Addison set down her utensils and looked up at William as he continued apologizing. He went on at length, repeating himself, saying much the same thing—apologies on behalf of Georgina. Addison sat quietly, listening without interruption. When William finished, he downed the entire glass of wine as a gesture of sincerity. "I'll drink this as a way of making amends for Georgina," he said. The empty glass landed with a soft thud on the table, the sound lingering in the silence. Addison raised an eyebrow. Out of politeness, she intended to stand, pour herself a glass of water, and offer a return gesture to acknowledge William's apology. But just as she moved, a calm, steady voice stopped her. "Addy, stay seated. There's no need for that." Startled, Addison glanced at Leon. Leon gave Addison a subtle look, signaling her to calmly accept the apology.This was a matter where the Hamiltons were at fault, and Addison still needed to carefully consider whether to accept the apology or not. There was no need for her to stand up and respond personally. "Mr. William, we've already acknowledged your apology." "However, since this situation was caused by Georgina, I think it would be better if she offered the apology." Leon's composed demeanor didn't waver as he spoke, his long, elegant fingers wrapped around a simple tea cup. The faint aroma of green tea wafted through the room as he lightly ran his thumb over the cup's coarse texture. His tone carried an undeniable authority. Addison was momentarily taken aback. She had always seen Leon as easygoing, approachable, even soft-spoken. She hadn't expected him to exude such commanding presence. William, upon hearing Leon's words, fell silent. "Addy, what do you think?" Leon turned to Addison, his tone as gentle as ever. It was clear to anyone paying attention that Leon wasn't satisfied with the Hamiltons' approach. He believed Georgina should apologize in person rather than relying on William to step in on her behalf. To Leon, a sincere apology required Georgina herself to make amends. The decision was left to Addison, yet she hesitated, biting her lip lightly in thought. If she were honest with herself, William had gone to considerable lengths by setting aside his pride to personally visit the Daves Residence and apologize for Georgina. As her elder, he had done more than enough to take responsibility. But as the one at fault, Georgina's absence spoke volumes. She hadn't even shown her face, making her attitude clear. Addison sat silently, offering no response. She already understood Leon's intentions. Even if she were to accept the apology, Leon would insist on Georgina coming in person. Her stance, in truth, didn't matter. Leon would take care of everything for her, shielding her and ensuring that Georgina learned a lesson. This wasn't just about making amends—it was about teaching Georgina a valuable lesson and ensuring she wouldn't dare provoke Addison again. As Leon studied Addison, a wave of admiration washed over him. Addison had always kept a low profile. Despite her striking beauty, remarkable talents, and extraordinary achievements, she never sought attention in Kreshill. Most of Kreshill's elite daughters and socialites didn't even know that the Daves family had such an exceptional girl in their ranks. This is exactly why Georgina dared to bully Addison in the first place. Leon's decision to escalate the matter this time wasn't just about seeking justice—it was also a warning. He wanted to send a clear message to all the prominent families of Kreshill: Addison is the cherished jewel of the Daves family, and anyone who dares to mistreat her will face the consequences. The Daves will not let such offenses slide. Noticing Leon's increasingly unfriendly demeanor, William's hand tightened around his teacup, and a hint of irritation crossed his face. As a senior member of the Hamilton family, William had already humbled himself by coming to the Daves Residence to apologize to someone much younger. It was a considerable concession. Over the years, the Hamilton family had benefited greatly from the Daves in the medical field, borrowing advanced equipment and receiving other assistance. In terms of medical advancements, the Hamiltons couldn't compare to the Daves. If they wanted to continue progressing in the future, maintaining a good relationship with the Daves was imperative. With this cooperative relationship in mind, William had personally made the trip to the Daves Residence. But he hadn't anticipated Leon pushing even further with seemingly unreasonable demands, as if the Hamiltons were easy prey. William's expression darkened, and his tone grew noticeably sharper. "Georgina is our only daughter, so we've spoiled her a bit too much." "She's impulsive and sometimes oversteps boundaries, but her intentions are always good." "This matter must have been a misunderstanding. We don't want to strain our relationship over this, so I hope you won't continue to escalate the situation." The meaning behind his words was clear: William had already gone as far as he could. Asking the Hamiltons to concede further was out of the question. The Hamilton family wasn't one to be trifled with either. The atmosphere grew tense again, the unspoken friction between the two men filling the room like an invisible blade poised to strike. Matthew, who had been watching in silence, finally broke in, his brow furrowed with concern. "Leon, explain what's going on. Why are the Hamiltons apologizing to Addy?" His serious expression reflected the gravity of the situation, which was clearly far from ordinary. Leon, unfazed, spoke plainly. "You remember the incident during the Pendomium Heights exchange conference, when Addy didn't show up for a long time? We had to deploy the Daves' security forces to search the entire venue for her. You recall that, don't you?" Matthew nodded immediately. Of course he remembered. When Addison hadn't shown up for hours, he'd been frantic, fearing she'd fallen into the wrong hands. But he still couldn't see how the Hamiltons were involved. As far as he knew, they hadn't even attended the conference. Leon continued, his tone calm but cutting. "Eventually, we discovered that Addy had been deliberately locked in a dressing room.""In the freezing cold, wearing nothing but a thin gown, she stood in that icy room for who knows how long." "When we found her, she was already burning up with a severe fever." "The fever lasted for days, and it progressed to an infection. If we'd been even a little later, she might've been paralyzed—or worse, she could've died." "And the person who locked Addy in that dressing room was none other than the so-called 'good child' you speak of—Georgina." Leon's sharp gaze pierced William, leaving no room for doubt about who bore the blame. "Is this true?" Matthew, upon hearing the full account, slammed his hand down on the table with a loud thud, his eyes blazing with fury. "William, did Georgina really do this?" If this were true, the Daves would never let it go. After all, Addison was his beloved granddaughter—not someone to be treated so carelessly. Though Matthew was usually easygoing, when it came to Addison, he was fiercely protective—just like Leon.