Lance gave a short, sharp laugh, his expression cold. If not for his grandfather's ultimatum about the CEO position, would he have hesitated to sign the divorce papers? Not for a moment. Yet Addison hadn't even bothered denying that she had followed him. That, at least, took the edge off his temper. For a moment, he looked at her as if considering whether another warning was necessary. His lips parted, but the words never came. Why waste his breath? Addison was too fixated, too stubborn to let go. Nothing he said would make any difference. With a final, impassive glance, Lance turned away. His dark eyes betrayed no emotion, only a detached coldness. "This is the last time," he said, almost under his breath. He walked away without hesitation, his steps steady and deliberate. He hadn't managed to meet Dr. Nancy today. Instead, he'd run into Addison, of all people. He'd try again on Friday. Addison stood frozen, watching his retreating figure. She still couldn't believe it. He hadn't even answered her! All she'd wanted was for him to sign the papers. She thought about following him, but before she could move, a sudden beeping filled the room. One of the lab's devices was flashing, and a vial was bubbling furiously, threatening to spill over. Her priorities shifted in an instant. She abandoned her pursuit of Lance and rushed into the lab. With hurried precision, she managed to shut off the equipment just as the liquid calmed. When she finally stepped back into the hallway, Lance was gone. She stared at the empty corridor, letting out a heavy sigh. His appearance had thrown her off completely. The moment she'd opened the door and seen him standing there, her mind had gone blank. For a fleeting second, she'd thought he had uncovered her secret. But no. Lance, true to form, had jumped to his own conclusion, assuming she was trailing him. Maybe his tendency to think the world revolved around him wasn't all bad.Still, one question nagged at her. How had he gotten in? Her eyes narrowed, and she immediately pulled out her phone to call Keith. The line rang endlessly before an automated voice finally answered. "The number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later." Addison clenched her teeth in frustration and tossed the phone onto the table. Keith was impossible. Every time something critical came up, he was unreachable. And now his phone was off? She gave a bitter laugh, shaking her head. What did she expect? Keith's personal life was a mess. Of course, he'd disappear when she needed him most. If she ever discovered the truth—that he hadn't been avoiding her because of heartbreak—she'd certainly give him a piece of her mind. Addison glanced back at the table, where she had laid out the research plan. She decided to push her feelings aside. The experiment still needed to be finished, no matter how she felt. It was the way she operated. Her emotions never interfered with her work. Except when it came to Harvey. He was the one exception. The one variable in her otherwise controlled life. Taking a deep breath, Addison refocused. She moved forward with the remaining steps of the experiment, the process falling back into rhythm. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Addison looked up. "Come in." Ryan entered the lab. "Dr. Daves, the package has been sent." Addison's face remained unchanged. She nodded. "Thanks." Ryan walked to the table, surprised to see the experiment nearly finished. "Dr. Daves, you did all this by yourself?" He knew her skills, but seeing her work up close was still impressive. He hadn't seen her for the past three years, but it was clear that her expertise had grown in that time. She must have spent those years solely focused on improving. How else could she have progressed so much? Addison smiled slightly. "It's not done yet. There are still some imperfections. I'll fix them tomorrow." Ryan scratched his head, embarrassed. "I didn't help at all today." He hadn't contributed a thing. He felt small compared to her. His pharmaceutical knowledge couldn't even compare to hers. The gap between their skills was immense. How could he possibly be her assistant? He might even hold her back. Addison pretended to scold him. "Then who set up all the equipment? Who measured out the ingredients? Who drafted the authorization? Who delivered everything?" Ryan had done so much for her, and she appreciated it. She understood exactly what he was thinking. "There's a lot you can do to help. How about you wrap up the experiment for me this time?" "I'm actually a bit tired." Ryan quickly nodded, eager to assist. "Of course! You get some rest, Dr. Daves. I'll take care of it." Addison gave a small smile. "Alright." Since Ryan was her assistant, it only made sense to teach him something. She considered the matter for a moment. Maybe she could share her pharmaceutical knowledge and methods with him. With his potential, he would surely make great progress. ... Lance stepped out of the lab.His assistant hurried to catch up, but when he saw the icy expression on Lance's face, he stopped short. Lance's mood had soured drastically since he entered. The assistant kept quiet, not wanting to make things worse. He knew any wrong move could make Lance even angrier, and he could lose his job in the blink of an eye. He silently opened the door for Lance, then started the car with great care, driving off quickly. Friday came. Addison arrived early at the lab. Since Ryan wasn't there yet, she decided to prepare the materials and equipment herself. She didn't want him to handle everything on his own. She had already instructed the security to be extra cautious. No one was to enter. She didn't want to see Lance here again. If the authorization had been sent, then Lance shouldn't show up, right? That meant her identity would stay safe ... Addison began setting up the equipment, taking a piece of paper and jotting down her thoughts. The pharmaceutical project she was working on this time was different from the last. It was a new area, and it felt like a challenge. She had already drafted several plans. Today, she'd work through them. Developing new drugs was a slow process. No matter how skilled a scientist was, the process was never quick. It was always a tedious, methodical journey. Addison understood that research wasn't about seeking personal gain. She had never considered her achievements as a reason to feel superior. This was why she had kept a low profile in the pharmaceutical industry for so long, choosing not to reveal her true identity. Many scientists in Kreshill, once they gained recognition, were driven by greed. They sought pleasure only in wealth, power, and vanity. It was a shame, really. Addison carefully measured out the pharmaceutical materials Ryan had prepared, following the proper proportions. She then placed them into the equipment she had set up. The first result came quickly, but the outcome was far from ideal.Addison frowned. She paused, considering. Perhaps adding a bit of King Dragon Plant would improve the effects? As she was lost in thought, there came a knock at the door. "Dr. Daves, you're here early," Ryan said, stepping in. She glanced up instinctively. "Do you think the authorization will get to the receiver today?" Ryan checked his phone, then looked up. "No, it won't arrive today." Addison's expression grew serious.