Addison couldn't help but scoff. "What are you laughing at?" Hearing the laughter, Virginia's expression changed instantly. The shift from being coquettish to seething rage took no more than a second. "What? Am I not allowed to laugh at what you said?" Addison's smile faded as she fixed Virginia with a cold stare. "What gives you the right to laugh?" Virginia huffed, puffing up like an indignant balloon. As she finished, something seemed to cross her mind. Her jaw tightened, and she bit out her next words. "And another thing—what right does an outsider like you have to stay at the Johnston Residence? You do know that outsiders aren't allowed here, don't you? "Forcing your way into staying with Lance? What a conniving little snake you are. "Poor Marilyn is completely bewitched by someone as manipulative as you. I truly feel sorry for her! "No wonder Marilyn's health is always so bad. Either you've angered her to the point of collapse, or you've been secretly poisoning her!" Addison had initially decided to let Virginia's outbursts slide. If Virginia wanted to cling to Lance and insist on sharing a room with him, so be it. Addison wasn't particularly eager to stay in the room anyway. She hadn't planned to respond to Virginia's ridiculous accusations and was willing to treat them as nothing more than a bad joke. But the moment Virginia dragged Marilyn into this—and worse, weaponized her illness to provoke Addison—everything shifted. Virginia had crossed a line. People like Virginia simply didn't deserve kindness. Addison's lips curled into a sarcastic smile. "Why would an outsider like me come to the Johnston Residence?" Her voice was light, almost playful. "Maybe you should ask 'your' Lance that question."You should ask him if he was the one who invited me here. "I wouldn't have come if he hadn't begged me for it. "If he told me to leave, I'd walk out this very second," Addison added, drawing out her words in a deliberately teasing tone. Virginia's earlier comments had crossed a line, and with old grudges surfacing, Addison had no intention of granting Virginia's wishes today. "Are you serious?" Virginia's eyes widened in disbelief. Itwas Lance who had invited Addison and not theotherwayaround? Howcouldthatbepossible? Whyonearthwould Lance invite his ex-wifetotheJohnstonResidence? Whatreasoncould he possiblyhave? To rekindlesomeoldflame? Thatwas absurd. Virginia turned to Lance for confirmation with a desperate expression, practically begging him to deny it.However, Lance stood there silently. The dark loungewear only made the sharp glint in his eyes stand out more. His silence was an answer in itself. He wasn't refuting Addison's words. Virginia felt like she was losing her mind. No matter how she spun it, she couldn't fathom that Lance had invited Addison. The twoofthem were happilysharing a roomandintimatemoments. Whatdidthatmakeme? The mistress? The thought was so ridiculous that she almost laughed at herself. Letting out a bitter chuckle, Virginia quickly adjusted her composure. With a sharp breath, she steeled herself and declared, "I don't care. Tonight, I'm staying with Lance. No one is going to stop me."