The hallway outside the operating room was always heavy with silence. Since it was a VIP surgical room, the corridor was unnervingly quiet. The pale walls and hospital beds seemed to stretch endlessly. The sterile space was filled only with cold, metallic equipment, their blueish shadows casting over the floor beneath the harsh lighting. Lance sat, his face tense, under the cold lights. In his mind, he saw her lying on the bed. Her hair messy, face flushed, lips parted. He swallowed, trying to push away the unease. The combination of sensory overload and the crushing uncertainty left him restless, trapped in a fog of confusion. Would Addison be alright? He couldn't answer, but one thing was certain—he didn't want to lose her. Not in a million years. Across from him, Leon sat with his hands pressed together, his fingers locked.He muttered under his breath. "Gods bless us, gods protect her. May her be blessed. Give her providence ... " His words echoed down the empty hallway. Lance looked at him, surprised. I didn't think doctors believed in gods. The thought struck him as odd. He shook his head, half-amused, and curled his lip in a mocking smile. He never believed in gods. Or any higher power, for that matter. Especially not when people prayed like their souls were possessed, making gestures as if trying to carve something from their hearts. It disgusted him. But Leon didn't notice the smirk. He remained completely focused on his prayer. He sat rigidly, his back straight, repeating the word 'Angel' as if it held deep meaning. It was as if the gods stood right there, ready to intervene.As if his devotion would make the gods save Addison. Seconds passed, one by one. Lance's smile faded slowly. The cynicism vanished. Could belief really spread like that? For reasons he didn't fully understand, Lance felt an odd shift. A strange, almost absurd thought crossed his mind. What if, for just a moment, praying could work? Before he realized it, he found himself whispering a prayer, the words slipping out before he could stop them. If gods do exist, please bless Addison. May her get through this surgery smoothly. I'll pay for the blessing. ... It was difficult to tell how much time had passed before the light in the operating room finally went out.A doctor, wearing a white coat, removed his blue mask and walked slowly out of the room. Both Leon and Lance stood up at the same time, as if on instinct. They moved forward, almost competing to reach the doctor. "How did it go?" The question came from both of them, their voices overlapping in perfect unison. Both men were surprised. Leon shot Lance a quick, disapproving glance. Now you're concerned? Have you forgotten how you treated her before? Lance, however, paid him no mind. His gaze remained fixed on the doctor, watching for any change in the man's expression. "How did the surgery go?" Lance appeared tense, his face tight, clearly waiting for the news. It had been a long time since Lance had been this nervous. Even during his company's crisis, he hadn't felt this kind of tension. The doctor didn't waste any time. "The surgery was very successful. Please don't worry, Mr. Johnston," he said. "We always give our best when it comes to your patients. We'll fight to keep them from death, no matter what. "Wait just a moment. The nurse will take the patient to the VIP room soon." Lance's racing heart finally settled. He felt a heavy weight lift from his chest. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady but filled with relief. The doctor waved him off. "Don't mention it. It's an honor to serve you, Mr. Johnston. It's an honor for the hospital as well." Lance seemed to remember something. He leaned in slightly, speaking quietly to the doctor. "Please tell the director that the contract between Central Hospital and Johnston Enterprise for this year can go straight to my office." The doctor caught the underlying message. His eyes lit up immediately.He quickly bent at the waist, almost overdoing the gesture, his gratitude clear. "Thank you, Mr. Johnston!" Lance's face returned to its usual, unreadable expression. "Well, Mr. Johnston, I'll take my leave now?" the doctor asked, still beaming with excitement. Lance waved him off, signaling for him to go. Once the doctor was gone, Lance turned toward Addison, but froze in his tracks. Leon was standing beside her, holding her hand tightly, walking slowly along with the bed. The nurse pushed the bed ahead, her pace quick and steady, while Leon kept right behind her, matching every step. It felt as if he couldn't bear being any farther from Addison. Lance's gaze hardened. A sense of irritation crept over him. The sight in front of him was almost unbearable. What bothered him most was what Leon was doing.How dare he hold her hand like that? Did he think it was acceptable to take advantage of someone just because they were unconscious? And a man of his age—still making advances on a lady young enough to be his daughter? Lance gritted his teeth, anger tightening inside him. Without giving it a second thought, he stepped forward, making his way toward Leon. "Could you step aside?" His tone was sharp, demanding. Leon looked up at him, clearly puzzled. "Why?" There was plenty of space beside him. Lance could easily pass through without any trouble. Why should he move? "If you want to go through, just walk around me," Leon said, but Lance shook his head. "You're blocking the nurse. She needs to push the bed," he said briskly. "Move aside." Before Leon could respond, Lance shifted his body, forcing his way between the two, and pulled Addison's hand from Leon's grasp.Leon froze, stunned. He looked up at Lance, disbelief written all over his face. Lance didn't even acknowledge him. He simply nodded toward Addison's hand, now free from the unwanted grip. With that man's hand gone, the situation felt a lot more tolerable. "You're really rude, you know that?" Leon finally snapped. "Rude?" Lance turned his head, meeting Leon's eyes. "You're the one holding a young woman's hand. "That's ruder, don't you think?" Leon opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was Addison's uncle, after all. What was wrong with holding her hand? Could Lance really be jealous of that? In Leon's mind, a man who got jealous so easily had to be insecure.And those who let jealousy control them? Even worse. He wondered if Lance would start getting jealous of anyone who got close to Addison—maybe even her grandfather. The thought made him uneasy. With a sigh, Leon thought, How could Angel deal with a man so filled with jealousy? Poor girl. Just as he was about to speak again, he saw that Lance had already taken the bed from the nurse and was now pushing Addison into the VIP room. For a brief moment, Lance's careful, serious demeanor made him seem like a good husband.