Lance held the authorization letter in his hands, but instead of feeling relief or satisfaction, confusion settled over him. His brow furrowed as he studied the document, the unease in his eyes growing. After what happened with Raymond and the fake authorization, Lance scrutinized the letter more closely. He noticed the anti-counterfeit mark clearly stamped on it, and the signature from Dr. Nancy appeared authentic—there was no sign of forgery. But Addison ... What was she hiding? She had managed to access the building before, and now she had this letter. It didn't add up. As Lance thought back to his few encounters with Addison, something didn't sit right. There had to be more to her than he knew. Could it be ... ? "Lance, can I take a look?" a sweet voice interrupted his thoughts. Virginia had originally intended to use Addison's gift as a way to playfully test Lance, to charm him with a little attitude. She hoped it would bring them closer, and also give her the chance to dispose of Addison's package once and for all. But things had changed. Since the trouble at Johnston Enterprise, Lance had been distant. She could still feel his love, but it wasn't the same. There was an emptiness she couldn't ignore. Yet, this letter from Addison threw a wrench into her plans. Where could an orphan like Addison have gotten such a thing? She shouldn't have access to it. Was Addison trying to take credit from her? Virginia couldn't let that happen. Lance glanced down and handed the letter to her. She took it, flipping through the pages slowly. For a brief moment, a look of doubt crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by a smirk. "Lance, I know how hard it is to get something like this. But how could an orphan like Addison possibly have one? She probably faked this to get your attention." Lance didn't respond. His expression remained unchanged.He was making his own judgments. "And look at this," Virginia added, her tone dripping with certainty. "This letter is too plain. It doesn't match anything from Raven Company." She was clearly trying to plant a seed of doubt. Lance's gaze shifted. He pressed his lips together, his eyes moving back to the document. Raven Company had a specific format for their contracts, and their authorization letters were unique. This one did seem unusually ordinary. He'd only glanced at the anti-counterfeit mark and the signature before, but now he began to question it. Could it be fake? Virginia stood nearby, watching him closely, her face calm. She seemed to understand Raven's format perfectly, as if she knew the authenticity of the letter without a doubt. Lance rose from his chair and walked over to the shelf behind his desk. He reached into the back and pulled out an ornate box. He opened it in front of Virginia and pulled out a document. The cover was gilded in gold, matching the box's luxurious design. He placed it on the desk and compared it with Addison's letter. His fingers traced the edges of both documents, and as he did, his expression grew more intense, darkening with each passing second. "Well?" Virginia asked, her voice soft. Lance's jaw tightened. The words came out through clenched teeth. "It's a fake." Virginia didn't show surprise. Her face was unreadable, as if she'd expected this outcome. She sighed. "Addison ... She went too far this time." "She faked this just to make you happy ... Addison never had much education. She's just ... naïve." "I understand that." Her voice carried a tone of sympathy, almost as if she were justifying Addison's actions. Lance felt his frustration grow. Addison had stalked him and now this—she had forged a letter to win his approval? How was that any different from Raymond's tricks? It wasn't about education. It was about ethics! Lance had briefly wondered if Addison had some special status, something that explained her actions. But now, he saw how foolish he had been to hope for anything from her. She would do anything for his affection, wouldn't she? A bitter smile tugged at Lance's lips. His hand, stiff with anger, gripped the letter, and with a swift motion, he tore it into strips as if casting it aside. His arm flexed with tension, veins standing out as he ripped through the paper. Virginia's fingers brushed against the veins in his arm, pressing lightly. "Lance, don't be mad." "Addison has done this before. It's not worth getting so worked up over," she said, her voice soft and reassuring. Lance's brow remained furrowed, his anger still simmering. His disappointment in Addison was complete. He had no hope left. Virginia observed him closely, noting the depth of his anger. She could see he was beyond frustrated. Releasing his hold on him, Virginia walked towards the couch. She carefully pulled something from her bag. It, too, was a beautiful, finely crafted document. "Lance, don't let Addison get to you. Look at this!" Virginia said, her smile wide, her eyes gleaming with excitement. It was clear she couldn't hide her pride. Virginia set the document on the desk, aligning it neatly with the one in the safe. Lance raised his eyes, his expression turning serious. He noticed right away the two papers were identical—except for the date. "What's this?" "An authorization letter," Virginia answered, her voice calm. She was certain Addison's letter was a fake. After all, she held the real one, and compared to it, Addison's was nothing but a cheap copy. Addison deserved nothing but a fake. Lance carefully examined the documents. They looked nearly identical, with only a few subtle differences. His voice was measured. "Where did you get this?"Two forged letters showing up so quickly made him uneasy. Even if Virginia had brought this one. "I know people at Dr. Nancy's lab," Virginia said, her tone firm but gentle. "Lance, don't you remember? My family has strong ties in medicine. Dr. Nancy's lab is connected to us." Lance's usually hard expression softened as he processed her words. He had almost forgotten. Virginia came from one of the most respected medical families in Kreshill, so it made sense she'd know someone at Dr. Nancy's lab. "With all that's been happening with the company, you haven't said anything to me. I know you didn't want me to worry ... " "But I'm part of the Johnstons, too. When Johnston Enterprise had its crisis, I wasn't there. This time, I just want to fix things, so Marilyn won't keep holding a grudge ... " "Marilyn's health hasn't been good. She's always anxious." Virginia's expression showed concern, her eyes filled with warmth. "It wasn't your fault. You had no choice but to leave the Johnstons at that time," Lance interrupted. "These past few days, I haven't eaten or slept much. I was only focused on getting you the authorization letter. I'm relieved all that effort wasn't wasted." Virginia's voice was lighter now, almost relieved, as if the pressure of her task had finally lifted. She looked pleased with herself for having helped Lance. Lance looked at her without thinking. Virginia's eyes shone with happiness, her smile wide and sincere. His voice softened, carrying a mix of appreciation and emotion. "Thanks for everything, Virginia."