Lance still hadn't recovered from hearing Addison call him 'Darling.' He looked a little dazed and reflexively shook his head. "Not yet." "Ah, not yet, huh? Fine, I'll go pay for you now." Addison picked up her bag and brushed past Lance, walking a few steps before suddenly halting as though something had just crossed her mind. "Darling, I meant to say something, but I wasn't sure if I should." Still, in a daze, Lance barely processed her words and answered without thinking, "Just say it. If there's anything you want to say, feel free." His usual sharpness was gone, and he sounded oddly compliant. Addison appeared to consider for a moment before speaking, her tone soft and earnest. "Well, since you asked, I just want to say maybe you could be a little more careful with your spending. Sure, we have some money, but it's all hard-earned. "Times are tough, and making money isn't easy. Honestly, we don't have that much saved up. And this is the umpteenth time this year that you've maxed out your card? "I don't have much left either, yet I always have to step in and cover for you." Her words transformed Lance into a stereotypical freeloading husband in front of everyone. The playful smirk that had been hanging on his lips vanished in an instant, replaced by a dark and brooding expression. "I just hope you can be more careful with your spending next time. "But I'll definitely support you with the daily expenses." Addison pouted, her eyes full of pleading, and her words were delivered with such sincerity that anyone would believe her without a doubt. The other girls nearby, however, immediately felt uncomfortable. Their gazes toward Lance became a little more suspicious and probing. Addison, seemingly unaware of the shift in atmosphere, smiled sweetly and attentively at Lance. After all, he had just been playing games to annoy her, so now it was her turn to make him uncomfortable. What goes around comes around. Lance gritted his teeth, glaring at the woman with a smile hiding a knife. He hadn't expected Addison to stab him so mercilessly. Addison! Fine, very fine! Lance clenched his teeth, his gaze locked on Addison, and a meaningful curve appeared at the corner of his lips. Addison sensed a familiar anger in his expression—one she had often seen when they were at the Johnston. But no matter how fierce he looked, she wasn't scared. Instead, she shrugged casually. "Darling, I'll go pay the bill now. Wait here for me, okay?" She deliberately dragged out the word 'Darling,' making it sound sickly sweet as if they were a newlywed couple madly in love. Isn't it just pretending? Who can't do that? The tone of her voice made Lance retreat step by step, frowning and grinding his teeth. He hadn't noticed it at first, but now, hearing Addison's clingy tone, he realized how disgusting his words sounded. He could barely tolerate hearing his own words once, but Addison had to endure hearing him say it so many times. That was quite unfair to her. "Darling—wait for me outside, okay? I'll be right back after I finish paying." Addison even gave Lance a playful wink as she said this. His jaw tightened when Lance saw her lively expression, and his gaze immediately shifted away. He intended to ignore it, but when he saw the women's eyes on him, he had no choice but to force a stiff nod to maintain the image he had built for himself. Addison walked into the store. Lance remained standing outside, silently enduring the awkward atmosphere around him. The women nearby were now watching him closely. Their eyes, no longer full of affection, were now filled with something else. The strange gaze felt like a thorn in Lance's back, making him uncomfortable. "Do you think he's really like that?" One of the girls secretly nudged another, whispering. "I ... I don't know. I really didn't want to believe that such a handsome man could be a freeloader, but the way that woman spoke didn't sound like she was lying, and he didn't deny it, so maybe it was true," the girl said hesitantly, clearly in pain. It was obvious she was heartbroken. She had finally found such a perfect man, only to find out he was a freeloader. Who wouldn't feel that pain? Although their voices were low, Lance heard every word. His expression darkened almost immediately. From a young age, if he wanted something, he got it. If he wanted to buy something, he bought it without considering the price. He had never worried about money. Lance never expected that one day, he would be the subject of gossip by a group of women labeled as a freeloader. Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what flavor you'll get. And it was clear that today, the chocolate he got was specially laced with a strong 'flavor' by Addison.