"A kidnap request, eh?" Troy's grin spread wider, clearly intrigued by the request. "Yes," Virginia's voice was chilling as she sat in the bath. It seemed the water wasn't warm enough. As she rose, she adjusted the temperature, causing the steam in the room to become even denser. Troy didn't ask why she needed someone tied up. Instead, he chuckled darkly. "Well, this is interesting." "Will you do it?" Virginia's voice remained calm. Troy's voice, smooth and confident, brought back memories of their last encounter. He had misunderstood her connection with Keith and tried to get her number. She had rejected him without hesitation. After all, a backup plan was about being strategic, not just having options. But then Virginia realized how easily she had been manipulated by Addison and Keith. Her carefully laid plans had crumbled, leaving only Troy. Now, she had no choice but to use him. Her expression grew colder. Addison will pay for both her and Keith's crimes against me! She raised the water's temperature once more, the mist in the air thickening as it filled the white tub. It was as if she was numb to the heat. "Well, if you insist," Troy replied, his tone amused. Virginia's face showed a hint of satisfaction at his answer. "However," he continued, "I'll need your men. I'll handle it from here." Virginia blinked, confused. "What do you mean?" "I'll deal with them myself. No need for you to get involved," he explained. She needed to be the one in control, from start to finish. The anger had to be hers alone to manage. "You want to do it yourself?" Troy sounded almost more intrigued. "Can I watch it?""Spare me," she replied coolly. "Just send me the people, and once it's done, I'll repay you." "Of course, if the lady insists," Troy said with a knowing tone. "I'll send them your way. Do what you must." His voice dripped with freezing venom. He sounded as if he was Virginia's loyal sycophant. Of course, it was just because Virginia was his cup of tea. With that, he hung up. Virginia sat silently in the bath, staring out the window, her mind lost in thought. Francesca, having prepared the tea, grew more anxious as time passed and Virginia still hadn't emerged. Francesca waited, tapping her foot anxiously as the minutes stretched on. It had already been half an hour, and still, Virginia hadn't emerged. Her concern grew with each passing second. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, she hurried to the door and pushed it open. The bathroom was small, a cramped space, as Virginia lived alone and had little need for much more. The moment Francesca entered, the steam hit her like a wall, blurring her vision. She could hardly make out the shapes around her. She stumbled forward, her hand brushing the walls for guidance. It only took her a few moments to realize the temperature was way too high. It felt almost unbearable, certainly far beyond what was safe. Frantic, she made her way to Virginia's side and gasped. The water in the tub was scalding. "Ms. Dolton, the water's practically boiling!" Francesca gasped, her voice shaking as she quickly turned the dial to lower the temperature. "You could burn yourself!" Virginia didn't respond. Her gaze, however, was unnervingly sharp in the dim light, and it sent a chill down Francesca's spine. ... The next morning, Addison rose before the sun, as was her habit. She moved quietly, the early hours still draped in silence. A glass of water was first on her list to shake off the remnants of sleep.She went to the kitchen, grabbed her favorite porcelain cup, and pulled a few ingredients from the pantry—brown sugar, crushed walnuts, and honeysuckle. She poured hot tea over the mix, the aroma of the infusion instantly filling the room, and took a slow sip, enjoying the warmth spreading through her. The housekeeper, hearing movement, stepped into the kitchen. Her eyes widened a little upon seeing Addison. "Ms. Daves, you're up so early?" she asked. Addison gave a polite smile. "I'm used to it." The housekeeper, though surprised, was now more curious. In all her years of service, she had never encountered someone like Addison—so disciplined, so precise. "I didn't prepare breakfast. I wasn't expecting an early morning," the housekeeper added. "Please, sit down, and I'll get it ready." Addison shook her head, still holding the warm cup. "It's alright. I'm leaving soon. Just make sure breakfast is ready earlier next time." The housekeeper felt a brief pang of guilt. "Don't worry, Ms. Daves, I'll make sure it's ready next time." Addison shifted the conversation. "Has my uncle gotten up yet?" The housekeeper shook her head. "Not yet." Addison nodded, her expression softening. "He worked hard yesterday. He deserves the rest. When he wakes up, you can make him his breakfast." The housekeeper nodded quickly. "Of course." Addison finished her tea, set the cup down, and went to change into her clothes before leaving. At the lab, Ryan was already in his lab coat, absorbed in his work. Addison followed suit, changed into her lab coat, and entered. "Looks like we're wrapping up today, right?" she asked, glancing at the petri dishes. Everything was growing exactly as she had planned, with no errors at all."You're here!" Ryan's voice brightened as he turned toward her. "I thought maybe you wouldn't come today, Dr. Daves." There had been so much on Addison's plate recently, and while Ryan could manage the lab on his own, it wasn't the same without her. "I couldn't miss it. I promised I'd help," Addison said with a reassuring smile, picking up on Ryan's quiet disappointment. Ryan's expression brightened. "Dr. Daves, look at my results! I did it!" He proudly showed her his progress, his excitement evident in his voice. "We're right on schedule—everything's perfect," Ryan added, confidence in his tone. "We can finish everything today." Ryan showed the concoction to Addison, confident in his work. "Everything is on schedule, not more, not less." "And if you ever need me, I'm ready to take on more work for you." Addison's gaze softened as she watched him. His happiness was contagious. "You're incredible, Ryan," she said, her voice genuine. "Michael can have the results today." Ryan's face turned red, his heart racing. Addison's praise made him feel both shy and proud. His ears burned, and he couldn't focus on anything else. His heart thudded in his chest as he hurried to return to his work, nearly knocking over a reagent bottle in his flustered state. "Has Mr. Fuller been pushing you recently?" Addison asked, noticing Ryan's flushed face. "Uh, yeah," Ryan stammered, quickly realizing he had said something wrong. "I mean—no pressure at all." The truth was, Mr. Fuller hadn't been in touch with him much lately, and Ryan was okay with that. He wasn't eager to hear from him. Ryan felt embarrassed.He wondered if Dr. Daves thought he was foolish. "I'll drop off the results at the Fullers this afternoon," Addison said, pulling out her phone to dial Mr. Fuller's number. After a quick exchange of pleasantries, she got straight to the point. "Should I send it directly to the Fullers' raw material plant?" she asked, surprised to hear Mr. Fuller was overseeing it personally. Ryan, who had been listening intently, furrowed his brow when he heard about the plant. The Fullers' raw material facility was located in a remote area, far from the city, surrounded by wilderness. She's sending the results there? Ryan thought uneasily. He didn't like the idea of Addison going to such an isolated place.