Virginia stood still, watching as the secretary pushed the door open and walked into the office with a stack of documents in her arms. Before even a minute passed, the sound of papers scattering across the floor echoed from within. Moments later, the secretary appeared, looking completely dejected. Dressed in a professional suit, she shakily emerged from the office, looking miserable. Seeing the secretary in such a state, Virginia didn't need to guess—she could tell just how terrifying Lance was at that moment. It was probably best not to mess up with him now. Lance already had a bad impression of her, and given the current situation, walking into his office wouldn't get her anywhere good. Without a second thought, she decided to leave with her lunchbox. But halfway down the hall, she changed her mind. Inside the office, Lance was half-reclining in his chair, surrounded by papers scattered across the floor. His brow was furrowed deeply. Isaac, who was standing by, didn't dare to clean up the mess. "Mr. Johnston, what happened today? Jordan Group really went too far," Isaac muttered. "I've heard rumors about how the Jordans work—devious, never following the rules, and always disregarding face and integrity. Now I've seen it for myself!" he added, his frustration growing with every word. If Isaac was this angry, Lance's fury could only be imagined. The man's face was tight, his sharp profile darkening by the second. "Get me a list of all the projects we have with Jordan Group," Lance ordered. "Huh? Mr. Johnston, what are you trying to do?" Isaac was stunned, unsure of what was coming next. "Cancel everything. End all cooperation with Jordan Group," Lance said, his voice low and unyielding. "Everything?" Isaac asked, still not fully understanding."Don't you understand?" Lance's eyes were as sharp as blades. It seemed that his company had kept a low profile for too long, allowing any random family to bully theirs. It was time to show Jordan Group who was really in charge in Halton. "I understand. I'll get to it right away," Isaac said, quickly bowing his head in acknowledgment. Although Johnston Enterprises didn't have many partnerships with Jordan Group, there were still a dozen collaborations in place. Cutting all ties would not immediately affect the company's core operations, but the subsidiaries would certainly feel the impact. Isaac was concerned about the potential consequences, but he realized that his boss had likely carefully considered all factors before making this decision. He must have his own reasons for making the call. Lance reached for a small figurine on his desk, absentmindedly playing with it between his long fingers. "Once you've compiled the list of Jordan Group's new business ventures, pass it to the vice president to handle," Lance instructed. "Jordan Group didn't play by the rule. It's time for them to disappear from Halton." His tone was calm, but there was a hint of something dark simmering beneath the surface—something that made the air tense, as though a storm was approaching. "Understood," Isaac responded. Lance reached for a pen and then picked up another file from his desk. "You can leave now," Lance added, dismissing Isaac. Isaac didn't move. "Is there something else?" Lance asked, his mood a little less tense now. Isaac cautiously spoke up. "Mr. Johnston, about the invitation, I have an idea, but I'm not sure if I should say it." "Say it," Lance replied flatly. "The Medical Symposium is a huge event, and they'll be inviting many renowned pharmacists and doctors," Isaac began."So?" Lance's expression gave nothing away. "Well, Dr. Nancy will definitely be invited. Perhaps we could ask her for help?" Isaac suggested carefully. "Even if Dr. Nancy isn't available, her assistant might be able to help." Isaac trailed off, glancing at Lance, wary of any sudden outburst. Lance's hand froze mid-motion. Addison? Instead of Dr. Nancy, the first person that came to Lance's mind was Addison. His expression shifted, and he said coolly, "Do you think Dr. Nancy is someone we can just meet whenever we want?" "If Dr. Nancy isn't available, maybe her assistant could help." Isaac spoke hesitantly, glancing up at Lance to gauge his reaction, fearing that any wrong move could result in a flying object aimed at him. After all, Dr. Nancy's assistant was Addison—Lance's ex-wife. Suggesting this could easily cost him his job or worse. "Understood." Lance gripped his pen tightly, his voice lacking any real inflection. What? Isaac's eyes widened in surprise. He had mentioned Addison, and yet his boss wasn't angry. Instead, his response was calm and detached. Isaac scratched his head, his anxiety fading slightly. "Go prepare the Jordan Group documents. Let's make sure that company is gone by today." Lance's voice was flat, almost casual, as though discussing the weather. "Yes, Mr. Johnston!" Isaac quickly turned and opened the door. But just as he stepped out, he collided with a woman coming the other way. He failed to watch his step before he nearly tripped over Virginia's wheelchair, which she had been rolling ahead of her. His leather shoes slammed against the metal floor, sending a sharp pain up his foot, making him bend down to clutch his aching foot. "Vir ... " Isaac began, but before he could finish, Virginia quickly shut the door to Lance's office and gestured for him not to speak. Isaac had no choice but to hold his mouth shut and balance on one foot, spinning around comically in an awkward dance. The soundproofing in Lance's office was excellent, and even though Virginia was standing right by the door, all she could make out were a few muffled words—Jordan Group, Dr. Daves, documents, and so on. But her intuition told her there was something going on. She pulled Isaac aside and asked, "Isaac, what exactly did Lance say in there?" Isaac looked uneasy. "Ms. Dolton, I can't tell you that." "You won't tell me? Fine. If you won't talk, I'll show this to Lance," Virginia said, shaking her phone in front of him. Isaac's face changed instantly when he saw the phone. Virginia smiled slyly, watching his expression change. "Still not talking?" ... Since delivering the experimental samples to the Fullers, the lab's focus had been on fixing the flaws and shortcomings of Acygine. Ryan was very considerate throughout his research, so the issues raised by the Fullers had been minimal—only small problems, which Ryan could handle on his own. Because of this, Addison hadn't visited the lab recently. Instead, she spent her days reading medical journals and filling out the notes for Ryan. Leon, on the other hand, had been in constant contact with event organizers, arranging various collaborations after he got off the call with Matthew. He was so busy that he couldn't even rest until late at night. Aside from her maid, Addison was alone at home, enjoying the peace and quiet. She had time to read, work on experiments, and sip her tea, all in a calm, contented state. "Ding-dong—"The doorbell rang, cutting into her peaceful thoughts. She wasn't pleased with the interruption. Addison frowned instinctively but didn't stop working. Rosa quickly stopped her task and dashed to the door. When it swung open, she found a man with sharp features and a stern expression standing in the doorway. "Sir, may I help you?" Rosa asked, not recognizing him.