busy in the kitchen, noticed him drinking alone and paused her cooking to approach him. Lance continued to drink, seemingly oblivious to her presence, refilling and emptying his glass repeatedly as if parched for a long time. Lana watched this unusual behavior with concern. It was unlike Lance, who typically abstained from alcohol, now to sit alone, drinking from dusk till dawn. Throughout this time, Lana watched Lance with growing concern. However, she truly could not determine what had led Lance to such behaviors, despite repeatedly observing him drink excessively. Unable to contain her worry, she eventually spoke to the lady of the house. To her surprise, she was already aware and merely sighed, "The burden on him is immense. The entire family depends on him." Yet, Lana wondered, the pressures of leading the Johnston family were not new, so why the sudden reliance on alcohol? ... Pushing these thoughts aside, she focused on Lance. As an employee, she hesitated to intervene directly but felt compelled to speak up. "Mr. Johnston, please don't drink. It's not good for you this early." Her words seemed to have little effect until Lance suddenly looked serious, momentarily easing Lana's worries. "Should I make you a sandwich? Or prepare something else for you?" she offered, willing to make anything to distract him from the bottle. However, Lance's next observation dashed her hopes. "Lana, do I smell something burning?" "Oh, my food!" Lana exclaimed, realizing in her concern for Lance, she had neglected the stove. It turned out it was not her caution but the burning food that had broken his drinking spell. She hurried back to the kitchen, spatula in hand.With his last sip, Lance placed the empty glass down, grabbed his phone and jacket, and declared as he left, "I'm leaving now." After rising from his chair, Lance walked briskly to the car parked in the driveway, swung open the door, and nonchalantly tossed his jacket and phone onto the passenger seat. Completing these actions swiftly, he slid into the driver's seat, loosened his tie with a single hand, started the engine, and drove off rapidly. Behind him, Lana called out, "Mr. Johnston! You haven't eaten your breakfast yet!" ... Meanwhile, Addison, unsettled by Lance's unexpected text, lost her appetite completely. She eyed the carefully prepared breakfast on her table, hesitated for a moment, then stored it in the refrigerator. As she closed the refrigerator door, the doorbell chimed. Addison frowned, puzzled. Could Lance have arrived already? It had not been more than half an hour since she responded to his message. She had chosen her house in Pendomium Heights specifically because it was far from the Johnstons, on the opposite end of Halton, ensuring maximum separation. Could Lance really have made it to Pendomium Heights so quickly? Did he fly here? The doorbell, however, rang only once and then fell silent. She walked over and opened the door. It was not Lance outside; it was Gordon. He stood there, perfectly upright, silently waiting as the door swung open. Seeing Gordon, Addison's initial suspicions were allayed. She glanced down and noted the Maybach parked a few steps below. He had ignored her instructions from yesterday and had come to pick her up for the lab as usual. "Next time, could you wait until I'm done speaking?" Addison asked as she looked at Gordon. "I was about to tell you not to come this morning, and you just left." She stepped back, adding, "Don't blame me if today's trip turns out to be unnecessary." Gordon's face remained impassive, showing no sign of annoyance or embarrassment.As soon as Addison finished speaking, Gordon straightened up and turned to leave, his departure as clean as his arrival. Watching his retreating figure, Addison blinked and smiled to herself. He had not even asked if she needed him tomorrow; was he not worried about being dismissed again? Before Addison could mask her amusement, a shadow was cast in front of her. "Ms. Daves, are you so pleased to see me today?" She glanced up to find Lance grinning playfully. Instinctively, Addison took a step back, "Mr. Johnston, it's been some time, and yet you're still ... " she paused, choosing her words with care, "still so assured of yourself." She continued to edge back, wishing she could put more distance between them. Lance seemed oblivious to her discomfort, "Have you eaten breakfast yet? I haven't had mine this morning." Without waiting for an invitation, he strode into the house. Addison had barely opened the door, and before she could close it, Lance had already made his way into the living room. Realizing what was happening, Addison hurried after him, stepping in front of Lance to halt his advance, "Mr. Johnston, don't you think it's inappropriate to just walk in like this?" Lance paused, seeming taken aback. "My apologies," he said, "I just really appreciate the architecture and décor here. It's very much like my house, I momentarily forgot I wasn't at home." His eyes wandered around the room, taking in the familiar decor. It appeared that despite Addison's assertions of severance from the Johnstons, elements of their style still lingered in her new home. Unaware of Lance's thoughts, Addison directed him, "Please, my bedroom is just up ahead, you shouldn't go there." "Understood," Lance followed her quietly to the living room. Addison reached the living room first, then turned to face him, "Mr. Johnston, if you please?" However, Lance did not move, his tone playful yet pointed, "Aren't you going to offer me breakfast first? I haven't eaten since I arrived." "No," Addison responded firmly."Really? I don't have the energy to discuss important matters on an empty stomach," Lance remarked, his tone lightly teasing. Addison knew better. During her three years with the Johnstons, Lance rarely prioritized breakfast. His insistence now was clearly just a tactic to unsettle her.