Each strike against the door echoed with increasing volume, the sound bouncing off the walls of the Daves Residence and carrying over the surrounding hills. The rhythmic pounding startled a group of birds perched nearby, sending them into the air in a flurry of feathers. The chaotic sound of the birds' sudden flight added to the sense of unrest, and for a brief moment, the scene was filled with raw energy. Virginia, clearly caught in her emotions, didn't seem to tire. Her arms moved with relentless power, and each knock seemed to fuel her anger. Her face was set in a grimace of determination, her hands slamming into the door as though it were the only outlet for her mounting frustration. With every strike, her fury intensified, her body almost shaking with the effort as she gritted her teeth. The thuds of the door reverberated, matching the sharpness of Virginia's emotions. The louder the sound grew, the more her expression contorted with rage. Behind her, Lance stood stiffly, his usual calm demeanor now replaced with a look of growing tension. Even though he couldn't see her expression, he felt like something about this didn't sit right. Virginia hadn't knocked with such force earlier. Just moments ago, she had seemed fragile, almost delicate, as though she couldn't even manage something simple like opening a bottle. But now, the sound of her blows was deafening—powerful, angry, and nothing like the fragile woman from earlier. Her knocking now was more intense than anything Lance had done himself. Lance's eyes narrowed as the pieces began to fall into place. A bitter, cynical smile crept onto his lips. Has Virginia been pretending the whole time? So Virginia isn't as fragile as she appears—she's just been pretending? A subtle, almost amused smile appeared on the man's face, full of bitter irony and self-mockery. Addison had been right behind Virginia as they knocked on the door together, but Virginia's strength was so intense that each thud seemed to shake the door to its core, drowning out Addison's voice completely. Taken aback by Virginia's wild outburst, Addison gradually lowered her hand, unsure how to react.Where on earth did Virginia find this much power? Is all of this really necessary for just a necklace? If someone didn't know better, they'd swear Virginia had a personal grudge against the door itself—especially against the Daves' door. Addison stared in surprise as Virginia's forceful movements continued. She couldn't help but shake her head, at a loss for words. If she hadn't known the door was made of sturdy material, she might have been worried about its safety with all that force. But as it stood, she wasn't concerned—it was practically indestructible. Still, there was some benefit to Virginia venting her frustration by banging on the door. At the very least, the intensity of the noise was enough to probably send all the birds flying off the mountainside. If that didn't grab the Daves' attention, nothing would. Sure enough, within moments, the sound of footsteps echoed from inside the house. The noise grew louder as it approached, signaling that someone was finally on their way. Addison couldn't help but smile. "Ms. Dolton," she said casually, "How about another bet?" She was quickly losing interest in the previous wager over the bracelet. Virginia's bracelet was worth maybe one to two million dollars—nowhere near the value of the white sapphire bracelet Addison wore, which was far more expensive. Winning that kind of bet didn't appeal to her. Virginia froze, her motion interrupted by Addison's sudden suggestion. She had been so caught up in her anger that she hadn't realized how drained she felt until now. As soon as her arms stopped moving, the exhaustion hit her, and she rubbed at her sore muscles. A sly grin formed on her face as she asked, "You want to bet again?" Addison nodded without hesitation. Virginia thought, She's already bound to lose, yet she wants to bet more. She's really overestimated herself. The more Virginia underestimated her, the better for Addison. After all, who wouldn't want an easy win? "What's the bet, then?" Virginia asked, her tone dripping with confidence. She stood with a sense of superiority, sure she was in control. Addison watched her carefully, taking in her stance and attitude. After a moment, she raised an eyebrow, considering the situation. If we are going to wager, it needs to be over something truly valuable, something that would make the stakes worth the effort. Virginia's most prized possession ... Addison took a moment to study her. It didn't take long to figure it out. Only one thing about Virginia truly stood out, and it wasn't her clothes or her accessories. It was her pure, flawless face. Addison's gaze narrowed as her eyes slowly moved across Virginia's flawless, pale cheek, a cryptic look on her face that sent a sudden chill down Virginia's spine. Virginia hesitated, her fingers brushing her own perfect skin as she asked, "You're not planning on damaging my face, are you?" If she were to ruin my face—one that resembles a flawless image of "first love"—it would certainly boost her position and take her out of the shadow of just being a stand-in. This must be Addison's plan all along! Virginia's anger flared. She wasn't going to let Addison win.Without missing a beat, she snapped, "Addison, I'm serious—don't even think about it. I'm not gambling my face with you." Addison blinked in surprise. "I haven't even told you what I want to bet on yet, Ms. Dolton. You're overreacting. Are you afraid of losing?" Virginia laughed bitterly. "Lose? How could I lose? "Even if you stood outside the Daves Residence all day, you still wouldn't get in. Do you really think I'd lose?" "Oh? Is that so?" Addison raised an eyebrow, her expression amused, studying Virginia carefully before her lips curved into a grin. "Since you're so sure of yourself, Ms. Dolton, I'll just hold off on saying more." After a long, evaluating stare, Addison noticed Lance standing behind Virginia. Their eyes locked—Addison's sharp and knowing, while Lance's gaze remained cold, though something flickered in his narrowed eyes. Addison raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. Could it be ... Lance is the most significant person in Virginia's life right now?After all, isn't Virginia's main goal to marry into the Johnstons and join high society? Betting on that would be fun, wouldn't it? Suddenly, a thought crossed Addison's mind. She smiled mischievously, snapping her fingers. "How about this, Ms. Dolton? If you lose the bet, you leave Lance. What do you say?" Virginia's lips curled into a smile, but it was laced with mockery. "I know exactly what you want—you want me to leave Lance. But you didn't have to be so blunt about it. "You should be more subtle with your schemes. Saying it so openly just makes you look silly." To Virginia, Addison might as well have "I'm a fool" written across her face. "I don't care if you think I look foolish. "Now, are we going to bet, or not?" Addison pressed, her voice steady and sure. Virginia listened to Addison's confident tone, her mind whirring. This bet seemed like an easy win for her. Why not take the chance to get Addison to back off from Lance once and for all?Her expression hardened as her voice took on a firm edge. "I'm in. "And if you lose, you leave Halton—forever. Never show yourself around Lance again." Addison didn't hesitate. "Fine." As soon as the words left her mouth, the large door of the Daves Residence swung open behind them. A bodyguard in a suit stepped out, his heavy footsteps sounding as he planted himself in front of them. With a gruff voice, he asked, "Who's knocking?" Without wasting a moment, Virginia shoved Addison in front of the bodyguard. "She did! She's the one who knocked! "She wanted to come in and take a look!" Virginia acted quickly, almost as though she feared Addison might back out. After all, when Addison had been knocking, her body had been trembling, and it was clear she had second thoughts. Virginia couldn't believe that Addison wouldn't be intimidated by the imposing Daves Residence. She was certain Addison was terrified deep down.The bodyguard glanced down at Addison. "You knocked?" Addison gave a cool nod. "Yeah. "I was in a hurry and forgot my key. Thanks for opening the door for me." Her words were casual, but the underlying tone was unsettling.