Virginia moved slowly toward the car, her body shivering. The long wait had left her limbs stiff and numb, as though she'd been standing in a freezing cellar for hours. Inside the car, Lance sat motionless, his face a mask of indifference. The driver held the steering wheel firmly, occasionally glancing at the woman in the rearview mirror. He knew she was an important figure in Mr. Johnston's life, so he dared not push the car's speed. Virginia struggled to keep up. The cold of the winter air was seeping into her bones, making her feel like her blood had frozen. Lance, lost in his thoughts, hadn't noticed the slow pace at first. But soon, something felt wrong. He turned his gaze toward the window, irritation flickering in his eyes. "What's with the holdup?" he asked, his voice low. The driver, startled, didn't respond right away. The CEO had just told him to speed up, so he quickly pushed the gas pedal. However, just as the car gained speed, Lance changed his mind. He raised a hand to signal the driver to stop. The driver was puzzled. One moment, he had been told to go faster. The next, he was being asked to stop. The car eased to a stop by the side of the road. Lance didn't move from his seat. The windows reflected the darkness of the night, mirroring the coldness in his eyes. Virginia, breathless from the effort, struggled to keep going. The cold had drained her of whatever energy she had left, and she could hardly keep up. Despite seeing the car stop by the road, she couldn't catch her breath and was forced to walk slower, her steps laboring. Inside the car, Lance's fingers drummed lightly on the armrest. The sound echoed in the quiet car, marking the passage of time. The car remained parked, with no sign of Virginia getting any closer. Lance's expression grew more somber. "Let's go," he said softly. The car sped off toward the law office.Lance sat on the couch in the law office, a pot of tea resting on the table before him. About five minutes later, Mike entered, dressed in a dark blue suit and gold-rimmed glasses. He'd just finished with a client when he got word that Lance had arrived. Without wasting any time, he came to greet him. "Mr. Lance, what brings you here today?" Mike asked with a smile, walking toward him. "I heard that Johnston Enterprises has regained its authorization. Looks like you're back at the top. Congratulations." Lance lifted his gaze, his face unreadable. He didn't see Mike's words as praise. He knew the truth—the authorization had come through because his mother had begged Addison for it. He hadn't done anything to earn it. Lance poured himself a cup of tea, the steam rising from the cup. Lance didn't speak, and Mike, who had known him long enough, recognized that he wasn't in the mood for small talk. He gave a brief blink, deciding to leave it at that. Mike took a seat across from Lance, eyeing him carefully. "So, what brings you in today? You don't just show up here for nothing." Lance skipped any formalities. He went straight to the point. "I need you to gather some information on the Daves' Divine Healer." Mike raised an eyebrow. "The Daves' Divine Healer?" He frowned. "What do you need with them?" Mike asked, his expression curious. Halton wasn't the same as Kreshill, not by a long shot. If Lance had asked about anything related to anything in Halton, Mike would have had no trouble finding out. But the Daves? That was a different matter entirely. "My grandfather's in a bad way. One of their doctors tried to help him, but didn't succeed. Now only the Daves' Divine Healer can save him," Lance spoke flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. "Steven's sick?" Mike's voice tightened with concern. "Yeah, he's still in the hospital," Lance lowered his eyes. "Someone poisoned my grandfather, and that's why he's in this state. Now I'm working on finding out who did it." "Someone poisoned him right under your nose?" Mike gasped, his voice shocked. "Don't worry," Mike said, his tone softening. "I'll do what I can to find out about the Daves Divine Healer." "Halton isn't like Kreshill, though. Getting information might not be easy," Mike hesitated, his words careful. Lance put down his cup of tea, standing up. "I trust you." The simplicity of the words, combined with Lance's serious expression, made Mike feel the pressure. It had been a long time since Lance had trusted him with something so important. Mike knew he couldn't let him down. Mike stood up, nodding. "Alright, for you, I'll do everything I can to find out about the Daves' Divine Healer." "Thanks," Lance said, a little of the tension leaving his face. "I'm counting on you." "But who told you that only the Daves' Divine Healer could save Steven?" Mike asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. He was worried someone might be spreading false rumors to confuse the Johnstons. "It was Addison who brought in the Daves doctor," Lance's eyes met Mike's. Mike blinked, caught off guard. "Addison brought them in? She has connections like that?" Mike had always seen Addison as someone who stayed behind the scenes, handling things at the Johnstons' residence like she was cut off from the outside world. Since Virginia's return, he hadn't heard much about her, other than her being called Virginia's replacement. "Yeah," Lance said flatly. Then he dropped another bombshell. "She's also Dr. Nancy's assistant." "Dr. Nancy's assistant?" Mike's eyes widened, and he jumped to his feet. "Wait a second. Did I hear that right? Are you talking about the Dr. Nancy, the world-renowned professor?" Lance saw Mike's reaction and, for reasons he couldn't quite explain, it irritated him. He bit down on his frustration, took a breath, and answered flatly, "Yes."Mike seemed almost speechless. "So, you're telling me Addison not only helped Johnston Enterprises get the authorization but also managed to bring in a doctor from the Daves to help Steven?" "She's got some serious connections," Mike muttered, still shaking his head in disbelief. "If it weren't for her, Johnston Enterprises would be in deep trouble." Lance's expression grew darker, as if Mike had hit a nerve. With a cold glance, Lance stood up. "I'm leaving." Before Mike could respond, Lance was already heading for the door. "Hey, you're not staying? You're leaving already?" Mike's attempt to stop him fell flat, as he still didn't grasp what had just happened. "My company has enough on its plate," Lance said, his tone sharp, not looking back. Mike, sensing the change in mood but unsure of what had triggered it, didn't press for answers. "Alright, but don't worry. Even if I have to go to Kreshill, I'll get the information you need on the Daves' Divine Healer." Lance didn't wait to hear more. Before Mike could finish, he was already gone. "Why the rush?" Mike watched him leave, confusion written all over his face. He couldn't figure out what had just happened. ... Elsewhere, Addison and Leon had just parked the car and entered the house. The scent of a freshly prepared meal greeted them as they stepped inside, thanks to the housekeeper who had anticipated their arrival. Leon took off his coat and turned to Addison. "Angel, have you thought more about my suggestion? When are you going to go back to the family to see your grandfather?"