"Lower your hand first," Addison said firmly, locking her gaze on Lance. He ignored her, his eyes filled with defiance as he demanded, "Can you save him?" The disbelief in his voice was clear. Addison held her ground. "Release him first." Their stares clashed, neither willing to back down. Addison understood that Lance had no choice but to trust her at this point. Meanwhile, Robert, still gripped by Lance's hand and struggling to breathe, rasped out, "M-Mr. Johnston ... " His face had turned red, and his trembling voice barely broke through. Addison glanced at Robert, her tone calm yet unyielding. "Let him go." It was a silent standoff. Addison's refusal to answer Lance's question left him no room for negotiation. "Can you save Grandpa?" Lance repeated the question, his voice trailing off as doubt began to creep in. Addison stayed silent. Time was slipping away, and Steven's condition was critical, but she couldn't ignore Robert's life either. To her, no life was less valuable than another. If Lance didn't loosen his grip, Addison was convinced Robert wouldn't survive today. Lance valued Steven's life above Robert's, but she believed he understood the urgency—every second mattered if Steven was to have a chance. Confident in her reasoning, she was certain he would let go. After a tense pause, Lance's bloodshot eyes shifted away from Addison. Finally, he released Robert. Gasping for air, Robert staggered back, too shaken to offer thanks before retreating quickly to the side. "I've let him go," Lance said icily. "Now, I hope you weren't lying. "If your words were empty, you'll face the consequences." His tone was sharp and irrational, laced with a cold warning. A nearby bodyguard quickly handed Lance a pure white towel, setting it down beside him. He picked it up and wiped his slender hands.Addison nodded. "If I said I can save him, then I will. But first, I need to examine Mr. Steven's condition." Lance turned his head and signaled to Robert, who immediately rushed over to open the door to the operating room and said, "Please come in." Robert nearly bowed to the ground in fear, not wanting to risk angering the cold and intimidating Lance. Addison adjusted her expression, held her breath, and stepped inside. Inside the operating room, Steven lay motionless on the operating table, his body surrounded by tubes. The steady beeping of medical machines filled the air, a grim reminder of time slipping away. Lance stood behind Addison, his eyes fixed on her with a deep, unreadable expression. It was unclear if he doubted her abilities or if his mind was elsewhere. After a brief pause, he followed her inside. What Lance saw felt like a somber black-and-white film. Robert held the medical equipment half-heartedly while the electrocardiogram emitted piercing beeps. Steven, now a pale shadow of his former self, lay as if in a deep sleep, his dignity erased. Steven's aged left hand slowly slipped off the bed. Lance started to move toward him, intending to lift the hand back into place. But before he could reach it, a soft, fair hand gently returned it to the bed. That simple gesture seemed to hit Lance like a sudden shock, snapping him out of his daze. Addison let go of Steven's hand and moved quickly to grab the rescue equipment from the side to begin the emergency procedure. However, Lance seemed to change his mind. He marched over and took the equipment from Addison's hands. She stared at him, confused. "What are you doing?" "Leave." His voice was cold and emotionless. He felt Addison shouldn't be here. Addison's expression shifted from surprise to anger. "Lance, are you out of your mind? Time is crucial for Mr. Steven. Every second wasted is a second of hope lost!" But Lance only shook his head and insisted, "Leave now.""Are you even listening to yourself?" Addison's anxiety began to show. She had seen Steven's condition—his breaths were weak, hanging by a thread. Lance, dressed in black, gripped the rescue equipment firmly. "I can't let you try to save Grandpa. This is an operating room, not a place for games." It wasn't a place for Addison to try to get his attention. Lance just recognized how foolish his earlier decision had been. Addison could make medicine, and he believed that since she worked with Dr. Nancy, a renowned doctor. But saving lives? He didn't think so. Even the international doctor he hired couldn't save his grandfather. How could Addison, someone who just made medicines, do it? When he first heard the bad news, his mind was too cloudy to think clearly. It wasn't until he stepped into the operating room that he fully realized the decision he had made. Letting someone with no medical experience try to save his grandfather? It seemed insane. Not only would it not help his grandfather, but it could also cause more pain and possibly make things worse. "Lance!" Addison raised her voice, nearly shouting. "Do you want to kill your grandfather?" Lance's eyes flickered to Steven, whose face had drained of color, and a mix of emotions filled his expression. Seeing his hesitation, Addison quickly grabbed the rescue equipment from his hands and placed it on Steven's chest. Lance instinctively moved to stop her, but a hand suddenly grabbed him from behind. "Mr. Johnston, let Ms. Daves try. She knows what she's doing." Lance turned to see Robert, who stood at the door just now. "When Ms. Daves spoke to me earlier, I could tell she understands medicine," Robert said, his voice shaky but firm. "And ... she's our only chance to save Mr. Steven. We have to try." Though he was fearful, Robert stood his ground. Lance remained unmoved, his expression cold as he pushed Robert aside.How could Addison possibly save Steven? He thought it was just a way to get his attention, but he had no time for games now. That was a matter of life and death. As those thoughts ran through his mind, he glanced at Addison. She was working methodically, wearing gloves and focusing on Steven. Her actions were surprisingly skilled, almost as if she had real medical training. Every move she made was precise, like she was following a textbook. Lance blinked, and his anger seemed to melt away. Robert's earlier words echoed in his mind. "She's our only chance to save Mr. Steven. We have to try." After a brief pause, he seemed to soften and took a step toward Addison. She flinched, her hands shaking slightly, worried that Lance would grab the equipment from her again. But he didn't try to take it. Addison continued to work, anxiously glancing at him, uncertain if he would intervene. Their eyes met, and Lance's desperate look mirrored a man grasping at the smallest shred of hope. Addison's eyelashes fluttered involuntarily. "You have to save Grandpa," Lance said, his voice filled with complete trust, not a trace of doubt. It was the first time in the three years they'd known each other that he had entrusted her with such faith, putting his full trust in her hands. She was his last hope.