Lana stood still, unsure of how to proceed. She couldn't figure out why Lance was hesitating outside the apartment. Ms. Dolton is inside, asleep. Isn't he planning to check on her—or at least go in and wake her up himself? That seems like something any couple would do. But Lana didn't dare ask. Lance's word was final, and her role was to follow orders without question. "Mr. Johnston, please wait here. I'll wake Ms. Dolton up," she said, her voice trembling slightly. She quickly made her way toward the bedroom, but after only a few steps, Lance's voice stopped her. "Wait." Lana turned around. "Does Virginia usually wake up at this hour?" Lance asked, his tone neutral as he rolled up his sleeve and glanced at his watch. The watch clearly read 12:00 p.m. "Uh ... well ... " Lana hesitated, caught off guard.If everything were normal, Ms. Dolton would usually be up by now. Had she told him she'd been getting up early lately? "I asked you a question," Lance pressed, his eyes locked onto hers, his gaze as still and deep as a calm lake. "U-uh ... " Lana stammered, the pressure of his stare making it hard to think. "No, no, Ms. Dolton was just really tired yesterday, so she slept in a little. "She usually gets up early," Lana added, nervously wiping her forehead with her sleeve. She struggled to keep her composure, but her discomfort was clear. Little did she realize that Lance noticed every small detail—the tension in her movements didn't go unnoticed. But instead of pressing her further, Lance simply nodded. "Go wake her up. Tell her to be ready to leave by 1:00 p.m." "Okay, I'll do that now!" Lana replied quickly, practically running toward the bedroom. Virginia was still in a deep sleep when the persistent knocking at the door startled her awake. She groaned in annoyance, her brow furrowing instinctively.How dare Lana wake me up! What's wrong with her? The knocking grew louder, more urgent. It sounded like whoever it was wouldn't stop until she was awake. With a frustrated sigh, Virginia dragged herself out of bed. Her irritation was clear as she walked to the door. "I told you not to wake me up! What's wrong with you?" she snapped as she opened the door. Lana jumped back, startled by the outburst. She quickly grabbed Virginia's sleeve, pointing toward the door. "Why are you grabbing me? Don't touch me!" Virginia growled, still half-asleep and fuming. She jerked her arm away, clearly irritated and barely awake. In her panic, Lana blurted out, "Mr. Johnston is here! He's right outside!" Mr. Johnston? Virginia froze, her mind struggling to catch up. Mr. Johnston ... She's talking about Lance?! The realization hit her, and her eyes widened in surprise. She turned toward the door.There he was—Lance, dressed in black from head to toe, standing silently at the entrance. His eyes were fixed on her, and although his face was unreadable, the intense focus in his gaze sent a chill down her spine. What is he doing here? How did he end up at my apartment? Virginia looked as if she'd seen a ghost. Without thinking, she slammed the door shut and rushed back into her bedroom. Great ... I haven't put on any makeup or washed up yet. My hair is a mess, and now Lance has seen me like this ... I was so rude to Lana earlier—did Lance hear all of that? Her carefully curated image shattered in an instant, and she groaned in frustration, tugging at her hair. "Ms. Dolton, Mr. Johnston says you need to pack and be ready to leave for Kreshill by 1:00 p.m.!" Lana's voice echoed through the door. One hour? Virginia frowned. It will take at least an hour to do my makeup, not to mention getting everything packed. How am I supposed to manage that in such a short time?For a moment, she thought about stalling, but as soon as she pictured Lance's stern expression, she knew that wasn't an option. An hour later, downstairs at the apartment complex. Virginia rushed down the stairs, her makeup still incomplete, breath coming in heavy gasps as she arrived at Lance's car, feeling flustered and out of sorts. The man was leaning casually against the car, a cigarette loosely hanging from his fingers, the tip flickering with the movement of each breath. His eyes were distant, staring into the horizon, lost in thought. When Virginia approached, he flicked the cigarette away with a subtle motion and raised an eyebrow. "You're here? Let's go." There were no pleasantries, no friendly words exchanged—just business, as if they were two colleagues heading out for a work trip, the air between them as cold and distant as ever. Is Lance angry? Virginia glanced at her phone. It was exactly 1:01 p.m. I was only a minute late—surely that's not enough to upset him, is it? Perhaps he was shocked by my bare face?But that doesn't seem likely ... She still felt confident about how she looked without makeup. While she might not have looked as polished as usual, it wasn't as if she looked unrecognizable. "Not going?" Lance's voice broke her thoughts, deeper now, with a hint of impatience. "I'm going, I'm going," she replied quickly, her attempt at maintaining elegance slipping away under the weight of his cold gaze. Once in the car, Virginia thought about explaining her earlier behavior, but Lance didn't even glance her way. Instead, he handed her a paper bag. "Eat something," he said. "You woke up so late, you probably haven't had breakfast." Virginia glanced down at the bag, which now rested on her lap. She bit her lip and fell silent. From her perspective, Lance's gesture seemed to be a way to silence her, to keep her from saying anything that might bother him. The discomfort in her chest deepened. ... At the Daves Residence in Kreshill, in the lush courtyard, Leon's face was full of concern. "Are you sure you don't want me to handle Georgina for you?" he asked, his expression serious. "I can handle it myself," Addison replied calmly, scooping a spoonful of oatmeal and bringing it gracefully to her mouth. "How will you handle it? You're such a kind-hearted girl. How will you deal with someone like Georgina?" Leon asked, his worry growing. He looked like a panicked ant scrambling on a hot surface. Addy is clearly unfamiliar with Ms. Hamilton. "You don't know ... Georgina is the spoiled princess of Kreshill! She's always causing trouble, making everything chaotic! "How could you deal with someone like her?" he asked. Addison remained unfazed, continuing to scoop more oatmeal and enjoying it. "This is delicious. Uncle Leon, would you like to try some?" "You ... " Leon was momentarily thrown off, almost forgetting what he was about to say. "Don't change the subject! We're talking about something serious here!" he insisted.Seeing that her attempt to steer the conversation off course had failed, Addison sighed and set down her spoon. "Uncle Leon, don't worry. I'll make sure Georgina gives a proper explanation." "Really? Leon asked, his voice filled with doubt. He couldn't shake the feeling that Addison, with her gentle nature, might just let Georgina off the hook. "Really," Addison said, her expression firm. She was a firm believer of staying in her lane—unless someone else was pushing her. She couldn't just sit back and do nothing. As that thought crossed her mind, Virginia's face suddenly flashed in her memory. "I need to ask you something," Addison said, her tone growing serious. Seeing her demeanor, Leon straightened, his voice matching her serious tone. "Go ahead." "Do you know a woman named Virginia Dolton?" "Virginia Dolton ... " Leon repeated, as if trying to place the name. It sounded familiar. "She claims to be with the Daves," Addison clarified, wanting to confirm whether Virginia was really involved with their organization. "With the Daves?" Leon's voice lifted in surprise. He thought for a moment, trying to recall if there had ever been anyone by that name. Is there someone like her in the Daves? As second-in-command, how could I not remember her?