Addison had just completed an extremely challenging surgery, and Virginia's sudden appearance had caused her to make a mistake. Luckily, Addison's extensive experience from performing numerous surgeries alongside her grandmother at the Daves helped her navigate through the critical moment. Despite the surgery's success, it did nothing to lessen Virginia's earlier actions. Addison truly didn't want to see her now, yet Virginia shamelessly trailed after her. Eventually, Addison's patience wore thin. She halted abruptly, turning to face Virginia with a frown. "Do you want something?" Virginia quickly waved her hands and responded with an apologetic expression, her voice laced with grievance. "Not at all! I just admire how incredible you are—so skilled in both medicine and pharmaceuticals. You're truly gifted!" She flashed a bright smile, her face full of apparent admiration. But Addison's frown deepened, finding Virginia's demeanor repulsive. "What I can do has nothing to do with you," Addison replied curtly. In Kreshill, it was common knowledge that the Daves specialized in holistic medicine. However, because Addison's grandmother had a background in modern medicine and was a globally renowned doctor, the family wasn't seen as strictly holistic practitioners. Instead, their expertise lay in blending holistic and modern medicine, a fact known only to a select few. From a young age, Addison studied holistic methods from her grandfather and modern techniques from her grandmother. The unique combination shaped her impressive abilities. Virginia's face fell, her tone tinged with hurt. "Addison, you're so talented. I only wanted to express my excitement—there's no need to be so harsh." Addison, uninterested in prolonging the conversation, began removing her gloves. But Virginia pressed on. "So, when exactly did you learn all this? Were you always this skilled, or have you been keeping it hidden? Are there secrets you've kept from the Johnstons too?" Her words carried a subtle undertone. Addison discarded her gloves and stared at Virginia. "Why does it matter to you if I have secrets from the Johnstons?"Virginia's frustration began to show. "How could it not matter?" Addison's smile was laced with sarcasm. "You hold no real standing with the Johnstons. Their affairs don't concern you. You've spent all this time clinging to Lance—what have you gained?" Addison's remark was a clear jab at Lance's indifference toward Virginia, and it hit its target. Virginia's expression shifted immediately, unable to hide her annoyance. Noticing Virginia's composure slip, Addison raised an eyebrow. "Now, this is the real you. Stop pretending—it's sickening to watch." "You—" Virginia began, her voice tight with anger. However, before she could finish, Addison caught sight of Lance approaching. Addison raised her voice deliberately, ensuring it carried through the quiet corridor. "Aren't you supposed to be worried about Mr. Steven's condition? Why didn't you go to check on him right after surgery? Instead, you came looking for me. "Even if taking care of Mr. Steven feels like too much trouble or beneath you, you should have at least made an effort to see him as soon as he was out of the operating room. Do you even care about him?" Addison frowned, her expression suggesting genuine confusion. Her voice carried effortlessly through the Johnstons' private hospital, where the silence made every sound echo sharply along the corridor. Lance heard her clearly, his features tightening with a faint frown as he quickened his steps. Upon hearing that, Virginia appeared uneasy and overwhelmed by the situation. Despite her discomfort, she wasn't willing to let Addison gain the upper hand. She countered, "I noticed Lance had just gone in, so I thought it would be better to give him and his grandfather some privacy to talk—" "Privacy?" Addison found it ridiculous. Virginia's excuse fell apart instantly. Steven was still under anesthesia and hadn't regained consciousness yet. How could there possibly be a private conversation? As Virginia prepared to check on Steven, she turned, only to bump into Lance, who had approached silently. "Lance ... " Virginia's voice faltered at the sight of his stern expression. She blinked rapidly, clearly flustered, and her words came out jumbled.Addison watched closely, her instincts telling her something was off. The panic in Virginia's eyes didn't seem entirely genuine. If someone was truly scared, they might blink a lot, but not this much. Is she faking it? Why would she pretend to be panicked? Wouldn't that just show she wasn't truly concerned about Mr. Steven in the first place? Addison's gaze sharpened, her thoughts filled with suspicion. What would Virginia be scheming? Lance, on the other hand, didn't hide his displeasure. His cold gaze landed on Virginia. "Why aren't you with Grandpa? Why are you bothering Addison here?" "I saw you already went to check on Mr. Steven, so I thought ... " Virginia tried to explain. But Lance had no interest in listening further. His tone became even more icy as he questioned, "So, why aren't you leaving yet?" Virginia didn't dare argue. She gave a quick nod and mumbled, "I'll head there now." Without another word, she began walking slowly toward Steven's sickbed. Addison watched Virginia's retreating figure, her mind filled with questions about what Virginia might be scheming. As Addison's eyes followed Virginia, Lance shifted his attention to her. His previously cold expression softened slightly. "Thank you for saving my grandfather," he said, his voice noticeably gentler. Addison snapped out of her thoughts, brushing off his gratitude with a dismissive gesture. "There's no need to thank me." Worried that Lance might misinterpret her actions, she decided to clarify. "As a doctor, each patient is equally important to me. I couldn't just stand by and let someone die. That's the only reason I stepped in to help Mr. Steven. I hope you don't read too much into it." Addison hoped he wouldn't assume her actions were motivated by anything personal. However, her explanation sounded like a disguise to Lance. He smirked, his intense gaze fixed on her. "Is that truly the case?" It was clear he didn't entirely believe her words. Addison wasn't in the mood to argue. Without responding, she turned away, determined to change out of her surgical gown and head home to rest.As for Virginia, Addison figured she was likely plotting another way to make Lance resent her even more, perhaps hoping he'd push her out of his life for good. After so many similar encounters, Addison had grown indifferent. She'd deal with whatever Virginia tried, just as she always had. "Addison, wait," Lance called from behind. But Addison continued walking, as though she hadn't heard him at all. Feeling frustrated, Lance sighed and turned to the bodyguard standing nearby. "Make sure Ms. Daves gets home safely," he instructed firmly. The bodyguard nodded. "Yes, sir." Before Lance could say more, Virginia's panicked voice echoed down the hallway. "Lance! Something's wrong with Mr. Steven ... You need to come now ... " Her trembling voice made it sound as though she was genuinely frightened.