The moment their eyes met, everything seemed to freeze. Time itself came to a halt, leaving only the reflection of each other in their dark, intense gazes. Inside, Addison's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, though her face remained calm and composed. Questions flooded her thoughts. How did Lance find this place? What brought him here? Has he discovered my true identity, or is something else happening? The questions piled up with no clear answers. Matthew had always valued peace, seeking quiet solitude. He preferred living in a secluded area, tending to gardens while gazing leisurely at the scenery. The Daves family had shared this mindset for generations, which was why they had chosen such a secluded spot to build the Daves Residence. The location had its advantages too—it was near Herbs Valley, a place filled with rare medicinal plants that the Daves could harvest whenever needed. But the real mystery was how Lance had managed to find this secret place. Only the Daves know the exact whereabouts of their residence. How on earth did he track it down? Addison couldn't make sense of it. "Is that Addison?" A soft, feminine voice suddenly broke the silence. "That really is Addison! What's she doing here?" Virginia's voice was full of surprise, but there was an edge of frustration hidden beneath her tone. Though she tried to sound cheerful, her eyes flashed with barely controlled annoyance. Watching the two of them stare at each other in silence was clearly making her uneasy. She feared that if she didn't speak up soon, Lance might move forward and approach Addison. Addison turned her gaze toward the voice and saw Virginia standing before her. Just moments ago, she had been so focused on Lance's unexpected arrival that she hadn't even noticed Virginia. Now, however, Addison raised an eyebrow, a small hint of amusement in her expression. So Virginia is here as well? Had it not been for Virginia's sudden comment, Addison might have completely overlooked her presence. But now, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to learn more about Virginia.It's almost as if the woman handed herself to me on a silver platter. What a lucky break! Addison couldn't suppress a soft chuckle to herself. Meanwhile, Virginia, who had caught Addison's gaze, felt an unexplainable unease. She wasn't sure what Addison was thinking, but instinctively, she stiffened and went into defensive mode. As soon as Addison's eyes met hers, Virginia reached out and grabbed Lance's arm, pulling herself close to him as if staking her claim. She lifted her chin defiantly, silently saying, I belong here, beside him. But before she could settle into her stance, Lance frowned and gently pushed her away. Without saying a word, he moved past her, walking straight toward Addison. "Hey, Lance, where are you going?" Virginia asked, panic creeping into her voice as she hurried to catch up. ... "What are you doing here?" Lance stood before Addison, his voice sharp with disbelief. Addison raised an eyebrow, her expression unbothered. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" "Why are you here?" he demanded, his frown deepening. Addison's calm response seemed to unsettle him, causing his face to tighten with irritation. He knew exactly why Addison was there. The place was so remote that without Virginia's help, he would never have found it. If he couldn't even find the place, then how could Addison have come here alone? It was clear now—Addison had intentionally followed them here. There was no other explanation. "You came to see me, didn't you?" Lance's voice dropped low, his eyebrow raised in a knowing challenge. It was more of a statement than a question. Lance had already made up his mind, but he asked the question anyway. He wanted to hear Addison say it out loud. He needed her to admit, with her own words, that she had come to see him. When Virginia heard the certainty in his voice, her expression shifted dramatically. Her face flickered with a mix of emotions before she finally settled into a look of surprise. She pressed a hand to her mouth, her voice sharp. "What? Addison's been following us this whole time? "How could this be?" she continued, a hint of disbelief in her tone. "Addison, if you wanted to come, you could've just told Lance. He would've brought you here. Why did you have to sneak around and follow us?" Virginia's words, though disguised as a suggestion, were laced with unmistakable sarcasm. "And from the airport to the Daves Residence is practically in the middle of nowhere. How did you even get here?" Virginia added, her face twisting into a look of mock sympathy. "You didn't drive yourself, did you? "If you did, it must've taken forever! Lance and I were on the plane nearly all night to get to Kreshill!" She glanced at All this, just to see Lance ... Addison, you really went through a lot." Addison watched as Virginia and Lance exchanged their banter, feeling a slight amusement. She gave a small nod, her lips curling into a cold smile that deepened as Lance continued to look at her."Why would I follow you?" Addison's voice remained steady, though it held an unmistakable sharpness. She wasn't stalking Lance; in fact, she was trying to avoid him, not follow him. Yet, here he was, accusing her of chasing after him. "What you're thinking, only you know," Lance replied, his eyes flickering to Addison's wrist with a look that carried unspoken meaning. As Addison moved absently, her sleeve slid down her arm, revealing a bracelet on her left wrist. The bracelet was made of shining white sapphires, catching the light and emitting a soft, enchanting glow that immediately caught the eye. It was stunning. And Lance had one just like it. The black sandalwood bracelet lying on the table at the Johnston Residence, subtly infused with a fragrant scent, was a matching pair to the white one on Addison's wrist. These two bracelets—one black, one white—were unmistakably a set for couples. Can anything be clearer than this? No, there can't be. Addison must have seen my black sandalwood bracelet at the Johnston Residence, then deliberately purchased the matching white one. Lance was certain she still had feelings for him; she was just too proud to admit it, holding on to her stubbornness. Addison followed his gaze to her wrist, seeing the white bracelet. She had picked it randomly from a box of trinkets Matthew had given her without giving it much thought. The only reason she wore it was because it complemented the elegant gown she was wearing. But a brief moment of confusion flickered in her mind. Is there anything wrong with the bracelet? Why is Lance staring at it so intently? "You—" Addison hesitated, about to speak, but Virginia immediately interrupted. She tugged at Lance's arm, her voice taking on a slightly whiny tone. "Lance! Didn't you say you were looking for someone? We should hurry and go into the Daves Residence to search. That's the most important thing right now." The more Lance and Addison spoke, the more Virginia's mind raced. Unable to stay quiet, she forced herself into the conversation, desperately trying to shift Lance's focus away from Addison.