Addison disappeared behind the grand bronze door, her silhouette vanishing from view. The bodyguard bent down briefly to guide her a few steps, then turned to shut the door with a firm motion. He cast a glance at both Lance and Virginia, the look in his eyes unreadable. Though his gaze remained emotionless, the coldness was enough to make Virginia feel small, like she was being silently judged and discarded. It was as if she could almost sense the contempt in his eyes. "Leave, both of you," he said, tossing the words over his shoulder before closing the door without a second thought. When the door slammed shut, a heavy weight seemed to fall on Virginia's chest. It was as though all her strength had vanished, and for a moment, she felt like she might collapse right there. Addison's unexpected behavior had left her stunned, her mind struggling to process everything.The humiliation she felt from Addison's actions was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before, and Virginia couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in a haze. She turned her gaze to Lance. He was still standing, his eyes fixed on the closed door as though it held his attention entirely. His stare was unyielding, not moving an inch, even though the door had been shut for a long while. Virginia couldn't help but frown, her lips pressed together in a tight line. Lance had always shown interest in Addison, and now, with Addison pulling a move like this, it was clear that she had him even more firmly under her control. "Lance ... since Addison won't help the Johnstons, what should we do next?" she asked, trying to bring him back to the situation at hand, but Lance didn't respond. Instead, he lowered his eyes and pulled his phone from his suit pocket, his fingers tapping rapidly on the screen as he searched for something. He found the contact he wanted and dialed. Virginia watched in disbelief, feeling completely ignored. How long will I have to grovel? Am I not supposed to be treated with at least a little respect? With a deep sigh, she finally gathered herself and rose from the floor. The pain was immediate—her skin had reddened, the marks obvious as if she had been down there for hours, not just moments. Still, Lance didn't spare a glance her way. He held the phone to his ear, his expression tense as he waited for the call to connect. Virginia could hear the irritation in his footsteps as he paced. She knew he was on edge, barely holding it together. He might very well toss the phone in his hand at any time. The whole situation, from Addison's unexpected behavior to the mystery surrounding her identity, had been too much for Lance to process. Who really is Addison? What secret connections does she have with the Daves family from Kreshill? What else is she hiding from me? Lance thought he had a handle on Addison, but each new twist seemed to push them farther apart, making him question everything he'd believed. The unpredictability of it all made him more curious, yet at the same time, it was maddening.Luckily, the person on the other end of the line picked up quickly, giving Lance a momentary break from his growing frustration. "Mr. Johnston? Why are you calling all of a sudden? Is something wrong?" Isaac's voice came through the line, slightly shaky. Isaac had been enjoying a rare moment of relaxation in his office. Lance had been away in Kreshill for days, and the staff had finally gotten a break from the usual hectic pace. They were happy with the change, although it might not last long. Isaac had been lounging back in his chair when the phone rang. The moment he saw "Mr. Johnston" on the screen, he jumped to his feet, his posture suddenly stiff and alert. In a heartbeat, he was no longer relaxed but tense, his voice betraying the nervousness he felt. "Mr. Johnston ... is there anything you need me to do?" he asked. He stood near the desk, holding his breath, waiting for a response. Lance pressed his lips together, his voice sharp and direct. "I asked you to look into Addison, didn't I?"Isaac nodded, though confusion flickered in his eyes. "Yes ... but why are you bringing it up now, Mr. Johnston?" Lance's gaze didn't waver. "What did you find out?" Lance was known for his attention to detail, and he never left things to chance. Three years ago, when Addison first entered his life, he had sent Isaac to investigate her background right away. The Johnstons never allowed anyone into their circle without knowing everything about them. At the time, Isaac had assured him that Addison was simply an orphan with no connections or suspicious ties. That had been enough to put Lance's concerns to rest, and he went ahead with marrying her. "I did look into Ms. Daves' past thoroughly," Isaac said, sensing the tension in Lance's voice. "There was nothing unusual." He could feel that something bad was coming, judging by Lance's tone. "Is there something wrong with Ms. Daves?" Right then, Lance's expression darkened. "Do you know what happened today? The Daves family from Kreshill welcomed her into their home ... right in front of me. Do you know what that means?" Isaac felt the weight of Lance's words. He knew the power and influence of the Daves family from Kreshill—he wasn't naïve. But hearing that they had personally welcomed Addison into their residence? That was something entirely different. For a moment, he stood frozen, unable to process the implications. Addison had been hiding something far deeper than anyone had imagined. If he had known about this, Isaac realized, he wouldn't have wasted so much time trying to align himself with Virginia. He should have backed Addison from the start. If Addison truly had the Daves family behind her, then what did Virginia matter? Nothing at all. Addison's favor would be worth more than all the loyalty he had shown Virginia. Isaac's chest tightened with regret, the overwhelming feeling nearly bringing him to tears. "I ... " Isaac stammered, trying to explain himself."Mr. Johnston ... please, I really did investigate everything," Isaac pleaded. "But there was nothing to uncover. If there's blame, it's on Ms. Daves for hiding it so well." How could anyone have guessed that a woman from an orphanage was tied to the prestigious Daves family? Isaac would never have believed it if Lance hadn't confirmed it. Lance listened silently to Isaac's desperate attempt to justify himself, his face cold and unreadable. Then, in a voice as chilling as the winter air, he spat out two words. "Investigate it. "Find out everything about her. Dig deep—find out who Addison really is." Isaac understood immediately. This was Lance's way of giving him a chance to make things right. "If you can't uncover anything, gather your things and leave my office." "Understood ... " Isaac didn't even get the chance to respond further before the call ended abruptly, leaving nothing but the tone of the dial tone echoing in his ear. Shaken, he quickly turned back to his task, determined to uncover Addison's secrets. ... Lance hung up the phone and turned, only to bump into Virginia, who had stepped forward. The sudden collision made her take a step back. Though irritated, Lance still kept his gentlemanly attitude and instinctively muttered, "Sorry, didn't see you there." Virginia smiled sweetly, brushing it off. "It's alright, no harm done. "Lance ... do you think Addison is connected to the Daves family? The way that bodyguard was acting around her, I almost thought Addison was the great Ms. Daves herself." Her words seemed casual, but Lance could sense the underlying intention. As soon as she spoke, it was as if a light went off in her head. Wait ... Something that she had just said casually suddenly gave her an idea. The phrase "Ms. Daves" lingered in her mind. Suddenly, Virginia recalled the "fake" talisman she was wearing on her waist. It looked exactly like the talisman she had seen around Addison. It clicked. The talisman can only belong to someone from the Daves family. Everyone from the family is aware of it. Only the great Ms. Daves, the true heiress, would wear that talisman. The realization hit her hard.