Addison arched an eyebrow. "Mr. Johnston, interested now?" Virginia stood stiffly, her back straight as she watched the man turn away. She closed her eyes in pain, her nerves stretched taut. Lance didn't respond immediately. Instead, he fixed her with a piercing gaze, clearly waiting for her answer. Addison didn't waste time on pleasantries. "If you want to turn a healthy person into a vegetative state, there are plenty of ways to do it. "Especially someone who's only recently recovered. Against those with ill intentions, they're utterly defenseless." As she spoke, her eyes landed on Virginia. Virginia stood there stiffly, looking a little pale, probably shaken by the situation. She silently told herself not to be afraid. So what if Addison knew more methods? She had an alibi and didn't carry out the act herself; instead, she used someone else to do it. No matter how you looked at it, she wasn't a suspect! "For example, using ... " Just as Addison was about to speak, a noise came from the door behind her. Addison was about to continue when the door behind them suddenly opened, followed by the sound of footsteps. They all turned to look. A group of people arrived, with a man leading them. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, dressed in a sharp suit with a black vest over his jacket. His hair was neatly styled, and everything about him screamed professionalism and precision. Addison blinked, trying to recall where she had seen this man before. Lance stepped forward, and for once, his usually stoic expression softened slightly into a smile. "Dr. Drew, I thought you were abroad. How did you arrive so quickly?" Dr. Drew? Upon hearing the name, Addison's mind clicked into gear, comparing the man before her with the Mack Drew she remembered. Something seemed off. The Mack she knew didn't look like this. Years ago, the Daves hosted a medical exchange event between holistic and modern medicine practitioners. Mack had been one of the participants—a young man back then, timid and reserved, who kept to the corners of the room. Addison had been a child back then, often trailing behind her grandfather. But during the event, her grandfather spent most of his time conversing with unfamiliar faces, moving from one end of the venue to another. Being shorter and still sluggish, Addison couldn't keep up with her grandfather's pace. Tired, she found a corner to rest. That's when she spotted Mack, who was also in the corner. His tall frame, blonde hair, and striking blue eyes stood out against the background, making him seem somewhat out of place. Shaking her head, she looked at him again. He had changed so much. Gone was the timid Mack she used to know. Now, when he walked or spoke, there was no trace of the shy person he once was. "I happened to be on a business trip nearby. When I received your call, I came immediately. After all, a life is at stake—this isn't something to take lightly," Mack said with a tone of concern. "Please, come in. The patient is inside," Lance replied, leading Mack toward the operating room. Mack nodded, following without glancing at the two women standing by. He focused entirely on Lance and the task at hand—saving Steven. "Mr. Steven's condition is critical, so we'll need to trouble you greatly," Lance said sincerely as he guided Mack inside. "It's my duty," Mack replied warmly. Hearing about Steven's deteriorating state, his expression grew even more serious as he steeled himself for the challenge. The two men disappeared down the corridor, leaving Addison and Virginia behind. Watching Lance's retreating figure, Virginia sighed a long sigh of relief. The timely arrival of Mack had spared her from further tension. Turning to Addison, she opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. Eventually, she settled for a smug glance, as if she had just won a battle, and turned to leave. "Wait," Addison's voice rang out, stopping her in her tracks. Virginia turned around, her face wary. Addison looked her straight in the eye. "You did this, didn't you?" From the moment Mack appeared, Addison had noticed Virginia visibly relax.And once Lance had left, her behavior only confirmed her suspicion—Virginia had been tense earlier, but now her relief was obvious. "What are you talking about?" Virginia feigned ignorance. "You don't have to pretend with me now that Lance's gone," Addison said, raising an eyebrow. Virginia chuckled, her expression smug. "Pretending? Me?" "You know exactly what you're doing. "Explain it clearly. I worked so hard to save Mr. Steven's life, so why would you choose to harm an elderly man? He hasn't been that bad to you. How could you be so heartless?" "Not that bad?" Virginia scoffed, the image of Steven's sarcastic expressions flashing in her mind. Every day, he would mock her with cold sneers. Every time she appeared at the Johnston Residence, she could always count on him to show nothing but a cold, unfriendly face. And worst of all, he opposed her marriage to Lance. That she couldn't forgive. Sensing the bitterness in Virginia's tone, Addison probed further. "So, you resent him?" Virginia almost blurted out a response but caught herself just in time, realizing it was a trap. Narrowing her eyes, she sneered, "Trying to trick me?" She wouldn't fall for it so easily. "Why would I hate Mr. Steven? Even if he disapproved of my marriage to Lance, he's still his grandfather. I respect him deeply," Virginia said, her words carefully measured. Her response was flawless—she acknowledged the truth while maintaining an air of respect, ensuring nothing could be used against her. Addison smiled faintly. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. "Don't worry. There are no surveillance cameras in this hallway, so you don't have to be nervous or try to speak so carefully. "We're all on the same side here. Just say what you mean; there is no need to be so cautious." Virginia's eyes instantly brightened upon hearing Addison say there were no cameras in the hallway. She looked up, searching for any cameras. True enough, there wasn't a single one. Her expression relaxed even further. "There's nothing more to say. I respect Mr. Steven. I have no reason to harm him," she smirked. Addison observed her closely, noting every reaction."I hope you know that bad deeds never go unpunished. And trust me, I'll make sure you pay for what you've done." Her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable weight, her gaze steady and confident, as though the outcome was already decided. Virginia's composure faltered briefly. She blinked, feeling a flicker of unease, though she quickly masked it. Addison turned and walked toward the operating room without waiting for a response. Virginia watched her retreating figure in a daze before snapping out of it, shouting after her, "Lance told you to leave! Why are you still here, bothering Mr. Steven?!" Over by the bed, Mack stood with a serious expression, clearly under a great deal of pressure. Upon noticing this, Lance furrowed his brows, his tone cautious as he asked, "What's going on?" Mack's face was noticeably pale, a clear sign of the severity of the situation regarding the elderly gentleman. "Mr. Steven ... There's a strong possibility he might end up in a vegetative state," Mack spoke with a grave tone. What?! At these words, Lance's last ounce of hope was shattered. His hand trembled slightly. "What are the odds?" he asked, forcing his emotions to stay in check. "Over ninety percent," Mack replied carefully, trying to prevent Lance's emotions from spiraling. It was actually a ninety-nine percent chance, but he held back from saying so. Lance's face darkened even further, and the tension in the room grew thick, pressing down on everyone present. In the heavy silence, Addison slowly approached. She looked at Mack and spoke calmly, "There is a way to save him." Mack's eyes flashed with surprise, and he immediately looked up, taken aback by her words.