Surrounded by a range of gazes—some curious, some gleeful at her misfortune, others mocking, condescending, or indifferent—Virginia could feel their eyes on her like arrows. Each stare pierced through her, and she felt as if there were thorns pricking at her back. Isaac stood beside her, his face a picture of awkwardness. After all, he had once been a close confidant of Virginia at the company, always by her side, running errands for her. Back then, Virginia was at the height of her popularity, deeply favored by the CEO. Naturally, this made Isaac feel superior too. There were countless people in the office who envied him for being in Virginia's good graces, and for a while, he basked in the glory of it all. But now, Virginia had lost that favor. Even when she came to the office, the CEO wouldn't spare her a glance. When Virginia was looked down upon, Isaac was dragged down with her. They had already become like two peas in a pod—when one thrived, the other did, and when one faltered, the other did as well. Though the eyes around them were focused on Virginia, Isaac felt as though they were all staring at him instead. "Lance," Virginia called, but there was no answer. She steeled herself and kept banging on the door again. She couldn't leave like this, not without facing him. If she did, wouldn't it confirm that Lance had abandoned her? She couldn't bear the thought of being the subject of ridicule by the employees. Virginia would never allow that to happen. She was going to be his wife, after all! And more than that, she was going to become the mistress of this company. How could she let herself be belittled before these people? With this resolve, she knocked harder on the door. Yet, there was no sound from inside. Frustration and disappointment began to creep into her heart as she knocked again, her hope waning. She couldn't just stand here and resign herself to her fate. If Lance didn't open the door, she would have to find another way. Virginia turned to Isaac, hoping to get his help. Isaac, noticing her gaze, quickly turned away, pretending to focus on his unfinished work, acting as if he hadn't seen her. He had no intention of getting involved in this drama between Virginia and his boss. But he was a beat too slow. Virginia had already noticed his actions. A cold smile curved on her lips. Now he was eager to distance himself from her. How ungrateful. Even if she was going down, she would drag someone down with her. "Isaac, can you help me?" She called out, making sure her voice was loud enough for everyone around them to hear. Isaac pretended not to hear, his eyes glued to the folder in his hands as he flipped through it quickly, looking busy. "Isaac? Did you hear me calling you?" Virginia raised her voice even louder. Now, all eyes were on Isaac, and the once-awkward attention shifted to him. He could no longer pretend he hadn't heard her. Isaac twitched his lips in discomfort, forcing a stiff smile. "Huh?" he asked, feigning confusion and pointing to himself. "Ms. Dolton, were you calling me?" Virginia couldn't help but laugh at his ridiculous display, though the amusement didn't quite reach her eyes. "Who else could I be calling?" she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She waved her hand at him, signaling for him to come over. Isaac, though still wearing a nervous smile, saw the hidden malice in her eyes. Her smile seemed too fake, concealing a deep threat beneath it.He shuddered involuntarily, feeling a chill run down his spine. Swallowing his discomfort, he walked toward her. As he approached, Virginia finally looked away and stepped aside to let him pass. Without waiting for her to speak, he quickly knocked on the CEO's office door. "Boss, I have some documents that need your signature," Isaac said, trying to keep his voice steady. He couldn't let his boss suspect that he had created this excuse just to get the door opened for Virginia—if that was the case, he would surely regret it. After about half a minute, there was still no response. Virginia was beginning to think Lance wouldn't open the door when suddenly, the cold voice of the man on the other side rang out. "Come in." Isaac hurriedly entered, clutching a stack of papers. He stole a glance at Lance, checking for any sign of displeasure before turning back to Virginia, silently signaling her to enter. Virginia stepped in as well. Lance was sitting at his desk, his sharp nose adorned with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He looked up briefly; the cold demeanor softened into something more refined, even somewhat cultured. "Mr. Johnston, here are the documents that need your signature," Isaac said, placing the papers on the desk and nudging them toward the man. "Mm, just leave them there," Lance said, barely glancing up, clearly focused on his work. After some time, Lance seemed to grow tired. He lifted his head and stretched his neck before removing his glasses, revealing his sharp, dark eyes. His gaze flickered to the desk in front of him, and he frowned when he noticed someone standing there. "Why haven't you left yet?" he asked, thinking Isaac was still lingering after delivering the papers. Virginia stepped forward, calling his name in a soft, almost pleading voice. "Lance ... " His expression immediately changed, his face hardening.Without a word, he grabbed his phone and dialed Isaac's number. "Take her away," he said curtly. "No, no, please," Virginia quickly protested, her voice rising in desperation. "Lance, don't be so heartless." Lance was unmoved. The next moment, Virginia reached into her bag, pulling out two invitation cards and tossing them onto the desk. Lance's hand froze mid-motion. The air in the room seemed to still. "These invitation cards?" Surprise laced Lance's voice. ... A few days later, in Preigh. The Medical Symposium was held in the heart of Preigh, surrounded by the bustling city center, with the city hall to the east and a picturesque river to the west. The venue was prime real estate, located in a highly sought-after area. Inside the venue, Addison stood in a simple yet elegant black evening gown. The hem of her skirt featured intricate lacework, with subtle floral patterns woven into the fabric. Despite its understated style, the dress exuded quiet luxury. She draped a white fur shawl over her shoulders, and a pearl necklace adorned her neck, adding to her air of sophistication and grace. The room buzzed with activity, filled with well-dressed people chatting and moving about. But Addison stood apart from the crowd, holding a glass of wine and observing from the sidelines. The lively atmosphere around her seemed distant, and she seemed almost out of place in the midst of it all. She had intentionally chosen a low-profile black dress, retreating to a corner where she was nearly invisible to others. Yet, she found joy in solitude. Addison wasn't here because she wanted to be. She had only come because she couldn't refuse Leon's command. Despite her reluctance, she obeyed Leon's order to attend this gala.Spending her days in the lab, immersed in research, had shaped her preference for quiet and solitude. Over the past three years as Lance's wife, she had attended countless such events, always wearing a mask and navigating through crowds of people. She had grown weary of this lifestyle.