The only place that seemed to have the "King Dragon Plant" was Kreshill's Herbs Valley. Could this herb have come from there? Who would send it to me? And how did they know exactly what I was working on? Is someone keeping tabs on me? Addison was puzzled. She pulled the herbs from the box and examined them closely. Raised in the Daves family, she had a deep understanding of various herbs, and these seemed pristine. Upon further inspection, their quality was exceptional. She raised an eyebrow. With such valuable herbs in her possession, she couldn't simply ignore the "generosity" of the sender. When something so precious lands in your lap, why not use it to create something new? As for who might be watching her, it was still unclear whether they were an ally or a threat. But if they meant her harm, she had the means to find out. She returned the herbs to their box and grabbed her phone to call her assistant. "Ryan, can you come by tomorrow? I've got some herbs to take to the lab." "Sure, Dr. Daves," Ryan replied. "Has the lab been finished yet? When can I visit?" Keith had arranged for a lab to be built for her in Halton, away from prying eyes. The sight of so many herbs made Addison eager to get started on her research. "It should be ready this week. As soon as the lab manager confirms, I'll let you know," Ryan answered. "Raven's drug development is hitting a snag. The company can't get a hold of Mr. Dean, and the vice president reached out, asking if you could come in to oversee the production. What do you think?" Ryan asked. Where has Keith disappeared to? I can't even reach him. Addison poured herself a glass of water while on the phone. How broken-hearted must he be? Keith wasn't the type to be so affected by a relationship, but she couldn't forget the awkwardness she'd felt when trying to call him earlier, only to be met with silence. Sighing, Addison said, "Alright, I'll make time to visit." She had intended to go ever since hearing about the situation at the conference. After all, she was still a part of Raven ... Meanwhile, Lance pulled up to the apartment entrance. Virginia reluctantly got out of the car, reaching for Lance, who was dressed in a sharp suit. "Lance, aren't you going to take a break? You're working too hard." Lance rubbed his eyes. "There's just so much happening at the company ... " Virginia stepped closer, her fingers gently tracing the fabric of his suit. "I don't want you to overwork yourself, Lance." Lance lowered his gaze slightly and pulled her into his arms, his tone calm, "The company's drug trials are facing some problems. As the CEO, I need to take care of these issues." Seeing that Lance wasn't budging, Virginia batted her long lashes and gazed at him with a soft voice, "I just want to spend more time with you. Can't you make this little wish come true?" After a pause, Lance finally relented. He looked at Virginia's pleading expression and sighed. "Fine ... come with me to the company." Virginia smiled brightly. "I promise I won't get in the way while you work." At the company building, Virginia followed Lance upstairs. This was her first time in the CEO's office. Seated at his desk, she rested her chin on her hand, watching Lance as he focused on his paperwork. His features were almost perfect—his face sculpted like a statue, brows furrowed as he concentrated. Virginia's gaze lingered on him, a thought forming in her mind. She stood up, made a cup of coffee, and carefully walked it over to his desk. But as she reached him, she fumbled, spilling the hot coffee onto her skirt. She gasped in surprise. Lance quickly stood and grabbed some paper towels to clean it up. "How clumsy can you be? Did it burn you?" "Lance, I didn't mean to! I just wanted to make you coffee, but I didn't hold the cup properly. Please don't be mad ... " Virginia shook her head. "I'm fine. I didn't get burned. The coffee had cooled down before I brought it to you." Although Lance couldn't tell if she was burned through her clothes, his concern was still evident. He stood and picked up the phone. "Call for a doctor to come right away." Virginia shook her head. "There's no need. I didn't burn myself, just ruined my clothes ... "Lance gently patted her head before picking up the phone again. "Send up a new dress. I'll text you the size." Not long after, the doctor arrived with a medical kit. She paused when she saw Virginia sitting in the chair but quickly regained her composure. After a quick examination, the doctor pulled out some ice cubes. "Mr. Johnston, Ms. Dolton is fine. There's no burn, just some redness. If you're concerned, you can apply the ice." Virginia nodded. "Thank you, Doctor. I told Lance there was nothing to worry about, but he insisted ... " She shot Lance a playful, reproachful look. Lance glanced at her, his expression cool. "Leave the clothes. You can go now." The doctor nodded and placed the clothes on the desk before leaving without a word. As she left, the doctor couldn't help but wonder, A woman who looks like Mrs. Johnston but isn't her caused such a commotion over a minor accident. Could this be Mr. Johnston's first love making a return? She had heard rumors about the wife being a stand-in, but she hadn't believed them. After all, how could someone as graceful and beautiful as Addison be a stand-in? But seeing how Lance treated Virginia, she began to reconsider. Virginia picked up the new dress and glanced at Lance, who was absorbed in his work. She turned and went into the break room. The sound of her changing clothes echoed through the room. In front of the full-length mirror, Virginia admired her reflection. Her long, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the short white dress showed off her fair legs, giving her an innocent yet captivating appearance. She stared at herself in the mirror before speaking, "Lance, I seem to have a problem. Could you come help me?" The door creaked open, and Lance stepped inside. He saw Virginia standing awkwardly in front of the mirror, her back exposed, her smooth skin glowing in the light. "Lance, could you help with the zipper? I can't reach it ... " Virginia's voice wavered slightly. Lance's cool fingers brushed against the fabric, pulling the zipper up slowly. As his hand grazed her sensitive back, the air between them grew tense. Virginia's heart steadied. Everything was falling into place ... just as she had planned. Without a second thought, she turned, closed her eyes, and pulled him toward her, kissing him without hesitation. But the sensation she expected didn't come.A knock at the door interrupted them. The zipper was fully closed, and Lance gently pushed her away. "Someone's here," he said in a low voice, a trace of irritation in his tone as if the moment had left him uneasy. Without another word, Lance turned and walked out, leaving Virginia standing there, momentarily stunned.