The door slammed shut, and Addison nearly stumbled. She steadied herself and walked slowly over to the table, pouring herself a glass of lemon water. Since Harvey had been out of her life, Addison had grown much quieter. Her emotions had become more controlled, and she hardly ever felt the urge to act on them. It had been ages since she'd felt this angry. In fact, she couldn't even recall the last time she had been so upset. But today, Lance's behavior had truly pushed her limits. The cool lemon water helped her calm down a little, and after taking a few steadying breaths, she headed toward the second floor. The second floor of the villa had large windows that reached from the floor to the ceiling, with thick gray curtains. Addison pulled them aside and gazed out, curious to see what Lance was doing. She wanted to understand what was going through his mind. Everything he had done today was so unlike the person she had known. It was as if, once his "ideal" returned, his intelligence had dropped to nothing. Addison leaned back against the sofa, her eyes fixed on Lance below. He stood there, his face cold, just like the man she had dreamed about. But something had changed. From her vantage point, she could see the anger and sharpness in his eyes. A bodyguard, who had been standing a little farther away, noticed the shift in Lance's mood. He approached quickly, his steps purposeful. "Sir, should we open the door?" Lance's eyes locked onto the door, his gaze intense, as if his emotions could pierce it. It had only been a few days since he left, yet now Addison had completely dropped her act. She wasn't even playing along anymore. She defied him without hesitation. This was who she really was. The kindness he had seen before was long gone. The bodyguard looked at Lance's increasingly stormy expression and hesitated. "Sir ... should we open the door?" No response. Addison raised an eyebrow. The villa's soundproofing was so effective that she could see Lance's furious face, but not hear a word of the conversation. Still, just seeing his frustration was enough to bring her some comfort. Lance stared at the villa for a long while before speaking softly. "No, you're not doing that. Let's go." The red in his eyes faded, replaced by a familiar indifference. He had clearly regained control of himself. "Of course, sir," the bodyguard said, moving swiftly to open the car door. He didn't question his boss. Lance adjusted his tie, his fingers steady as he worked. The tie glimmered under the light, its gold threads catching the glow and casting reflections on his sharp features. Once in the car, Lance absentmindedly touched his chin, lost in thought. If Addison could secure the authorization, why couldn't he do the same? Even without her, he could still get it. The Maybach began to fade from view. Addison's lips pressed together, and she stood from the couch. She had already sent Lance the authorization herself. It was his choice to reject it, even going so far as to tear it up. No matter his reasons, she wouldn't be sending another. Addison moved downstairs again. This time, she didn't reach for the glass of lemon water. Instead, she poured a drink into a glass—amber liquid swirling inside. The red and yellow hues caught the light, creating shadows. She swirled the glass absentmindedly. If Johnston Enterprise reached that point ... She had already saved it once on her own. If necessary, she could figure something else out. Addison took a sip and decided not to worry about it any longer.But if Lance came to the lab again ... She thought about it for a moment before picking up her phone and calling Ryan. It connected right away. Ryan's voice, light with enthusiasm, greeted her. "Dr. Daves? Is something wrong?" His polite, eager tone always made Addison feel a little lighter. "I need you to increase security in the lab." "Got it," Ryan replied without hesitation. "Someone saw the lab?" he asked, quickly catching himself. Addison didn't respond, letting the silence speak for itself. Ryan's mind raced back to the car he had seen parked outside the building earlier. He had let his guard down. Now, he realized that car had been suspicious. His expression turned serious as he clenched his jaw. He had to stay alert. If anything happened to the doctor at the lab, Mr. Dean would never forgive him—and he'd regret it for the rest of his life. "I'm sorry, Dr. Daves. It's my fault. The day I sent the authorization, I saw a car outside the lab, but I didn't think anything of it," Ryan said, immediately taking the blame. "I'll make sure to tighten security and stop anyone from getting inside," he promised. Addison's voice remained steady. "It's not your fault." "Lance bribed the guard at the side door. That's how he got in. It's not surprising you didn't think twice about the car." "Lance ... ?" Was it the same Lance he was thinking of? Had he really found the lab? Why? Was it just about the authorization, or was there something else? Ryan gripped the phone tighter, unaware that his other hand had formed a fist. "Thanks, Ryan." "Don't worry. I'll handle it," Ryan said, his voice firm. He nodded as if Addison could see him.Addison ended the call. What exactly is Lance's connection to the doctor? Ryan slowly placed the phone down, his brow furrowing with confusion. He couldn't ignore the growing curiosity he felt about the doctor. It seemed like his thoughts were slipping out of his control. The next morning ... With Keith still out of the country and unreachable, Addison had to take over nearly all the responsibilities at Raven Company. Taking on the role of CEO, she quickly realized just how overwhelming the job was. She had always thought Keith, with his carefree attitude, had it easy, but now she saw how much he actually dealt with. Today, she needed to place an order for medicinal herbs at the conference. After breakfast, Addison changed into a simple black dress. Since she was representing Keith, it was better to keep a low profile. She had considered asking Ryan to come with her. She typed out the message but, after a moment, deleted it and decided to go alone. The grand exhibit was held in a quaint town in the southernmost part of Halton. The town, known for its medicinal herbs, had a timeless charm. The architecture, steeped in history, gave it the feel of an ancient city. The spires of the buildings in the distance were a striking contrast against the bright blue sky. Addison stepped out of the car and walked toward a small building with pale pink walls and dark tiles, situated by the water. The wooden doors and windows had an old-world feel, and next to the white walls were ornate stone ties for horses. The architecture here reminded Addison of the Dave Residence back in Kreshill. The moment she entered the town, she felt as though she had stepped back in time. Surrounded by the quaint buildings, everything felt filtered of its modern noise. Keith had bought the small building to store ancient medicinal herbs. The vice president had handed her the keys some time ago. Inside, the space was nearly empty except for rows and rows of tea. Addison scanned the room and saw three full shelves. In the corner, Greenhill ornitongue was carelessly stacked in a large pile. Addison raised an eyebrow at the sight. Greenhill ornitongue was incredibly rare, almost exclusive to her grandfather. This batch could only have come from him. She placed her bag on the heavy wooden table, poured herself a cup of tea, and enjoyed it slowly, staring out the window. Once finished, she went downstairs. As she opened the wooden door, she spotted a familiar figure just ahead. Lance. His face, much like Harvey's, was unmistakable, and their similar builds only made Addison recognize him instantly. Without thinking, she glanced past him and saw a woman in a blue dress, paired with black leather shoes. As expected, Virginia was with him. Virginia's delicate appearance seemed to match the antique town's vibes perfectly. Addison sighed, rubbing her forehead. Halton's not even a tiny town. Why on earth do I keep running into these two?