Lance's face remained impassive as he observed Raymond casually place the forged authorization letter into his bag. "I won't pursue the matter with the fake anti-counterfeit mark. You're free to leave now," he stated flatly. Raymond chuckled, unbothered by his attempt to deceive being exposed. He wore a cryptic smile before speaking again. "It's been a long time since I last saw Addison." Lance's brows knitted in confusion at the mention of her. "What are you trying to imply?" Raymond sneered. "Oh, nothing, really. Just a casual comment. It's been a while since we've crossed paths, after all." "You don't need to see her." Teagan, unaware of Raymond's hidden agenda, trusted he had a reason for everything. Unable to contain herself, she spoke up. "What do you mean? She's part of the Johnston family. It's only natural for us to want to get closer, don't you think?" "I genuinely like Addison," Raymond continued, his grin becoming chilling. "It's been some time since we've seen her. How about we set up a meeting?" Lance's frown deepened. Ignoring both Raymond and Teagan, he waved at Kaden. "Escort them out." Kaden immediately moved toward Raymond, signaling for him to leave. Raymond stood, his voice dripping with mockery. "Is it so difficult to share a meal with Addison? Does she not want to see us, or is there something you're hiding?" Lance narrowed his gaze. Something to hide? Ridiculous. Frustration was evident on Lance's face as he shifted from indifference to impatience. "I've decided to divorce Addison." The news was no secret. Marilyn already knew, and even though she might not agree, Lance had made up his mind. He didn't love Addison, and staying in a loveless marriage had become absurd. Addison's objections wouldn't change anything. The divorce was final. Since he wouldn't change his mind, Lance figured they would find out sooner or later. Teagan's eyes widened in disbelief. Lance spoke so casually about his relationship with Addison; it was obvious he was unaware of how deeply it was tied to the CEO position. Raymond smirked, watching Lance with knowing eyes. "So you've made your decision to divorce, but you haven't followed through yet," Raymond taunted. "How about we all meet tomorrow at the Johnston Residence for a proper farewell?" Lance, drained by the conversation, ignored Raymond once more and waved to Kaden, signaling for him to remove them. "Lance, one last question—are you willing to step down from the CEO position?" Raymond's eyes narrowed, observing Lance's growing annoyance. Kaden took a step forward. "Sir, please leave. If you refuse, we'll have to call security." "Don't say I didn't warn you when things get ugly!" Before Raymond could finish, a group of stern-looking security guards appeared in the doorway, their presence making it clear they were ready to act if needed. Seeing the guards, Raymond begrudgingly held back his threat. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Fine, but don't come crying when you lose your CEO position. Let's go." Teagan, already intimidated by the guards, quickly followed Raymond out of the room. Once outside, she grabbed Raymond's arm, her voice trembling. "What's going on with you? That forged document was exposed so easily. Did you even think this through? What's our next move?" Raymond flashed a cold smile. "You'll find out tomorrow at the Johnston Residence." Lance watched them leave, his mind racing. What exactly is Raymond planning? Just then, Isaac entered, pushing the door open. "Mr. Johnston, Mike is here. He says it's urgent. Should I bring him in?" Mike is here? Lance quickly snapped out of his thoughts. "Let him in." Mike entered, looking puzzled. "I ran into your uncle and aunt on my way in. What's going on? Are they still trying to take the CEO position from you? Didn't they say they were done with Johnston Enterprises?" Lance maintained his calm demeanor. "Just some fools. They gave me a fake document, trying to force me to give up my position." Mike chuckled at the absurdity. "That's hilarious." Lance shifted his focus. "Let's get down to business. Did you manage to get the number? This situation is more serious than it seems. It's about the future of Johnston Enterprises." "It's done," Mike replied, handing Lance the number. "Here's Keith's personal assistant's number. But it's better if you make the call yourself." Lance took the number, nodding in approval. "I'll call now. The sooner this gets resolved, the better." Lance dialed the number, and after a few rings, a polite voice answered. "Hello, may I ask who you're trying to reach?" "This is Lance from Johnston Enterprises. Could you please connect me to Mr. Dean? I have something important to discuss with him," Lance said in a low, calm voice. "Mr. Dean? Please hold on, I'll check for you," the woman replied. In a secluded mountain retreat, a large round pool sat amidst swirling mist, its steam rising gently into the air. At each end of the pool were golden dragon-shaped faucets, but the mist obscured the view of anyone within, no matter how hard one tried to peer through it. "Mr. Dean, there's a call for you. They say it's urgent. Are you available?" the assistant inquired. The man in the pool, his muscular frame partially visible through the steam, exuded a raw, untamed beauty. Water droplets slid down his hair and face as his intense gaze swept across the hills surrounding him. Keith's every movement was full of quiet power, a mix of rugged allure and quiet intensity. His eyes held a deep, unreadable expression. The assistant sighed. Keith had been avoiding business calls for days, preferring to stay lost in his thoughts, staring at the mountains. Rumors suggested he was recovering from a broken heart, a story the assistant had once dismissed but now found hard to ignore. Knowing Keith had already made it clear he wouldn't discuss business, the assistant hesitated before stepping away, resigning to the fact that this conversation wouldn't happen. Back on the phone, Lance only heard the faint rustling of the line before the assistant's voice came through. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Dean isn't taking business calls right now. Please try again later," the assistant's polite voice stated. Lance frowned, his lips thin with frustration. Before he could respond, the call was abruptly disconnected. He lowered the phone, his thoughts racing. What is Keith playing at?