The Replacement He Never Wanted
Leon kept his eyes fixed on Addison, not once diverting his gaze. Tension radiated from him, his body stiff with concern. Lance, with his long strides, effortlessly pulled ahead. His height and athleticism made it easy for him to move quickly, even while holding Addison. He didn't seem affected at all by the weight of her body. His strong, well-toned muscles, built through regular exercise, carried her without slowing him down. Leon, in contrast, was struggling. As a doctor, he was used to long hours on his feet, but his body wasn't in peak condition. His days were a blur of hospital management and research. He found himself having to jog just to keep up. He noticed, though, that Lance's pace was slowing. Curiosity mixed with frustration. Why was Lance suddenly moving so slowly? Leon briefly tore his gaze away from Addison and looked at Lance. Lance's expression was tight. His jaw clenched, eyes focused on something in the distance, clearly deep in thought. How could Lance not be fully focused on Addison right now? Didn't he realize how serious her condition was? If it was a simple fever, Leon would have had no problem. A few medications would do the trick. But a high fever could be deadly. It could lead to brain damage, seizures, or even a coma if not treated fast enough. Even worse, it could cause severe conditions like acidosis or alkalosis, putting Addison's life in immediate danger. Since confirming Addison was in Lance's arms, Leon hadn't looked away. She hadn't moved at all, silent and still. She was likely unconscious. The situation was getting critical. Frustration bubbled inside Leon. Without thinking, he reached out and slapped Lance's shoulder. The sound of the impact was sharp, loud enough to show the force behind it. Lance didn't flinch. His face remained unreadable. Leon's voice cut through the silence. "What are you doing? Get a move on! "If anything happens to her, I'll make sure you pay for it," he added, his voice cold, stripped of the usual warmth. Lance blinked and looked down at Addison, his thoughts returning to the moment. Without a word, he picked up his pace, walking briskly now, almost jogging. Leon followed close behind, still tense and anxious. The crowd at the event couldn't help but gossip. "Who's that woman in his arms?" One person, clearly thinking, remarked, "With all those bodyguards following them, could that be the person the Daves are after?" His words triggered a shift in the others, and they murmured in agreement, "That makes sense." Georgina had just returned from the restroom when she overheard the conversation. They already found her? She blinked in surprise and turned toward the crowd, trying to see what they were looking at. The bodyguards blocked her view, preventing her from identifying the person in front. Annoyed, Georgina decided to follow them. She had to confirm whether the Daves had located Addison. Her heels clicked sharply on the floor as she pushed toward the bodyguards. She weaved through the crowd of guests, her expression tense. But the farther she went, the more people crowded in, as though they were multiplying. "So annoying. "How many guests were there? "Was the Daves' healer truly that famous? "Could so many Kreshillian's come here for this?"She muttered to herself as she shoved her way through the crowd. Finally, after much effort, she saw a man through the sea of bodyguards. Lance? Her mind went blank. Why was Lance here? Was he holding Addison? How did he know where she was? Had Leon found Addison and Lance offered to carry her? If that's true, the guy's colder than ice. He'd barely shown interest in his own girlfriend, yet now he was eager to hold another woman? Georgina's brow furrowed. She quickened her steps, desperate to see more clearly. But by the time she got closer, Lance had already placed Addison in the car, with Leon in his white coat following right behind. Their figures disappeared inside. The bodyguards formed a tight perimeter around the car, blocking anyone from approaching.Georgina had no choice but to turn and make her way back to the hall. She walked slowly, deep in thought. Had she seen correctly? Was she mistaken? It really had been Lance. In her distracted state, she collided with Virginia, who was walking in the opposite direction. Virginia's eyes were red and swollen, her face pale as though she had been crying. "Ms. Dolton?" Georgina glanced at Virginia, noticing her tear-streaked face and the pale color draining from her skin. She could already guess what had caused it. Only someone like Lance could have had that effect on her. "Ms. Dolton, have you been crying?" Virginia turned to face her, and with a quick shake of her head, she replied in a voice that wavered, "No." Georgina didn't buy it for a second."You're lying. You've been crying." Virginia shook her head again, trying to hide the evidence, but Georgina wasn't fooled. She wanted the attention off her, so she quickly changed the subject. "It's ... They found Addison. He did. Lance did." Georgina nodded. "Yeah, I saw that. "But how did Lance know where Addison was?" Virginia frowned and shook her head again. "I don't know. "The real issue now is that Addison is safe, but you still haven't turned yourself in ... "When Addison wakes up, she'll definitely tell the Daves everything. "What if they believe her? What if they come after you? "What will you do, Ms. Hamilton?" Virginia's voice was filled with genuine concern. It was clear she was worried about Georgina.Georgina froze, the weight of Virginia's words sinking in. She'd been too caught up in her anger toward Lance to think about the consequences of Addison waking up and talking. "I ... " Georgina hesitated, anxiety creeping in. Virginia seemed lost in thought, trying to figure out a way out of the mess. Since Lance had found Addison, he might know something that could expose everything Virginia had done. Though it was unlikely, it was better to be safe than sorry. The best move now would be for Georgina to take the fall for everything. If she confessed, no one would dig deeper. That way, Virginia could stay out of trouble, and no one would suspect she was behind it all. Suddenly, an idea struck Virginia. "Why don't you go now?" Georgina blinked, confused. "Huh?"Go now? "And do what? Turn myself in?" Virginia nodded, her expression firm and determined. "Precisely. "Go turn yourself in now! "Before Addison wakes up, everything can still be fixed. "If you go now and say it was all an accident, the Daves might forgive you." Virginia spoke quickly, gently pushing Georgina forward. Georgina, reluctant but unsure of her options, started to walk.
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