Addison rose to her feet, a look of disgust crossing her face as she thought of Raymond and Teagan's underhanded ways. Yet, as she stood, doubt crept in. Confronting them directly wasn't the smartest move. Up until now, she had kept a safe distance, letting others handle the finances for her. If she were to step in now, it would be clear that she was involved. Even if she allowed someone else to take charge again, considering their greedy natures, it was likely they would find a way to manipulate her once more. While money wasn't a problem for her, she wasn't about to let them take advantage of her. Is there a way to put a stop to their schemes? She lowered her gaze and sat back down, deep in thought. Perhaps it's worth looking into whether they have any other companies under their control. Targeting their businesses could be an option. People like Raymond and Teagan, full of arrogance and recklessness, are bound to leave a trail of illegal activity behind them. It's just a matter of time before they slip up. Raymond's smile grew wider. "If all else fails, I have other ways to get that punk, Lance, out of the CEO position." Teagan raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as she set her purse down. "Oh? Do tell." Raymond grinned, a knowing look in his eyes. "I'll fill you in when the time's right. Just remember, we have more than one way to make Lance back down. When the moment arrives, just follow my lead and make sure you don't let him dominate the conversation." Addison's face darkened. It was clear Raymond had come prepared. He was set on taking over Johnston Enterprise's top spot. Teagan nodded, her face glowing with satisfaction. "I'm glad to hear that. Here's to a smooth partnership." Raymond beamed, exuding confidence as he motioned to her. "Let's get going." Addison frowned, conflicted. With her decision to divorce and sever ties with the Johnstons, she should have stayed out of it. Yet hearing about the turmoil at Johnston Enterprise stirred something inside her—she couldn't just stand by. She knew all too well what would happen to the company if Raymond took control. He had a long history of scandal and dishonesty, and even though he might have the skills to run such a company, his greed would be its downfall. In hindsight, Steven's choice to pass the company on to young Lance, rather than the older Raymond, seemed completely justified. Addison also knew how much Harvey cherished his family. Just the thought of all Harvey's hard work being destroyed, of his home being torn apart, weighed heavily on her heart. Right then, Taegan stood up and walked toward the elevator as Raymond followed, a confident smile on his face. Meanwhile, Virginia had arrived at the floor of the CEO office with Isaac following close behind. She softly pushed open the door. Lance was at his desk, looking worn out as he sifted through papers. Placing the snacks on the table, she quietly walked over to him. With a playful tone, she gently covered his eyes with her hands, saying, "Guess who's here?" Lance, with a neutral expression, removed her hands, showing no interest in the playful gesture. Virginia noticed the lack of energy in him and awkwardly dropped her hands. "I brought you some snacks, Lance." She hurriedly picked up the box, placing it in front of him. As she opened it, the sweet scent filled the air. The dark wooden box had eight sections, each filled with a different delicacy, each one crafted with care. She picked up a honey-glazed pastry. "I made these for you, Lance. I remember you used to love them." Lance glanced at the pastry, his eyebrows twitching slightly. Since the day Virginia had quietly left the country, he hadn't touched a sweet. Virginia had always adored desserts, and every day, she'd share different treats with him, slowly changing his indifference to sweets. But since her departure, the thought of anything sweet had made him feel ill. Even seeing them now stirred an unpleasant sensation in his stomach. He looked at the honey-glazed pastry and then at Virginia's bright, eager face, and after a long pause, he gave a small nod. "Alright." He took the pastry but didn't even bring it close to his lips before the overpowering sweetness made him put it down. Virginia immediately noticed something was off. She quickly asked, "Lance, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"He waved her off. "It's fine. I'm just not hungry. Leave it here, and I'll eat it later when I have the time." He placed the pastry aside and returned to his paperwork, his face unreadable. Virginia stared at the untouched pastry, a wave of disbelief sweeping over her. Lance had changed so much in the three years since she'd been gone. On the surface, he seemed the same, but the more she tried to interact with him, the more she could feel the differences. Yet, there was one thing that hadn't changed—Lance still loved her. That fact gave Virginia the confidence she needed. So what if he'd changed? People were bound to change. Now that she was back, she was determined. She had the power and the will to make Lance return to the person he once was. She couldn't let go of him—heart and soul! Virginia's expression remained unchanged. After a brief pause, she walked behind his chair and gently touched his shoulder. "Lance, you work so hard. It makes my heart ache to see you like this." Lance remained indifferent, his thoughts hidden behind his emotionless exterior. Virginia didn't mind his lack of response. She continued, "Lance, guess who I ran into downstairs? "I saw Addison!" she said, watching for any hint of a reaction. When he didn't respond, she continued. "Addison says she wants a divorce, but I think she's still holding on to you. Otherwise, why would she keep coming around?" This time, Lance reacted, his voice calm but firm, "I've already told Addison. There's no future for us. She just doesn't listen." Virginia sighed. "Addison loves you too much ... I saw her standing by herself downstairs earlier, her face full of sadness. I couldn't stand to see her like that. My heart went out to her. "But I love you, Lance. I won't let her have you. I don't even want to see her with you. Am I being selfish?"