"Of course, I'm serious," Matthew said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. A warm smile spread across his face as he continued, "This is a decision I made after careful consideration." Addison raised her eyebrows, momentarily at a loss for words. This absurd idea... came from careful consideration? This is the Daves' estate we're talking about! Even if she had to give it away, Addison would never let it go to Lance—especially with Virginia by his side. Once Virginia married into the Johnstons, it would be like handing over the Daves' entire fortune to her on a silver platter. There was no way Addison could allow that to happen. Matthew waved for Addison to come closer, and though reluctant, she eventually stepped forward. "Addy," Matthew began gently, taking her hand in his. His voice was soft, his tone kind. "I've been thinking. We've been too stubborn before, always trying to find the perfect husband so you wouldn't suffer after marriage."He sighed. "But we were wrong. We shouldn't have ignored your feelings and made decisions for you without asking." Addison opened her mouth, struggling to find the right words. If Matthew had been angry or insistent, she might've found it easier to respond. But now, his gentleness left her utterly disarmed. The softer his tone, the more guilt gnawed at her. Deep down, she knew this was all her fault. Years ago, she had been so determined to marry into the Johnstons that she had set these events into motion. Matthew and Leon weren't to blame at all. Matthew's gaze was steady as he said, "Since you love Lance and don't want to leave the Johnstons, I've been thinking about how to make it so you could still visit me often and spend more time with me." "So, I came up with this compromise." As his words sank in, Addison's eyebrows shot up. She couldn't help but scoff inwardly. This is completely unnecessary. After everything she'd been through, she would never hand over the Daves' assets to the Johnstons so easily.As for Matthew's assumption about her love for Lance, Addison wanted to explain, but after a moment's thought, she decided against it. It wasn't worth the effort. Any explanation would inevitably lead to questions about Harvey, and she wasn't ready to talk about him—not now, not with anyone. Reopening old wounds in front of everyone wasn't something she could bear. She didn't love Lance. And as far as their engagement was concerned, she was determined to end it. No matter the cost, the marriage had to end. Once the divorce was finalized, she'd move her lab to Kreshill and bring Ryan along. Kreshill had many renowned medical experts, and Ryan would have far better opportunities there than he ever could in Halton. At the same time, she could focus on running the lab and managing the Daves' estate, with more time to visit Matthew whenever she pleased. "Addy, what do you think?" Matthew's voice broke through her thoughts. "Do you like my suggestion?" he asked, smiling with evident pride as if his proposal were flawless.Addison hesitated, searching for the right words, but before she could respond, someone else jumped in. "I think it's great!" Leon chimed in enthusiastically, swinging his arms. "This way, I can see Addy all the time!" Sure, it meant he'd also have to put up with Lance, who he found insufferable. But the thought of seeing Addison frequently more than made up for it. "Get out of here!" Matthew snapped, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm asking Addy, not you." He turned back to her, expectant. "Well, Addy?" Addison stepped forward, her hands hanging at her sides. She opened her mouth but couldn't form a coherent response. Frustrated, she rubbed her aching temples. "I don't think this will work," she finally said. "There's no need to give the Daves' estate to the Johnstons ... " Matthew froze mid-motion, his hand still on his beard. For a moment, he seemed lost, unsure of how to react to her rejection. Does this mean Addy doesn't want to return to the Daves' estate to spend time with me?His shoulders slumped slightly, and a faint sigh escaped him. She is right ... Matthew knew he was getting on in years, and the thought of Addison always staying by his side seemed unrealistic. Young people these days preferred the company of their peers; it was rare to find a girl willing to spend her days at home with her grandfather. Lowering his head, Matthew fell silent. Addison noticed the change in his mood and quickly tried to reassure him. "Grandpa, don't worry. I'll make sure to carve out time to visit you often," she said earnestly. Once she moved to Kreshill, she'd have plenty of opportunities to do so. But her words sounded more like a placation than a promise to Matthew. Forcing a smile, he replied, "All right, I'll be waiting for you at home then." Addison could tell from his tone that he didn't truly believe her. He probably thought she was too preoccupied with Lance to spare time for the Daves Residence. Addison pressed her lips together to explain further, but no words came to her. Finally, she chose silence. She resolved to push forward with the divorce proceedings as quickly as possible, move to Kreshill, and use her actions to prove her sincerity to Matthew. Once Addison set her mind on something, she acted with efficiency. After leaving the sitting room, she immediately pulled out her phone and dialed Lance. She was determined to have a proper discussion about the divorce, no matter the cost. The line rang briefly before a mechanical voice answered, "The number you are trying to reach is currently busy. Please try again later." Addison frowned, wondering if her earlier blunt words at the door had angered Lance enough for him to block her number. ... Meanwhile, Virginia slowly regained consciousness. She blinked up at the stark white ceiling, her surroundings blurry and unfamiliar. It took a few moments of lying still before her vision cleared completely.Struggling, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, just as a doctor in a white coat happened to walk by. Noticing her movement, the doctor rushed to the door and shouted excitedly, "Ms. Dolton is awake! Go get Mr. Johnston—Ms. Dolton is awake!" Within moments, Lance came hurrying into the room. "Virginia, you're awake! Are you feeling all right? Is anything bothering you?" he asked, his voice full of concern. Virginia forced a weak smile. "I'm fine. There's nothing wrong." But as she looked at Lance's gentle expression, jealousy began to churn inside her. She couldn't stand that Addison was the one who had Lance's love. It wasn't fair. If she had met Lance first, he never would've fallen for someone like Addison. If only she had appeared in his life earlier, things wouldn't have turned out like this. "You scared me half to death when you fainted," Lance said with a relieved sigh. Seeing her awake eased the tension in his chest. "I don't know what happened ... I'm sorry for causing you trouble," Virginia murmured, her voice soft and frail. As she spoke, she started to lift the blanket, intending to get out of bed to apologize properly. "Stay put," Lance said firmly, pressing her back down. "You need to rest. I'll call the doctor to check on you again." Virginia obediently withdrew her hands and lay back down. When Lance left to find the doctor, she remained still for a while. But suddenly, her eyes widened in panic. Something was missing. Her talisman. Frantically, Virginia threw off the blanket and began searching. She felt around the sheets, under the pillows—everywhere—but it was nowhere to be found. Her face paled as dread washed over her.