Virginia tensed in the man's embrace, his words hitting her like a heavy stone, causing ripples in the calm waters of her thoughts. She began to piece together the timeline, the fragments of the puzzle clicking into place one after the other. It was Addison who had saved Lance's life all those years ago. That moment had left a deep impression on him—Addison's warmth and clarity shone like the sun, and he had fallen for her instantly. But Addison, like a passing dream, had vanished without a trace. Lance spent years searching for her, and eventually, he found her again—only it wasn't Addison. It was Virginia, who wore a talisman identical to the one Addison had worn. With her striking resemblance to Addison, Lance had mistakenly believed that Virginia was the same person. Virginia shook her head in disbelief, trying to rid herself of the terrifying realization.She didn't want to think any further down this path. She couldn't accept the fact that Lance's love for her had been built on a misunderstanding—an illusion meant for Addison. She had always viewed Addison as little more than a stray dog, scavenging the scraps left behind by the Johnstons, pitifully begging for what little she could get. But now, she saw that it was she who had been the stray dog. My glossy, glamorous life was stolen from Addison ... Does that make me ... a thief? No ... Virginia's mind screamed in defiance, shaking her head violently. No, I'm not a thief. I can't be. She refused to accept it. The stubbornness inside her fought to defend her actions, to convince herself that this couldn't be true. Her palms grew clammy, and sweat beaded on her forehead, but Lance seemed oblivious to her internal struggle. "Virginia ... " Lance's voice was soft, yet filled with deep emotion. "If it weren't for you back then, I wouldn't be here today." He gently pulled away from her, placing his arm over her shoulder. His gaze locked onto hers, intense and sincere. "I'm so grateful for you," he continued, his voice full of warmth. "Grateful to the heavens for giving me a second chance to meet you." Virginia stared at him in a daze, her mind spinning out of control. She couldn't even process his words, her ears ringing with the weight of what he had just said. "Grateful for me ... ?" she whispered, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips. If only Addison had left her name behind, if Lance had seen the girl's face, if I hadn't found the fake talisman, if Lance had met Addison first ... So many "what ifs" ... Any one of those could have changed everything. If even a single one had occurred, Lance would never have fallen for me. The truth was simple: she had just been incredibly fortunate. All the possibilities that could have led Lance to recognize Addison had never happened. If one of them had, the outcome would have been entirely different. But somehow, it seemed like fate had purposely steered those chances away, giving her this rare opportunity. That was how Virginia had gone from being an unknown, struggling member of the Daves' side branch to being seen as the future daughter-in-law of the prestigious Johnstons, wealthy and admired. Lance had opened the gates of his heart, pouring everything out to her. But in that moment, Virginia felt as though she might collapse. Her breathing grew shallow, and the weight of the truth felt unbearable. Her chest tightened, a sharp pain stabbing through her like a nail driven deep into her heart. It felt as though blood was rushing out of her, an endless flow that couldn't be stopped. The more Lance spoke, the deeper that nail sank, and the faster the blood poured. Before her, the man seemed to blur into a mere shadow. Virginia, in her daze, felt a sudden rush of heat and dizziness, her blood pressure spiking.Unable to keep herself upright, her vision blurred and her body gave way. "Virginia!" Lance's voice was sharp with panic. He reacted instantly, catching her just in time before she collapsed. The talisman she had been holding slipped from her hand, and Lance reached out instinctively to grab it. But with Virginia still limp in his arms, he couldn't extend his hand far enough. Helplessly, he watched as the talisman fell to the ground. In that moment, he made a choice—Virginia over the talisman. The sound of the talisman hitting the floor was a sharp, clear echo, and Lance felt his heart skip. But there was no time to worry about the talisman. He quickly scooped Virginia up, hurrying to get her into the car. Once she was safely inside, he pulled out his phone and dialed his personal doctor's number. "Send someone to Kreshill Airport right now. Virginia's collapsed. She needs immediate medical attention." His voice was calm but urgent. After giving the instructions, Lance glanced at the talisman lying on the floor.To his surprise, it hadn't shattered. Instead, it lay perfectly still, reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling shine. For a moment, he felt a sense of relief. The talisman was important to him, and the idea of it being damaged was something he couldn't bear. But then a thought crept into his mind. How is it still intact? It fell from a great height, yet it didn't break. Is the talisman made from some exceptionally strong material? Lance crouched down slowly, his eyes focused on the talisman. Carefully, he picked it up. ... Addison rushed toward the guestroom at the Daves Residence, her heart racing. Even before entering, she could hear the sounds of broken dishes and raised voices from inside. Her pulse quickened as she hurried her steps, hoping to stop the chaos before it escalated. But just as she was about to reach the door, a voice called out to her. "Addy! I'm here!"Addison froze. She turned to see Leon stepping out from behind a pillar. Surprised, she asked, "Uncle Leon ... why are you standing out here? "Why aren't you inside?" she asked, worry in her tone. Leon looked worn out, his clothes disheveled and his face exhausted, as though he'd just endured a battle. He waved her off dismissively. "Don't even ask. Your grandfather's in there, throwing things around and yelling. I couldn't take it anymore. If I stayed much longer, I think he'd tear me apart." He paused, a sigh escaping his lips. "I figured I'd step outside, get some air, and avoid getting chewed out any further." Addison blinked in disbelief. Is Grandpa really that upset? He thought I returned to Halton without informing him. Is it worth making such a fuss over? "I'm so glad you're here. Come on, let's go in," Leon said, taking her arm. He didn't wait for a response, quickly guiding her toward the guestroom. Addison reluctantly followed, the tension in the air palpable."Dad, Dad, look who's here!" Leon's voice rang out as soon as they entered. Matthew barely glanced up, his face filled with frustration. "I don't care who's here. I just want Addy. "If Addy isn't here, then don't bother coming back!" he snapped. "She's here! I told you she hadn't left! Look!" Leon shot back, pointing to Addison. At the sound of her name, Matthew's eyes shifted toward her. His gaze softened in recognition. "Addy ... " he murmured in disbelief. "Is it really you?" He staggered toward her, his hands trembling as he reached out, his voice quivering with emotion. "Grandpa, it's me," Addison said gently, her voice full of sincerity. "I'm here." Matthew's eyes filled with tears of joy as he gazed at her. "I thought you'd gone off to Halton without telling anyone. I was starting to get worried." Feeling a bit shy, Addison scratched her head. "Grandpa, I just went out for a while. After being away from Kreshill for so many years, I wanted to reconnect with the city and its people ... "She smiled warmly, her hand placed over her heart. "Don't worry. I'm not a child anymore. I would never leave without saying something."