Addison stood at the edge of the crowd, her expression calm and detached as she took in the scene around her. She had positioned herself near the entrance, where guests were coming in. Despite her understated outfit and the slightly out-of-the-way spot she had chosen, nothing could hide her presence—her elegance and striking beauty were impossible to ignore. Though the guests hurried past, distracted by the event, they couldn't help but be drawn to her. Rather than staring openly, they tried to take in her appearance from the corner of their eyes. "Who is this woman? I've never seen her before," a well-dressed man whispered to his companion. The woman beside him glanced at Addison, a flicker of jealousy in her gaze. "I don't know her either. She must be from some small town, here for the medical symposium," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. The woman prided herself on knowing all the prominent figures in the room, but this woman was a mystery. If someone as beautiful as Addison had ever crossed her path, she would have remembered. But she didn't recognize her at all. Her beauty was undeniably captivating, but the woman couldn't help but wonder if she had somehow snuck in with a fake invitation or, worse, had crashed the event. The thought gave her some comfort. But before she could relax fully, she noticed her companion's gaze fixed intently on Addison. His eyes were so focused that it seemed like he could hardly tear himself away. If she wasn't standing right there, he would probably have approached that woman already. Fuming with frustration, she grabbed his arm, pulling him away. "Let's go," she snapped. Reluctantly, the man followed her. Addison remained completely unaware of the attention she was attracting. Her focus was solely on the glass of wine in her hand. An assortment of drinks, each in delicate glasses that sparkled in the dazzling lights, lined the table in front of her. The air around her was thick with the rich scent of wine, and she savored each sip with a quiet pleasure. She had no idea how much time had passed when she finally lifted her head and glanced toward the door. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar figure. Lance, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, was walking through the entrance. His tall, lean figure was striking, but there was something different about him tonight. He politely handed his invitation to the usher and made his way into the room, but he didn't rush in like the other guests. His jaw was clenched, his eyes scanning the room nervously. Addison raised an eyebrow. Normally, Lance was the center of attention in any room he entered, surrounded by flattery, with people clamoring to get his attention. Perhaps it was because he was so used to the flattery of those around him, but he carried himself with an air of immense dignity and arrogance." But tonight, he seemed more reserved, almost as if he were trying to shrink back from the spotlight. His usual confident, almost arrogant demeanor had all but disappeared. Even his walk was quicker than normal, as though he couldn't get away fast enough. Addison couldn't help but find this new side of Lance amusing. Before she could observe further, a woman's voice called out in a high-pitched tone. "Lance, don't walk so fast." Virginia appeared, dressed in a couture gown, with a deep red flower pinned to her chest, her makeup meticulously applied, and her hair styled to perfection. She had clearly gone to extraordinary lengths to dress for the occasion. Addison's gaze remained cold as she watched Virginia's frantic movements. The woman gripped her dress tightly, a clear look of desperation in her expression. The scene felt strangely familiar. The last time at a grand party at the Johnston Residence, Virginia had arrived similarly dressed; only then, she had been walking in with Lance, arm in arm, basking in the admiring gazes of everyone around.That day, she had looked poised and confident. But now, it seemed like everything had shifted. How had Virginia fallen so far? And how could Lance bear to watch her chase after him so pathetically? Addison smirked. This was becoming more interesting by the minute. Virginia had spent a small fortune on the couture gown she wore today for the high-profile event. She knew her lack of status meant she didn't truly belong at such an event, and she had even begged Georgina for an invitation. There were all sorts of influential people here. Virginia knew she had to rely on the expensive gown to give her any sense of confidence among the other prominent figures in the room. Without it, no one would have paid her any attention. However, the gown, though extravagant, was cumbersome with a long train that dragged on the floor, making it difficult for her to move. Meanwhile, Lance was walking at a pace far too fast for her to keep up with. She tugged at her dress with one hand, trying to catch up, while reaching out with the other to pull him back, but he didn't seem to hear her calls. Frustrated, she shouted louder, "Lance! Wait for me!" The people around them were trying to continue their own conversations, but hearing someone shout in such an elegant setting only served to annoy them. Lance, of course, noticed. He turned his head slightly, a flicker of discomfort flashing across his face. In the past, whenever Addison was around, none of this would happen. She would have known exactly how to behave in such a setting. She understood social etiquette—what could and couldn't be done—and how to carry herself with grace and dignity. Addison, at least, would have known that an event like this required a more understated appearance. She would never have worn a dress as extravagant as Virginia's, especially not with such a long train. Virginia, on the other hand, stood out for all the wrong reasons, drawing even more unwanted attention.Lance's expression grew darker. But Virginia didn't seem to notice. She kept calling his name. "Lance! Lance!" The irritation from the other guests became more apparent. Some even hissed in annoyance, clearly about to lose their patience. Lance's discomfort grew. Unable to ignore it any longer, he furrowed his brows, a look of frustration and disdain crossing his face. He had no choice but to stop. Finally, Virginia smiled, stepping toward him with a triumphant air. "Lance, let me walk with you." She reached for his arm, but as soon as she saw his disgusted expression, her hand froze. She couldn't understand why he looked so irritated. With a resigned sigh, she withdrew her hand and quietly stood next to him. Only then did Lance's expression return to something calmer, and he continued walking, albeit reluctantly. The internal venue was even more extravagant than the outer one, filled with powerful figures from the medical field and the high society of Kreshill. As they entered, countless eyes turned to them. Virginia, not used to such scrutiny, looked nervous and almost tripped over her own feet. Lance's face grew even darker. Thankfully, he was quick enough to steady her before she could embarrass herself further. If only Addison had been here, things would have gone differently. She would have known exactly how to handle herself in such a situation.