"Lana, do you know where Virginia went?" Lance asked, his gaze darkening as it fixed on her. Lana shook her head earnestly. "Mr. Johnston, I'm afraid I don't know where Ms. Dolton has gone either ... "But she was just here." Having worked alongside Marilyn for so many years, Lana knew exactly when it was best to speak and when to keep quiet. She was careful not to reveal anything Marilyn wanted kept secret. Her face reflected genuine sincerity, and the deep lines on her skin made her appear even more trustworthy. Lance's brows knitted together in a deep frown, and as he processed her response, his whole demeanor shifted, becoming tense and grim. "Lance, we honestly have no idea where Virginia is. "She was here just a moment ago—how could she vanish like that? "Could she have stepped out for something?" Even though Lance appeared clearly distressed, Marilyn remained composed, her expression unaffected. "You might want to check with the bodyguards outside or send someone to search for her," she suggested casually. "They'll track her down soon enough." Her words carried a sense of urgency, but her expression remained indifferent, a stark contrast to the concern she was trying to convey. Without waiting for a response, Marilyn turned her attention elsewhere, her face softening as she began serving Addison. She no longer paid attention to Lance. "Here, Addison, this is a new dish the chef came up with. I tried it and thought it was delicious, so I asked him to make another for you. "I know you'll like it, Addison. Go ahead and try it." With a calm, steady hand, Marilyn added food to Addison's plate, her face unchanged, as though Virginia's sudden absence had nothing to do with her. Even though the weather outside was freezing, she didn't seem the least bit concerned that Virginia might be out there facing some danger. In fact, no matter what was happening to Virginia, it seemed entirely irrelevant to Marilyn. Addison stared at her, surprised. "Marilyn, you ... " If Marilyn had truly accepted Virginia, her behavior surely wouldn't be so distant ... Was she not worried about Virginia's disappearance? Given Marilyn's compassionate and gentle nature, she always extended kindness to those she had no conflict with, even if they were strangers. She wouldn't behave so coldly. Had Addison misunderstood? Had Marilyn not truly accepted Virginia? But if that were the case, why had she let Virginia stay at the Johnston Residence? Addison's thoughts were a chaotic jumble, and she struggled to make sense of everything. "Thank you, Marilyn," she said softly, hiding the confusion inside her behind a calm exterior, her eyes downcast to the bowl before her. "I'll go search for her now. Mom, if you see Virginia, please get in touch with me right away." Lance's stern look showed that he was genuinely concerned.Addison instinctively looked up at the sound of his voice. Her gaze collided with a pair of dark, cold eyes only inches away, their piercing intensity radiating a deep, complex emotion she couldn't place. She couldn't make sense of it, but she could tell Lance was upset. Does he think Virginia had leftbecauseofsomething I did? I had noidea ... Quickly, Addison lowered her eyes again, her attention focused back on the food in her plate.