Addison's sharp hearing caught the words before she could stop herself. "Looking for someone?" "Yes," Virginia responded, her chin raised with a smug expression. "Lance and I are here to find someone at the Daves Residence." She placed extra emphasis on "Lance and I," as though she feared Addison might not catch it. Addison's brows furrowed at the sound of Virginia's response, her mind swirling with questions. Lance is here to search for someone? Who could possibly be important enough to warrant a visit from him to the Daves Residence? Who could be so significant that Lance would fly all the way from Halton, travel thousands of miles, and endure an overnight flight to Kreshill? Despite all the things about Lance that bothered her, Addison couldn't ignore his dedication to his work. When he committed to something, he worked tirelessly, often for days without taking a break to eat or drink, fully consumed by the task at hand.He had given everything to the Johnstons' family business, putting in countless hours and working around the clock. Even when she stayed at the Johnstons' house, it wasn't unusual for Lance to be working into the late hours before returning home. And now ... Lance had dropped everything and come to Kreshill. Such a trip would undoubtedly take up a significant amount of time, no matter the reason. Is he really willing to be away from his company for so long? Doesn't he worry about what might go wrong while he's gone? Addison's curiosity deepened. She couldn't help but wonder who they were looking for. But Virginia, ever observant, didn't miss the slightest change in Addison's expression. Seeing the confusion on her face, Virginia's excitement grew. She gasped dramatically. "Addison, you didn't know about this? "I thought Lance would have told you by now. "After all, Lance went to the hospital this morning to check on you. He was so worried about you. I figured he would've told you everything!"But I guess he doesn't really care. He was probably enchanted for a second, and it's nothing serious. Her voice was laced with a layer of subtle mockery. "The hospital?" Addison froze, her mind racing. Lance went to the hospital to see me? I can't remember seeing him there. Turning to him, she asked, "You went to the hospital to find me?" The question caught Lance off guard, and his expression hardened. Memories of that humiliating and frustrating day rushed back, overwhelming him in an instant. He had gone to the hospital, like a fool, searching for her. But what had happened? She had silently transferred to another hospital, leaving him stranded and feeling utterly foolish. No woman had ever treated him like this before, and his pride wouldn't let him admit it. "No. "Why would I look for you?" Lance scoffed, his face twisted in contempt. His voice dripped with sarcasm, as if the idea itself was laughable. Then, he added coldly, "You must be daydreaming."Addison was left speechless, stunned by his harsh words. I'm daydreaming? The sting of his words hit her like a slap, leaving her reeling. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to hold back the surge of anger welling up inside her. I simply asked a casual question about what Virginia said—whether he went to the hospital to see me. How has it turned into me "daydreaming"? So, to Lance, every word and gesture I make is just an attempt to get his attention? "Lance, didn't you go see Addison? I'm sure you did," Virginia chimed in, adding fuel to the fire. "Didn't you forget? That morning, we were at the hotel ... " Virginia trailed off, a slight flush creeping onto her cheeks as she shifted uncomfortably. Seeing her squirm at the mention of the hotel, Addison quickly looked away, disgusted by Virginia's pretentious act. Virginia's coyness made it painfully clear that she was trying to emphasize her own closeness with Lance. "In the hotel that morning, I woke up and didn't see you in bed. Weren't you at the hospital with Addison?" Virginia shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Addison with a look of smug satisfaction in her eyes. She placed extra emphasis on "the hotel," clearly trying to suggest that she and Lance had spent the night together, hoping to stir up jealousy in Addison. However, Addison didn't react at all. Her face remained blank, as if she hadn't even heard Virginia's insinuation. In fact, there was a subtle look of disdain on Addison's face, as though she was silently judging Virginia. Virginia's brow furrowed. This wasn't the reaction she had expected. She had made her point clear, yet Addison remained unfazed. Surprised by Addison's calm demeanor, Virginia raised an eyebrow, almost impressed. "You're mistaken," Lance interjected abruptly, his expression darkening. Virginia, not sensing the sharpness in his voice, was about to speak again when Lance's voice suddenly rang out, commanding and firm. "I said no! Are you questioning me?" The words struck Virginia like a slap, freezing her in place. She could feel the sudden tension in the air, and when she looked into Lance's cold, dangerous eyes, she realized she had gone too far. Without another word, she fell silent, her expression uneasy. "Fine, so you didn't. No need to yell," she muttered, a little rattled by his intensity. Lance's face hardened even more, and without acknowledging her any further, he turned and made his way toward the towering doors of the Daves Residence. He had no interest in entertaining Virginia any longer. Feeling stung by his response, Virginia quickly followed, her steps faltering as she wondered what had just happened. Is it possible that Lance doesn't want Addison to know he went to the hospital? The thought made her pause, blinking in surprise. What could have happened between them? As they approached the gates of the Daves Residence, Virginia finally allowed herself to fully take in the scale of the estate. The towering bronze gates stood before them, imposing and magnificent. The grandeur of the entrance made her feel small, and a shiver of apprehension ran down her spine.She even gulped, thinking about the past. She had visited this place as a child, but standing here now, it felt more intimidating than ever. I just came here on my own. Will the Daves brush me off? After all, I'm just from a side branch, and they might very well ignore me. Virginia was about to give up. Right then, Lance turned to her with a sharp look. "Knock?" After all, they were at the Daves' Residence, and they should be respectful. Hence, Lance figured it would be appropriate for Virgina to knock on the door. Virginia snapped out of her thoughts. "Uh ... do you mean we should knock?" Lance studied her for a moment, sensing her unease. "What's wrong?" "Nothing, nothing," Virginia stammered, quickly trying to regain her composure. Her hands were trembling as she reached up to knock on the door, but the sound that followed was barely audible. Lance was unsure if the door was too thick or if she hadn't knocked hard enough. She tried again, but the second knock was just as faint. Lance's patience wore thin. He stepped forward, brushing past her, and with a firm motion, he knocked loudly on the door. The sound of the forceful thud echoed through the air, breaking the silence. Both of them stood still, holding their breath. Not far off, Addison stood with her arms crossed, her face unreadable as she observed them. It had been years since anyone had dared to knock on the Daves Residence's door. Seeing Virginia and Lance do so was almost unbelievable, as if taken from a storybook. Addison's gaze lingered, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. This was a rare scene, and whether Matthew would actually let them in was uncertain. After all, the Daves Residence wasn't a place where just anyone could waltz in. It was no tourist attraction. As the echo of the knock faded, a heavy silence hung in the air. Lance knocked again, and then once more, until at last, faint footsteps could be heard coming from within the mansion.Virginia inhaled sharply when she heard the footsteps, trying to steady her nerves. She could feel the anxiety rising, but she forced herself to stay focused. Calm down, she thought to herself. You're part of the side branch—don't be nervous. Stand tall. While the side branch of the Daves family isn't particularly important, I still have blood ties to them. Surely, they won't turn me away so easily.