This time, even Sofia probably didn’t expect Lance to retract his outstretched hand and step back to widen the distance between them.

This sudden retreat caused her leaning movement to become more exaggerated, almost leading her to fall to the ground.

But one can only say that a ruthless person is indeed ruthless; Sofia actually didn’t get up, instead diving headfirst towards the ground.

However, Lance is even more ruthless than her, and he simply watched without any reaction.

At the moment when Sofia’s face was almost about to hit the ground, she staggered her steps, stretching out her hand to grab Lance as if instinctively reacting to losing balance.

Lance was tired of playing games with her and preemptively grabbed her arm, pulling her up.

"Stand firm." With just a little force, Sofia was forcibly straightened; she wasn’t the God of Pigmen and didn’t have the qualifications to wrestle with Lance.

Lance could easily lift her with one hand—playing tricks with him?

"Uh! I’m terribly sorry, my lord, my alcohol tolerance is bad..." Sofia raised her eyes towards Lance, almost sparkling with charm.

But what Lance cared about wasn’t this—it was whether this familiar ploy had been seen somewhere before.

Was she planning to use the accident as an excuse to stick around here? Was she trying to make him take care of her? Trying to evoke feelings of guilt?

Hmph! Ridiculous~

Lance was now almost certain her fainting against the table was deliberate; Laura seemed to be conned in a similar way then.

"Alright, any business can be discussed inside."

However, the resolute determination with which she made that ’fall’ was significant, even causing Lance to feel some admiration, knowing she wouldn’t give up without achieving her goals.

This was precisely why Lance was willing to talk to her—to see what she’s really capable of!

After dropping this sentence, Lance let go of her and walked straight into the room without any intention of attending to her.

Sofia watched his back with a conflicted expression; at this moment, there was no hint of intoxication in her eyes. Two seconds later, she followed him.

Yet, in just a blink, she reverted to her drunken appearance, staggering to keep up.

Even at this point, she was unwilling to drop the facade.

The Lord’s return time is unknown to Susan; sometimes he returns late at night, working overnight in the study, and after breakfast at dawn, he hurries out again.

Although the Lord instructed her not to wait, she usually tries to, getting everything prepared.

Whenever the Lord returns, she can arrange things accordingly.

No more servants were prepared here, only she knew the Lord liked to drink tea and some snacks while working.

The milk shouldn’t be cold, berries shouldn’t be sour, the drinking water should be boiled...

Tonight, he actually came back relatively early.

"Sir." Susan came to meet and took Lance’s coat.

"I already told you not to wait for me." Lance was always as warm as spring to those close to him, never treating Susan as a servant.

However, at this moment, he added teasingly.

"Someone’s been out there in the wind for so long, why didn’t you let her in to wait for me?"

"Who? There’s been no knocking?" Upon hearing this, Susan only then noticed a woman following them inside.

Susan did recognize Sofia, quite well in fact; she took care of her for several days when she first came with Margaret, although their acquaintance was under false pretenses.

She’d never seen her wear this outfit, though.

But given the situation in front of her, she couldn’t say much and left quietly.

There’s one more thing—the Lord liked quiet when meeting guests, never to be disturbed by any sound.

Susan left, but her instinctive response just now confirmed to Lance that Sofia had been waiting for him outside; otherwise, Susan would have known if there had been a knock, even if she hadn’t allowed entry.

But Lance had already sensed something was amiss with her, so these details held little significance.

Lance didn’t linger and headed straight back to his study, casually sitting at his place, looking at Sofia across a desk.

"Just speak directly, don’t waste my time."

"I merely wanted to ask for your thoughts on the new wine, sir."

Sofia finally took a bottle of wine from the basket, and as she reached for the delicate cup on the table, Lance suddenly blurted.

"I don’t drink alcohol."

"What are you saying, sir?" Sofia was smiling, "Wouldn’t you at least try the new blend, sir?"

Seeing her persist in that ludicrous game, Lance couldn’t help but smirk coldly.

"Let’s play a little game: lose and I’ll let you go; win...and you die." Lance’s gaze slowly shifted downwards to the wine bottle and he said:

"Let’s bet if there’s any drug in this wine."

Upon hearing this, Sofia was dumbfounded, her expression slightly stiff, her eyes filled with doubt, as if questioning whether the Lord was sane.

"If you don’t choose, I will." Lance seemed unfazed by her frozen state, continuing to speak, "I’ve clearly shown no interest in you. The only way for you to influence me would be to use drugs, so the wine must be spiked."

Hearing this, Sofia’s expression became peculiar, but she regained composure and continued her actions, opening the wine bottle and pouring a glass.

"Since you say so, sir, I’ll taste the wine first."

With that, she picked up the wine glass, drank it, and then showed the empty glass to Lance.

In response, Lance cooperated by feigning a momentary shock, but soon his expression changed, revealing a radiant, sunny smile.