Virginia's hands frantically searched beneath the blanket, desperately trying to find the cool, glimmering talisman. She combed through every inch—from left to right, front to back—but no matter how many times she turned over the blanket, the talisman was nowhere to be found. Where could it have gone? A flood of possibilities raced through her mind. Maybe she had lost it, maybe someone had picked it up, or maybe it had broken. But it absolutely couldn't be Lance who had found it. Under no circumstances could that talisman end up in Lance's hands. If he discovered that the talisman was a fake, her carefully constructed façade would crumble completely. Virginia had never seen the real talisman up close, but she knew one thing for certain—there was no mistaking the difference between a real one and a fake. If Lance noticed even the slightest flaw, her dream of marrying into wealth would be over.She'd lose everything she had worked so hard for, reduced once again to a forgotten member of the Daves family's insignificant branch, leading a life of loneliness and poverty. Frustrated, Virginia tore apart the bed in her search. When the blanket yielded no results, she threw it onto the floor in a fit of desperation, scouring every corner of the bed. Still, the talisman was nowhere to be found. Panic-stricken, she began to search the nearby table, the couch, the windowsill, the floor, even the wardrobe—anywhere the talisman might be. But it was all in vain. Virginia was on the verge of breaking down. Her gaze fell on the clothes she was wearing. They were different from the ones she'd had on earlier, meaning someone must have changed her. "Could the person who had changed her clothes have taken the talisman?" Just as she was about to rush out and find that person, the door swung open, and Lance walked in. "Virginia, what are you ... " Lance stopped mid-sentence, his eyes scanning the room. The chaotic scene before him was like a robbery had taken place. Virginia froze under his gaze, her embarrassment evident as she hurriedly picked up the blanket from the floor. "Lance, you're here ... " She forced a bright smile, trying to mask her anxiety. But Lance wasn't fooled. His expression remained neutral as he asked, "What are you looking for?" "What?" Virginia feigned ignorance, her heart racing wildly. Lance repeated the question, his voice firmer this time. "I asked you, what are you looking for? Answer me." There was no escape. The disarray in the room made it painfully obvious what she'd been up to. "I ... " Virginia's wide eyes betrayed her panic. She clasped her hands nervously, her temples throbbing. "I was just looking for the talisman ... It's missing, and I felt uneasy without it.""This one?" Lance held up the talisman seemingly out of nowhere. Its surface shimmered under the sunlight, the "Daves" inscription catching the light in a way that made it hard to miss. It was the very talisman she had been searching for. "How did you ... " Virginia's voice trembled, her face draining of color. The thing she feared most had come to pass. "Well, since you have it, could you return it to me?" she stammered, reaching out to take it. "Not so fast." Lance turned his hand, half-closing his palm around the talisman. Virginia's attempt to take it back was futile. "What's the problem?" she asked, feigning calm even as her heartbeat thundered in her chest. Her nerves were frayed to the breaking point. "Lance ... Is something wrong with it?" Virginia hesitated, withdrawing her hand. She knew she couldn't appear too eager, fearing that her desperation would only arouse Lance's suspicions. The room fell into a tense silence. Lance held the talisman tightly, his unwavering gaze fixed on Virginia. His sharp, probing eyes seemed to search for something, leaving her squirming under the pressure. His intense scrutiny made her feel like she was suffocating, yet she had no choice but to endure it. What was he looking for? Virginia wanted to demand an answer, but Lance remained silent, his eyes boring into her with an intensity that was impossible to ignore. Lance's naturally cold, piercing gaze could easily unnerve anyone, and when he became serious, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. The longer he stared at Virginia, the more panicked she became. The silence between them stretched into an unbearable tension. Finally, Virginia caved under the weight of his scrutiny, her voice trembling as she tried to break the ice. Half pleading and half fearful, she asked, "Lance, what's wrong? You're staring at me like that, not saying a word—it's terrifying. Could you stop looking at me like that?" She tugged at his sleeve, her expression pitiable."If you've done nothing wrong, why are you so scared?" Lance's tone was even, but his eyes remained severe. "I ... " Virginia stammered, scrambling for words. "I just ... " But no plausible excuse came to mind. In desperation, she squeezed her eyes shut and let her body go limp as if overwhelmed. "Lance, my head ... It's hurting again ... " She clutched her forehead, her face pale, and leaned weakly toward him. Instinctively, Lance caught her. "My head ... It really hurts ... " Virginia's voice was feeble as Lance helped her back to the bed and gently laid her down. "Don't worry, the doctor is on the way," Lance reassured her, his tone softening at the sight of her furrowed brows and apparent discomfort. He tucked the blanket around her, his voice calm but soothing. Hearing the gentleness in his voice, Virginia inwardly sighed in relief. "You rest here. I'll go check if the doctor has arrived," Lance said. "Okay." Virginia nodded obediently. Once Lance had left the room and his silhouette disappeared from view, Virginia's carefully maintained smile vanished. Her mind raced as she replayed his words and demeanor. Did he notice something suspicious about the talisman? The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that something had gone wrong while she was unconscious. Lance's behavior had changed subtly but significantly. Her hands clutched the blanket tightly as a sense of foreboding consumed her. Virginia wasn't just scared—she was terrified. Everything she had now felt like it was borrowed, and she clung to it desperately. Taking the talisman and passing it off as her own didn't trouble her conscience in the slightest. After all, Addison was the true heiress of the Daves family, with an unmatched status and no shortage of opportunities. Marrying Lance was hardly a necessity for someone like her. But for Virginia, a mere offshoot of the Daves family, marrying Lance was everything. It was her chance at survival, at escaping a life of insignificance. Addison had no right to blame her for that. "Virginia, the doctor's here," Lance's voice interrupted her spiraling thoughts. A man in a white coat, his face partially obscured by a mask, stepped into the room. Virginia immediately lay back down."Doctor, please check on her. She's been feeling unwell and fainted earlier this morning," Lance explained. "Of course," the doctor replied. "Ms. Dolton, please lie still." Virginia obediently closed her eyes, feigning frailty. After a few moments, the doctor completed his examination and set his tools aside. "How is she?" Lance asked. "There's nothing physically wrong with Ms. Dolton," the doctor replied. "Her body shows no abnormalities." Lance's expression darkened. He turned to Virginia, suspicion creeping into his eyes. "Doctor, are you sure you didn't miss something?" Virginia quickly interjected, her voice tinged with panic. "I really fainted earlier this morning ... " The doctor responded calmly, "You fainted due to extreme emotional distress. A surge in adrenaline caused by heightened stress levels led to your collapse." Lance's gaze grew even colder, his tone laden with doubt. "Extreme emotional distress?"He studied Virginia with sharp intensity. "This morning, when we were at the Daves Residence, nothing happened that could have upset you so much. Care to explain?"