Surrounded by Lance's imposing presence, Addison felt as though the air had been drained from the room. The coldness radiating from him made it difficult to breathe, a suffocating pressure pressing in on her. "Lance!" With desperation in her voice, Addison shoved at him with all her strength, trying to create some distance. Lance lowered his head, his gaze fixed on Addison's slightly frantic expression. But he stood still, unaffected. "Lance! Move aside! If you don't, I'll call for help!" Addison, now on the edge of fury, could no longer hold back. "Oh? And who exactly are you going to call?" Lance's tone was playful—a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. Before Addison could reply, he added, "Are you planning to call the man from earlier?" Addison looked at him in confusion. "What man?" Lance fell silent, offering no explanation. Her mind raced, trying to recall anyone from earlier. Was there a man? Could it have been ... Gordon? When Lance arrived, the only person he could have seen was Gordon. In the sprawling Pendomium Heights villa, besides herself, there was no one else—it had to be Gordon. So, did Lance see him earlier? Why then was he pretending as though he hadn't? Seeing the confusion in Addison's eyes, Lance assumed she hadn't remembered. He spoke slowly as if reminding her, "It's the person I saw when I first walked in." Addison frowned, then looked at him, her resolve hardening. She wasn't going to back down. "Yes, if you don't move, I'll call him." "Move aside!" At that moment, her strength felt like that of an ant, powerless against the overwhelming presence of the man before her. Lance's voice was low and deliberate as he spoke directly in her ear, "The Johnstons have reached where they are today thanks to the efforts of everyone in the family. The Johnstons would never resort to imitating drugs." Addison's eyes nearly betrayed her as a hint of mockery flickered in them. Was he serious? Did he just claim that the Johnstons had come this far through their own efforts? It was truly laughable. The truth was, the Johnstons had only reached this point because she had silently supported them from behind the scenes. She had paved the way for them when they needed it most, with little to no involvement from the Johnston! "Do you truly believe that the Johnstons got here solely through their own efforts?" Addison asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "Of course," Lance replied without hesitation. In the most critical moments for the Johnstons, he had worked tirelessly for countless days, begging and negotiating with countless people, all just to pull the family back from the brink. Addison let out a soft chuckle. "What's so funny?" Lance asked, genuinely puzzled by her reaction. Addison let out a scoff. "What am I laughing at? I'm just laughing at certain people who overestimate themselves ... thinking they have the power to bring the dead back to life." Though Lance didn't fully grasp the meaning of her words, his instincts told him that she was mocking him. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Addison suddenly pushed forward, her elbow driving into his abdomen. Her elbow, however, was thin and weak, barely making an impact. But because her elbow was so thin, it struck like a sharp bone. Lance was caught off guard by the sudden, sharp jab, causing him to gasp and stagger back a few steps. "Addison!" Lance paused his retreat, looking up at the woman. Addison didn't acknowledge him. She pushed herself off the wall and quickly put some distance between them. Without missing a beat, she grabbed her phone and began searching for Gordon's number. "Come now." Addison quickly typed the brief message and tossed her phone aside, making sure Lance didn't see. After carrying out a few swift actions, she turned back to face him. The greatest advantage of working with Gordon was that she never had to explain herself. She could give a simple command, and he would follow it without hesitation or unnecessary chatter. This was a habit he had cultivated during his years of military service—an unwavering obedience to orders. When she selected him as her bodyguard during her time with the Zimmers, it was because she recognized this valuable trait in him. Addison valued this trait in Gordon, as it made communication effortless and efficient. For instance, the moment she gave a command, Gordon would be right by her side without delay. "Apologies, Mr. Johnston," Addison said with feigned politeness. "You were standing too close, and I couldn't handle it." She glanced around, realizing Gordon hadn't arrived yet, and knew she couldn't afford to anger Lance further. As a woman, delicate and unarmed, if she truly provoked him, she wouldn't stand a chance. Lance's expression darkened further. "If you need to speak, Mr. Johnston, just say it directly. No need to stand so close to me; I can hear you just fine." Without giving Lance a chance to reply, she swiftly shifted the topic. "Earlier, you mentioned that the Johnstons have no plans to replicate the drug, so why does the contract given to the Fullers list the same ingredients and compounds as the drug? Are you really going to claim it's just a coincidence, Mr. Johnston?" Addison's voice had a hint of doubt in it. "It's not a coincidence," Lance said firmly, standing tall as his intense gaze fixed on the woman who seemed eager to distance herself from him. Lance didn't deny it? "Could it be that the Johnstons are planning something else ... " Addison furrowed her brow, her mind racing. Since they claimed no interest in replicating Levosulin, what else could they be up to? A flurry of possibilities ran through her mind. "Are the Johnstons trying to offload unsold medicinal materials in another way?" This seemed like the only reasonable explanation. Lance smirked. "As expected of Dr. Nancy's assistant." This was, in fact, the true intention of the Johnstons ... yet Addison's ability to deduce it with such precision genuinely caught Lance off guard. Could there be more to Addison than he realized? A flicker of admiration surfaced in Lance's eyes—something he had never experienced before.The lingering doubts he harbored about Addison's background dissolved completely at that moment. "Back to our earlier discussion," Lance began, his tone noticeably softer, likely influenced by his growing respect for her. "Consider trading the Fullers' financial chain for the authorization. Give it some thought." The sharp edge in Lance's tone had softened, replaced by a subtle note of seeking her input. "I'm not considering it," Addison replied firmly. Lance arched a brow. "Are you sure you won't reconsider?" "I'm certain," she stated, her voice steady and unwavering. Regardless of how many times Lance pressed, her answer would remain the same. "What terms would you like to propose then? I'm willing to accommodate them," Lance countered, a hint of compromise in his voice. Authorization held immense value for Johnston Enterprise, making the Fullers seem almost irrelevant in comparison. Their discussion was abruptly cut short by a knock at the door—just a single, firm sound. Before Lance could respond, Addison spun on her heel and strode towards the entrance, swiftly pulling the door open. On the other side stood Gordon, his face devoid of emotion, clad in all black. Whether it was due to the urgency of the situation or being interrupted mid-workout, Gordon's casual attire exuded an aura of strength and resilience. "Step inside!" Addison said firmly, tugging Gordon into the room. Lance's gaze shifted upward, his voice neutral yet tinged with ambiguity. "What exactly are you trying to do, Addison?" "Nothing at all," she replied smoothly. "I simply feel safer having my bodyguard close by." She added with a composed confidence and a trace of mockery, "That way, I won't have to deal with anyone invading my personal space and making me uneasy." "Addison!" Lance's voice rose, the frustration evident as irritation began to seep into his tone. As Lance's temper flared, Gordon stepped forward, placing himself squarely in front of Addison. His stance was firm and unyielding, like a towering pine tree. Without a hint of emotion, he locked eyes with Lance, silently signaling his readiness to act if needed.Lance didn't look away. "Just a reminder, Mr. Johnston," Addison's voice broke the tension from behind her protector. "Gordon used to be in special forces. You don't stand a chance against him." Lance's hands tightened into fists.