It was clear that her fingers had gone numb from being out in the cold too long. The blood had pooled in them, leaving them stiff and lifeless. Now, they were just a painful reminder of the chill she had endured. She hadn't even noticed how bad it had gotten ... Addison rubbed her hands together in silence, trying to get some warmth back into her frozen fingers. Without warning, Lance pulled out a mirror and handed it to her. "Take a look," he said. "Look at what?" Addison stopped what she was doing and took the mirror from him, her face filled with confusion. In the mirror, her pale, frozen face stood out sharply against the cold. Her nose, flushed bright red, was the only color that broke the whiteness. There was no mistaking it—she looked like she'd been freezing for hours. A faint blush of embarrassment colored her cheeks as she forced a weak smile. "I turned the heat up for you. Just wait a bit until it warms up, and let me know if you feel hot," Lance said, reaching over to adjust the car's temperature.Then, he handed her a plain white thermos cup. Addison blinked in surprise. A thermos cup? Itfeltoutofplace—somethingsoordinary in a situationthatfeltanythingbut. The sightofitmadeherquestionifshewasevenawake. Was she dreaming? Was this really Lance? Noticing her hesitation, Lance guessed she was uncertain. He gave a soft chuckle. "Don't worry, it's not poisoned. "It's thick soup Lana made for you. It'll warm you up," he added, trying to reassure her. Addison had moved to take the cup, but stopped halfway. "If you're not sure, I can try it first," Lance offered, twisting the cap off. Steam poured out immediately. He lifted the cup to his lips, about to take a sip. Seeing how serious he was, Addison quickly spoke up, "I trust you." Lance paused, then lowered the thermos and handed it back to her. Addison wrapped her hands around the cup. The heat radiating from it hit her face, warming her instantly. She took a small sip, and the familiar taste filled her mouth. It was unmistakable—this was the thick soup Lana always made. The taste brought back warm memories of colder days. Back at the Johnston Residence, Lana would always make it for her in winter. Drinking it made her feel cozy and cheerful all day long. But ... Lance had never been one for it. He never even drank it, let alone kept it in his car. Holding the thermos in both hands, Addison turned to him. "Thank you." Lance, with one hand still on the steering wheel, turned his head slightly at the sound of her voice. His expression remained as cold and unreadable as ever. But just out of her view, the corner of his mouth twitched upward in a brief smile. The smile lasted only a few seconds before Lance seemed to snap back to reality. Why had he smiled? She'd only said "thank you," yet there he was, smiling. He quickly forced the smile away, pressing his lips into a tight line.... After about 30 minutes of driving, the car finally stopped in front of the Johnston Residence. Before stepping out, Addison noticed a crowd gathered in front of the house. "Is there something going on today? Are the Johnstons expecting visitors?" Addison asked, her hand resting on the car door, curiosity growing. It seemed she had arrived at an awkward time. The Johnstons must be busy greeting important guests. Looks like she would need to take the back way to avoid interrupting them.