Addison remained still, her eyes lingering on Virginia as unease settling in her chest. How could Virginia be connected to the Daves? And she knew Keith? Lance seemed momentarily stunned upon hearing Virginia's words. His expression shifted, betraying his surprise. "You know Keith? Are you sure it's the CEO of Raven Company, Keith? Not someone else with the same name?" After the issue with the authorization letter, his tone grew cautious. Virginia's mistake had cost him the Yarrow International Hospital deal, and it had angered the hospital's director. Though Addison had deliberately caused the situation, it hadn't been Virginia's fault. Still, it had given Lance pause. Even though Virginia spoke with sincerity, he couldn't ignore the caution creeping into his thoughts. He kept his professional and personal matters strictly separate. Virginia nodded, meeting his gaze. "Yes, it's Keith, the CEO of Raven Company. "He's not around Halton much, but I know him well. Keith's kind of a wild card—does whatever he wants, carefree, a bit rebellious," she said, her voice light, almost teasing. Her tone suggested a closeness, an easy familiarity with him. Lance's lips twitched into a smile. "Seems like you really know him." He studied Virginia, his face softening. Her description of Keith matched exactly what Lance had experienced. He had met Keith a few times, and the impression was the same—carefree but with something deeper beneath the surface. He hadn't expected Virginia to know him that well. "Yeah, I can introduce you to him," she added with a playful grin. Addison's brow furrowed. Keith might have looked like the typical rich troublemaker, but he possessed far more depth. Sharp, thoughtful, sincere—nothing like the image of a spoiled kid who didn't care about anything. If Virginia was truly familiar with him, she must know the kind of man Keith really was like. "Alright," Lance agreed. "Then next time, don't just leave me behind! I can help you a lot," Virginia added, her tone serious. Lance smiled at her earnestness, nodding once more. "Alright." Addison watched the two interact, their closeness impossible to ignore. She raised an eyebrow. It felt rude to continue watching, so she turned to leave. But as she stepped away, their conversation reached her ears. "Virginia, you're really taking on a lot," Lance remarked. "I'm fine. I just want to help. Addison, on the other hand, is an orphan with no power or influence. She can't help you," Virginia answered without hesitation. "Since I'm part of the Daves, I thought if I could help more, I would. Anything Addison couldn't manage, I've made up for." Her words were a clear jab at Addison, lifting herself up in the process. Addison stopped walking, her eyebrow raised in surprise. Virginia wasn't shy about putting her down. Addison had been standing there for only a short time, yet Virginia had already mentioned being part of the Daves more times than she could count. It wasn't subtle in the least. Unbelievable. A woman like Virginia marrying into the Johnstons? Addison felt a chill run down her spine. With Virginia's greedy and ambitious nature, it was obvious she had something to gain. The Johnstons would surely be thrown into chaos if she got involved. What on earth was Lance thinking? She wouldn't stand by and let the Johnstons suffer because of him! Her frustration and anger were growing by the second. With a tight frown, Addison began walking through the crowd again. Her practical side told her to finish gathering the herbs. Virginia's drama could wait. Addison picked out several more herbs. By the time she was done, she had nearly forty varieties of them. She had become a bit of a sensation at the event. The suppliers were thrilled, especially with someone like Addison, who didn't hesitate to spend large amounts of money. She bought more than 500 pounds of herbs all at once, making quite the impression. Once Addison paid and left, the supplier couldn't wait to boast to others about the sale. It was a transaction worth millions. The suppliers all knew each other, and word spread quickly. Before long, everyone knew that a big business owner had arrived. Her spending habits even put the CEO of Johnston Enterprise to shame. As evening settled in, the old town lit up. The ten-mile-long street was lined with small buildings, their heavy eaves adorned with lanterns. The warm, orange light filled the air, creating a beautiful scene. The crowd bustled around, and Addison walked through it. It had been ages since she'd walked through such a stunning place. The town, glowing with orange-red lanterns, had an almost magical beauty to it. Simply being there brought a sense of joy. But Addison couldn't feel it. The more the crowd cheered and celebrated, the more alone she felt. The noise of the crowd seemed to grow louder, yet to Addison, the world around her felt oddly hollow. It was as though the more the noise rose, the more distant she became from it all. A dull ache settled in her chest. This feeling was all too familiar. The unexpected rush of longing always overwhelmed her. She had lost the person she loved, drifted apart from her family, and now even Keith was out of reach. And after witnessing Lance's reaction earlier ... She knew she must drive Virginia away and make sure the Johnstons' peace was not disturbed. What had been a calm demeanor was now replaced by a flood of sorrow. Addison walked down the stone path, her mind racing with thoughts."Where's that big shot? Haven't seen them around!" a man in a suit complained with a sigh. "Someone said it's the CEO of Raven," another voice answered. "That can't be right. Raven's CEO is a man. I heard the big shot is a woman. Don't believe every rumor you hear," another supplier chimed in. Addison overheard their conversation. "Doesn't make sense. Aside from the Johnstons, who else could need so many herbs? Johnston Enterprise's CEO, Lance, only bought a handful of varieties. Whoever that rich person is, they're on a different level." "Good point ... so who exactly is this wealthy person?" the first man asked, scratching his chin in confusion. Someone nudged him. "Why does it matter? You came here to sell herbs, and you barely made any sales today. Now you're worrying about another rich person?" "Yeah, you're right," the man chuckled. "It's not our business anyway. We'll never understand that world." He scratched his head, a little embarrassed, before returning to his booth. Addison absorbed their words, quickly putting the pieces together. She understood why Lance had found her so fast. She'd been a little too noticeable, but that was it. Her work was done for the day, and she wasn't in the mood to continue. She bit her lip, gazing up at the sea of orange lanterns and the bustling crowd. With a quiet sigh, she turned and left. Back at the small building, she sat at the heavy wooden table, lost in thought, with no intention of going back to Pendomium Heights. Time passed without her noticing. Her eyelids grew heavy, and her body grew soft. Eventually, her head drooped onto the table. ... That night, she dreamed of Harvey once again. ... Addison jolted awake, her face damp with tears. For a brief moment, she remained still, disoriented and overwhelmed by a deep sense of hopelessness.Her hand trembled as she picked up her phone. The screen glowed softly in the dark, showing the time—3:00 a.m. She wiped her cheeks, forcing herself to suppress the rising tide of anguish. A strained smile crossed her lips, though it held no warmth or comfort. Love and longing—was there anything more excruciating? It seemed almost poetic. She carried both.