"You've made up your mind to stand against me? Very well. That leaves me no choice but to turn you in." Virginia's tone was calm, almost detached, but her words cut like ice, lingering in Silas's ears. He felt as though he had plunged into freezing water, his chest tightening. "You ... you're going to betray me?" His voice cracked, disbelief plain in his eyes. Virginia's lips curled ever so slightly, as if she found his reaction amusing. Her heels tapped softly against the tile as she stepped closer. Silas stood motionless, his body stiff, his eyes locked on her. "You're trying to intimidate me, aren't you?" His voice steadied, though the defiance in his eyes seemed more forced than real. Virginia stopped, just a breath away, her movements deliberate. She leaned in, her voice low but steady. "You misunderstand me. This isn't a threat." She straightened his collar with precise movements, her fingers brushing the fabric. Her eyes never left his face. "It's a choice," she said, her words crisp. Silas's hands trembled. He clenched them into fists, but they wouldn't stop shaking. Virginia noticed, her gaze sharpening as a faint smirk crossed her face. She took a step back, folding her arms as she studied him. Her confidence returned, her expression expectant. But Silas remained frozen, his breaths shallow and uneven. His hands still quivered, and he made no move to act. Her patience snapped. Was he really this stubborn? After everything she'd said? After making it so clear what was at stake? She couldn't fathom it. The idea that he'd risk everything—his career, his future—for someone else, for a stranger, was beyond her comprehension. Her frustration boiled over, her glare growing fiercer. Enough. He'd wasted her time, and she wasn't going to let his hesitation ruin everything. Just as she prepared to act, the door creaked open.A nurse stepped in, her voice bright. "Excuse me, I need to record some data for the patient." Virginia froze, her hand dropping to her side. She had locked the door. She was sure of it. Her mind raced. Had Silas deliberately left it open? The nurse seemed oblivious at first, but the tension in the room hit her like a wall. She glanced around, her movements growing hesitant. Her eyes lifted, meeting Virginia's piercing stare, and she faltered. The unease on her face was unmistakable. She quickly finished jotting down the patient's data, clutching her clipboard tightly as she backed toward the door. Her exit was swift, her footsteps fading down the hall. Virginia's momentum crumbled. The intrusion had halted her entirely, and now her plan was in shambles. Her jaw tightened. The nurse's presence was more than a mere interruption. She had seen too much. Worse still, she had seen Virginia in a place she wasn't supposed to be. In a situation like this, Virginia's carefully constructed plan to eliminate Steven, create an airtight alibi, and frame someone else was on the verge of falling apart. She frowned, her expression hardening with frustration. Her earlier confidence now felt hollow. She hadn't been entirely sure if Silas had taken precautions, but she had gambled anyway. Virginia always left herself an escape route—it was a rule she never broke. Yet, this time, Silas had clearly prepared for more than she'd expected. She underestimated him. Her jaw tightened, teeth pressing together until it felt like they might shatter. If Silas didn't still have his uses, she would have considered taking him down alongside Steven without hesitation. "I think we can figure out another way," Silas said, his voice tentative, as though testing the waters. "What way?" Virginia snapped. "If that old man doesn't die tonight, I'll have no choice but to turn to the Daves for their remedy." The thought made her stomach churn. Resorting to the Daves would mean her lies would unravel entirely. Addison's interference had already strained her standing with Lance. If this plan failed, her reputation with him would be beyond repair.Silas's hands trembled as though under an invisible weight. His lips moved faintly, repeating the same phrase. "There has to be a way. There will be a way ... " ... At Pendomium Heights, Addison and her companions had finished dinner. Ryan stood to leave, heading for the door. Addison followed him outside, intending to see him off. He turned back, offering her a polite smile. "You don't need to walk me all the way." Addison hesitated but finally stopped near the edge of the property. The cold wind whipped her hair around her face as she watched him go. Her alpaca coat wrapped snugly around her, though it did little to shield her from the chill. Only when Ryan's car disappeared into the night did she turn back toward the villa. Pulling her coat closer, she walked inside. The warmth of the house enveloped her, a stark contrast to the cold outdoors. She shrugged off her coat, letting it drape over her arm. The exhaustion from hours of surgery weighed heavily on her. Each step felt heavier than the last. Her thoughts of rest vanished when she noticed her uncle's silhouette in the living room. Leon hadn't gone to the guest room. Instead, he sat on the sofa, seemingly deep in thought. Addison stifled a yawn as she approached. He sat at the coffee table, a pair of glasses perched on his nose. It was a rare sight—she couldn't even remember the last time he'd worn them. His fingers moved methodically as he flipped through her old experimental data. "Uncle, why are you still up?" she asked, her voice thick with fatigue. Leon turned, placing the papers aside with care. "Angel, come here," he said. His tone was unusually serious, and his face reflected the same somber mood. Addison felt a flicker of unease. "What is it?" she asked, setting her coat on the sofa. Before she could close the distance, Leon's question stopped her cold. "What happened to Steven?" "What?" Addison froze, unprepared for the directness of his inquiry. "Don't play dumb with me," Leon said sharply. "I know you were operating on one of the Johnstons this afternoon. Tell me—what's Steven's condition?"Addison frowned. "Did Ryan tell you that?" Leon's lips curved into a slight smile. "You underestimate me. I know you, Angel." Before Angel became part of the Johnstons, she and Leon had spent countless hours together in the Herbs Valley, studying herbs and remedies. Their connection was deeper than anyone else in the Daves family. He had observed every detail about her—every expression, every gesture. Leon patted the seat beside him. "It's not hard to figure out what's going on when it's written all over your face." Addison bit her lip but didn't sit. Instead, she glanced at her watch. It was well past midnight. She felt drained, both physically and mentally. The day had drained every ounce of energy from her, and her body was screaming for rest. The surgery had taken its toll on her, and the time spent eating had only delayed the inevitable: sleep. She spoke without thinking. "Steven had acute heart failure, but the Johnstons' private doctor wasn't capable of handling it, so I stepped in." "Acute heart failure?" Leon's face tightened. That wasn't something easily fixed. "Did you save him?" Leon always had unwavering confidence in Addison, no matter the complexity of the situation. "Yes," she said softly, nodding. But before she could say more, fatigue clouded her mind. "I stabilized Steven, but someone else had other plans. They drugged him and put him in a vegetative state ... " "Really?" Leon frowned. "So, right after you saved him, someone did this?" Addison nodded again. Leon's expression grew thoughtful as he processed the information. Addison, however, couldn't stay focused for much longer. Sleep overcame her quickly, and soon she was too tired to hear what Leon was saying. Within moments, she had collapsed into bed and drifted off to sleep. The next morning, the sunlight greeted Addison as she woke up.She headed to the living room, poured herself some tea, and took a sip. It was then that she noticed the note on the coffee table. "Something came up. Won't be home by noon." The handwriting, bold and fluid, was unmistakably Leon's.