"Grandpa, you're amazing!" Addison exclaimed, still stunned by the impressive display of herbs. She was at a loss for words—this collection could last an ordinary family several lifetimes without running out. "Why are you two hanging around here? I've been looking for you," a voice called from behind them. Leon stood with his hands on his hips, eyeing them critically. "Showing off your herbs again, huh? No matter who visits, you always have to show them off. We really can't do anything about you." Matthew ignored his son's teasing. "These herbs are my precious treasures. Of course, I've got to show them off properly!" Watching his father's proud expression, Leon pinched the bridge of his nose helplessly. "Addy, didn't you have something you wanted to ask Grandpa? What is it?" Leon suddenly remembered. "Oh, right!" Addison almost forgot the main reason she came. Standing still momentarily, she took a deep breath to prepare herself mentally. After all, Lance was a sensitive topic in the Daves, a veritable minefield. She needed to tread carefully. "Grandpa, I actually came to ask for a favor." She blinked at Matthew, trying to keep things light. "What's this talk about favors? Anything you need is my business, too. Just tell me, and I'll help you no matter what," Matthew said with a wave of his hand, brushing off her request as if it were no big deal. After saying this, he eagerly pulled her toward the dining area. "You haven't eaten yet, have you? Today, I am going to cook a special nourishing meal for you. "Leon, grab a couple of herbs. Let's make some soup for Addy." Watching her cheerful grandpa, who still hadn't noticed the impending storm, Addison secretly braced herself. The moment she mentioned Lance, Grandpa was bound to react badly—she could already picture how quickly his expression would change. But no matter how angry he got, she had to say it. This was about her divorce, something she couldn't avoid."Grandpa, it's about ... " Addison stammered, struggling to find the right words. "Hm? What is it?" Matthew casually picked out a few premium herbs from the pile, clearly thinking about what dish to prepare for his granddaughter. "It's about Lance's grandfather. He's really sick. "His condition is serious, and none of the doctors in Halton or even in Kreshill can help. So, I was hoping you could assist him." As soon as the words left her mouth, the air in the room turned heavy. The atmosphere became tense and quiet, so still that even the faintest sound would have echoed. Just as Addison had anticipated, Matthew's face darkened instantly. Even her usually mild-tempered uncle looked displeased, his earlier good mood completely gone. The warmth in the room disappeared, replaced by an icy chill. Seeing this, Addison pressed her lips together nervously, trying to break the silence. "I'm not doing this for Lance. It's just that his grandfather has always been kind to me. Now that he's sick, I can't just stand by and do nothing."Really, it's not for Lance," she added, her eyes sincere, almost ready to raise her hand in an oath. But Matthew remained stone-faced, his hand frozen mid-air as he stopped sorting through the herbs. Addison stood there, at a loss for what to do. Noticing Addison's discomfort, Leon sighed. Although he wasn't fond of Lance either, he decided to step in and ease the tension. "Alright, let's drop it for now. "How about we eat first? We can talk about this after the meal." Neither Matthew nor Addison responded, both standing silently in place. "Morris, grab a few herbs and start making soup in the kitchen," Leon called out. Morris, who had chopped firewood, quickly descended his axe and hurried over. Leon took the herbs from Matthew's hand and handed them to Morris. "Morris's cooking has improved a lot recently. His soup is really good—you'll like it, Addy." Addison gave a stiff nod, glancing nervously at her still-silent grandpa. She had no idea what to do next. If she had known things would go like this, she would have thought it through more before bringing it up. Regret gnawed at her. "Come on, Dad. Didn't you want me to update you on the Daves's bidding project? Let's talk about it now." Leon took Matthew by the arm, leading him away while discreetly signaling to Addison not to worry. Reading his lips, she understood his silent promise. 'Don't worry, I'll help you.' Despite his reassurance, her nerves remained on edge. Matthew's expression looked like he had been thoroughly provoked. Could Leon really handle this? But no matter how anxious she felt, she could do nothing now except trust him. "I'll go check on Morris in the kitchen," she muttered, finding an excuse to leave. She hurried away, leaving her uncle to deal with the fallout. As she walked briskly toward the kitchen, frustration bubbled up inside her. Lance, I must owe you big time for this!