The moment Virginia laid eyes on Addison, her expression immediately darkened. Addison noticed the cold stare from Virginia, but she remained unfazed, her face unchanged as she calmly observed the situation. With an almost absent-minded grace, Addison gently lifted her wine glass, her long, pale fingers curling around the stem. She raised the glass in a silent, playful toast toward Virginia from across the room. The soft lighting and her sleek black dress made her smile appear both captivating and slightly mischievous. Virginia's face flushed with even more frustration. What is Addison trying to express? That look, that gesture—was she really trying to provoke me? A rush of anger bubbled up inside Virginia. Is Addison really bold enough to act like this after just a few days? Her teeth clenched as she fought the urge to snap, but then she paused. They were in a public setting, and Georgina was standing right beside her. She needed to maintain her composure—she couldn't afford to lose face. So, Virginia forced herself to look away, deliberately ignoring Addison. Addison, on the other hand, watched Virginia's face twist in irritation, noticing that her expression darkened further. If looks could kill, Addison thought, Virginia would've struck her down right then and there. Addison blinked innocently, her eyes full of playful curiosity. My greeting isn't bad, is it? Yet Virginia's reaction is so harsh. Addison sighed quietly. It was clear now—Virginia had no intention of pretending to be polite. The animosity was real, and it was growing. Not that Addison cared. She didn't like Virginia either. As long as Virginia didn't make a scene, Addison could treat her like any other stranger in the crowd. With that in mind, Addison took another sip of her drink, unbothered by the storm brewing in Virginia's mind. Meanwhile, Georgina, standing beside Virginia, followed her gaze and spotted Addison. Unlike Virginia, Georgina didn't show much reaction. She simply raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.She didn't have any personal issues with Addison. Any tension between them was simply a result of Virginia's feelings. Virginia had once claimed that Addison had schemed to steal Lance away and had done everything in her power to harm others. Georgina wasn't entirely sure what to believe. Coming from a wealthy family, Georgina had been shielded from much of the world's darker sides, but she wasn't naive. She didn't believe everything she heard, especially without solid proof. So, Virginia's accusations didn't hold much weight in Georgina's mind. But ... Georgina studied Addison thoughtfully, her gaze lingering. There's no smoke without fire, they say. If Virginia felt so strongly about Addison, there had to be a reason behind it. If Addison hadn't done something to deserve it, why would Virginia be so hostile? Nothing in life was ever as simple as it seemed. Georgina shifted her gaze back to Addison but then quickly turned her attention elsewhere, noticing that Virginia was still standing there, lost in thought. "Ms. Dolton ... ?" Georgina's voice was soft, tinged with confusion. She lowered her gaze to study Virginia, who was still absent-mindedly glancing at Addison. "Ms. Dolton?" Georgina waved her hand in front of Virginia's face, and after a beat, Virginia blinked, snapping back to reality. "Huh? What?" Virginia blinked, looking momentarily disoriented. Georgina raised an eyebrow, her voice steady. "It's nothing. I just saw you zoning out for a second, so I thought I'd check on you." "Ah ... zoning out?" Virginia said with a slight flush, clearly embarrassed that she hadn't realized how distracted she had been. Whenever Addison was around, it was like Virginia lost control of her emotions. She didn't understand why it happened, but it always seemed to throw her off balance. "Yeah ... I called your name a couple of times, and you didn't hear me," Georgina said gently but firmly.Virginia gave an awkward smile, her cheeks turning pink. "I didn't even notice. Sorry about that." She quickly tried to shake off the awkward moment, pulling Georgina's arm gently. "Look, there's someone from a pharmaceutical company over there. I'm curious to see what they have. Let's go check it out." Georgina nodded, though there was a thoughtful look in her eyes. She could tell that something was off with Virginia, but she didn't press the issue. "Alright," she said simply. Everyone had their own struggles, and it wasn't her place to dig into Virginia's personal feelings. Virginia led the way toward the center of the room, where the most notable pharmaceutical companies had set up their booths. A crowd had already gathered, discussing the latest developments. Virginia tugged on Georgina's arm, eager to get closer, but when she looked back, she noticed Georgina had stayed still. "Is something wrong?" Virginia asked, puzzled. Realizing she might have been a bit too forceful, she immediately released Georgina's arm, her tone softening. "Sorry! I didn't mean to pull you along. Let's go take a look—there must be something worth seeing with all these people gathered around." Though Virginia wasn't an expert in pharmaceuticals, she figured it wouldn't hurt to learn a little more, especially if she were to take over her family's business one day. Georgina, however, frowned slightly, clearly uncomfortable. Noticing this, Virginia asked, "Ms. Hamilton ... are you okay?" "I think I'll pass on going in," Georgina replied, shaking her head gently. Her voice was calm, but there was something in her tone that made Virginia uneasy. Had she done something wrong? Right now, Georgina was the only person she could truly count on. If she could stay close and keep her support, with Georgina's influence in the capital, she'd have the kind of power to move freely through both Halton and Kreshill with ease. So, she had to treat Georgina with the utmost respect, making sure she never showed the slightest hint of displeasure. "It's nothing," Georgina answered, stepping back slightly. "It's just a bit crowded, and the air in there feels stuffy. I'll wait here." Virginia caught the faint hint of distaste in Georgina's expression. "Well, I won't go in either," Virginia said firmly, offering a reassuring smile. "You should go," Georgina urged. "I'll stay out here." Her father had practically insisted she attend this conference, even though she had no real interest in the medical field. The research and studies being presented went right over her head, leaving her completely lost. To Georgina, the event—despite drawing so many research institutes—was nothing more than a tedious and meaningless affair. "No, I'm staying with you," Virginia insisted. "I can't leave you out here alone! "Anyway, I came with Lance to find the Daves' renowned doctor, so it's fine if we skip all this." "Really?" Georgina asked, clearly doubtful. Virginia had been so eager just moments ago—now it seemed hard to believe she didn't want to go. Moreover, as Lance's girlfriend, Virginia should have some knowledge of medicine herself. After all, there was no medical professional in the world who would pass up the opportunity to take a look at such advanced techniques. "Really! Let's go," Virginia said brightly. "I saw some of your favorite pastries on the table earlier. Let's grab one for you!" Georgina let herself be led away, her expression softening. Maybe this was what it felt like to have a friend. It was a new feeling for Georgina—one she wasn't entirely used to.