The sound of footsteps grew louder as they approached the towering bronze gates, and Virginia felt a tight knot form in her chest with each passing moment. It was as if her heart had lodged itself in her throat, choking her. In sharp contrast, Lance stood impassively beside her, his face unreadable, showing no hint of nervousness. His demeanor was cold, and the difference between him and Virginia couldn't have been more obvious. As they stood waiting for the door to open, Lance suddenly turned his head, as if an idea had just occurred to him. He glanced over at Addison, who was standing a short distance away, observing them. Addison raised an eyebrow and a slight smile played at the edges of her lips, her expression tinged with mockery, as though she found the situation amusing. But as soon as Lance's eyes met hers, the smile vanished. Addison quickly restored her neutral, unreadable expression, though Lance had already noticed the subtle change. A furrow appeared on his brow in response.What is that about? Is she really enjoying our discomfort? Lance's thoughts shifted to Steven, whose life was hanging by a thread. Without a Divine Healer, there was no hope for him. They had traveled from Halton to Kreshill in desperation, seeking help for him. And here was Addison, standing by, almost savoring their struggle. How could she be so callous? His face darkened, and he clenched his jaw, barely containing his anger. He couldn't understand what went on in Addison's mind. Without warning, Lance snapped and motioned for Addison to come over. Addison blinked in confusion. "Are you talking about me?" His patience was wearing thin, and he nodded sharply, his voice low and tense. He didn't have the time or inclination to repeat himself. But Addison stood her ground. Why should I obey his command? I'm not a servant to be summoned on a whim, like some errand girl for the Johnstons. She wasn't naive. If she approached the door, the Daves' servants would surely recognize her, and if they addressed her as "Ms. Daves," everything would be exposed. She wasn't about to fall into that trap. Addison shook her head calmly, deliberately defying him. Lance's anger flared, his gaze narrowing, sending a chill that could scare anyone. This woman... she's becoming more audacious by the second. Their eyes locked, and in that brief moment, Addison quickly looked away, avoiding his penetrating stare that felt like it could pierce right through her. Lance had a way of making her feel guilty even when she hadn't done anything wrong. That look alone sent her heart racing with an unfamiliar sense of unease. Luckily, the tension was broken when the sound of the large door creaking open cut through the silence. Lance's attention shifted toward the door, and Addison breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She stepped back slightly, putting some distance between herself and them. The heavy bronze door groaned as it slowly opened, the rush of air making Virginia instinctively take a step back.Lance raised his eyes and met the gaze of two towering men who stood in the entrance. Both were large, their presence formidable and intimidating. But there was something unexpected about them. Despite their size, their aura wasn't one of brute force. Instead, they exuded a calm, almost scholarly energy, as if they were men of intellect and wisdom rather than muscle. "Good day, gentlemen," Virginia said, her voice soft and polite. She gave them a respectful nod, lowering her head just slightly, trying to convey both her deference and her sincerity. However, one of the men, Luca Daves, didn't acknowledge her. He simply stared ahead, his voice businesslike and impersonal. "Who are you here to see?" The Daves' residence was hidden away in a remote area, and its location wasn't known to many. It had been years since anyone had come knocking at their door. The Daves family no longer had a dedicated doorman. If these two men hadn't been passing by after leaving the pharmacy, Virginia and Lance might have been left standing there for hours with no one to answer them."Well ... we've come from Halton, and we need to speak with the Divine Healer," Virginia explained, her voice filled with humility. She almost bowed her head to the ground, desperate to show how sincere she was. "Divine Healer?" Luca muttered, his fingers absently tapping his chin as he repeated the words quietly. Virginia nodded eagerly, trying to reassure him. "Yes, the internationally recognized Divine Healer. We need to speak with him about an urgent matter." Luca furrowed his brows, his confusion clear. "The Daves don't have a Divine Healer," he said slowly. I'm part of the Daves, and I've never heard of such a person. Where did they even hear about this? Virginia was taken aback by his response. "Wait, the Daves don't have a Divine Healer?" she asked, feeling a bit unsettled. "That can't be right. There should be one," she continued, a note of disbelief in her voice. She had assumed the two men were just trying to dismiss her, lying to send them away. With growing frustration, she tugged on Lance's sleeve, silently urging him to speak.Lance calmly brushed her hand away and spoke evenly, "We're looking for the doctor who attended the Preigh conference recently." "Ah, the Preigh conference ... " Luca muttered again, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Preigh ... when was that again? "Wait ... I remember now," he said suddenly, his face lighting up as if an idea had clicked into place. Virginia leaned forward, her eyes wide with hope. "You remember?" "The last time someone attended the conference ... " Luca said, trailing off as the realization hit him. It was Matthew. He wondered why they were looking for him. His face shifted instantly, his expression becoming serious and guarded. "Do you have an invitation?" Luca's voice was now sharp, his earlier calmness gone, replaced by a colder tone. "Without an invitation, no outsiders can enter." "Invitation?" Virginia frowned, confused. She had never heard of needing an invitation to visit the Daves. "I'm sorry, we don't have one," Lance said firmly, his gaze locking with Luca's. "Then you need to leave," Luca said bluntly. Without hesitation, he reached for the door, ready to close it. "Hey, wait!" Virginia quickly stepped forward, positioning herself in front of the door. "Please, just a moment." Luca's brow furrowed. How could this woman be so persistent? I already said no, yet she's still blocking my way. "I'm from the Daves' side branch, Virginia. I also have blood ties to the Daves. Please, could you make an exception and let us in?" Virginia's voice was gentle, sweet like a spring breeze, as she smiled. Her eyes shimmered with a hint of charm, and there was a trace of melancholy that made her seem delicate and captivating. This was her strength—she was confident in her beauty, knowing that any man would soften under her gaze. But Luca's expression didn't change. Had he met her before Addison returned to the Daves, he might have spared her a second look.But he had already encountered Addison just days ago, and compared to her, this woman's beauty couldn't even compare. Once you've seen the best, others just didn't measure up. "No," Luca replied coldly, his voice firm, with no sign of hesitation or compassion. Virginia's smile faltered, freezing in place. She asked, her voice tinged with frustration, "Not even for side branch members? "But the Daves have always been about loyalty and family, right? How can you turn away one of your own?" Luca didn't respond. He simply lowered his gaze and repeated in the same detached tone, "Please leave." His words made it clear there would be no room for negotiation.