She looked kind of adorable ... The moment that thought crossed his mind, Lance quickly pushed it away. No, no, no ... He tried to steady himself. Fighting back the rush of emotions, he put on a serious expression, pretending to still be angry. "Is that all you're going to say? A simple apology?" "Huh ... " Addison blinked, confused by his tone. Seeing her blank expression, Lance smirked, then gave a slow smile, repeating his words. "I mean ... is that all you have to offer, just an apology? "I'm bleeding here, don't you think I deserve some compensation?" His voice was soft and almost playful, his gaze full of expectation. "Compensation?" Addison echoed, taking a moment to process his words. "Exactly. A split lip is serious business. When I meet with clients, they'll all see the injury ... and in such a manner ... "Lance gently ran his fingers over his lips, the movement simple yet oddly charged with tension in the air. There was something about the way he did it that made the atmosphere feel unexpectedly charged, as though the blood on his lips hinted at something far more intimate than it really was. Addison pressed her lips together, instinctively stepping back a few paces. Lance, apparently unaware of the effect he was having, looked at her with an intense gaze, and the blood trickling from his lips. His subtle nod seemed to invite unspoken thoughts. "How do you think people would react if they saw my lips?" he asked. Lance leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving her face, a playful hint of seduction in his gaze. Addison, feeling the weight of his stare, pressed her lips together in discomfort and quickly averted her eyes, turning her head. "What others think is none of my concern." Realizing her words might have sounded dismissive, she added, "Let them think whatever they want." Lance watched her avoid his gaze and then smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "It might not bother you, but it certainly bothers me. "If anyone sees my lips, they might think my wife—" He paused for effect. "My wife, meaning you, cut my lips with your poor kissing skills," he finished, his expression unchanged. The moment the words left his mouth, Addison's face flushed a deep red, her discomfort evident. Addison didn't expect Lance to be so blunt about it ... "Who has poor kissing skills?" she retorted, lifting her head in defiance. She had never kissed him, so how could he even make such a claim? Her kissing skills were impeccable! Lance didn't answer, simply raising an eyebrow, his expression leaving everything unsaid. "My kissing skills are flawless! No one can compare to me! How can you just say that?" she fired back. If he didn't believe her, he could always ask Harvey ... She wasn't about to take the fall for this."Oh, is that so?" Lance's lips curled into a small, mischievous smile as he heard her defiant words. As Lance's gaze lingered on her, Addison's thoughts were overtaken by the image of Harvey's face. Slowly, in her mind, their faces seemed to merge, blending together ... until the man before her became Harvey, causing her cheeks to flush slightly. "Y-yes ... Yes," she stammered, the words slipping out before she could stop them, her voice betraying her nerves. Before she could process the moment, Lance stood up abruptly, leaning in close to her ear. "Talk is cheap," Lance whispered, his breath warm against her ear. "Ms. Daves, why don't you show me for yourself?" Addison could feel his gaze without even needing to look, his playful grin and the soft rush of air as he moved closer. For a fleeting moment, her heart skipped a beat, and she almost lost her composure. But that feeling was short-lived. In the next second, she snapped back to reality, realizing that it wasn't Harvey's presence she was sensing—it was Lance standing too close. The difference hit her in an instant. Reflexively, Addison shoved him back. "Lance, please behave yourself," she said firmly, standing upright with a serious tone. Her fingers brushed lightly against his shirt, the subtle scent of her presence lingering in the air. The unexpected push caught Lance off guard, making him hesitate for a moment. Addison glanced up, her body language suggesting she wanted to distance herself from Lance as much as possible, avoiding his gaze as if he were a dangerous creature. This reaction made Lance question himself for a moment—was he truly that intimidating to her? Before he could find an answer, Addison had already grabbed her bag, ready to leave.