Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, Deanna saw her friend's expression freeze. Unable to hold back, she burst into laughter.
"Haha, I'm just teasing you."
She picked up her still-ringing phone and said with a smile, "Let me see what your Professor Grant has to say."
Julia glared at her, fuming.
Not wanting to interrupt Deanna's call, she pouted and complained to the two little ones, "Your mommy is so mean, bullying me!"
"Mommy is indeed mean, but godmother's expression just now was really funny."
The two little ones blinked at her, their smiles mischievous.
Julia was momentarily stunned before pretending to be fierce. She reached out her hand, "Oh, so even you dare to bully me now? Watch me tickle you!"
"Ah-godmother, spare me!"
Chloe couldn't dodge in time and was caught by Julia. She screamed happily while also begging for mercy.
Deanna watched them play, her eyes filled with gentle laughter.
At that moment, Lionel's voice came through the phone, "Deanna, where's Julia?"
"Julia is playing with Gregory and Chloe. If you have something to say, you can tell me, and I'll pass it on to her."
Deanna didn't mention that Julia didn't want to talk to him right now.
Lionel heard the laughter in the background and knew Julia was genuinely busy. He sighed in relief and said, "My parents are hosting a welcome dinner for Dalilah tonight. They want Julia to come. When you're done, have Julia send me a message, and I'll pick her up."
Hearing this, Deanna narrowed her eyes but didn't answer immediately. Instead, she asked, "Is it your parents who want Julia there, or is it you?"
It wasn't unreasonable for her to ask. From the previous incident where Lionel's parents had him accompany an old family friend's daughter shopping, it was clear they wanted to set them up. They couldn't be unaware of such a good opportunity tonight.
Lionel didn't realize Deanna had figured it out and covered for his parents. "It's my parents who asked me to bring Julia."
But as soon as he said this, Deanna exposed him.
"Lionel, do you know that it was your parents' idea for Julia to move out of your house?"
As Deanna spoke, she glanced at her friend out of the corner of her eye. Despite playing with the two little ones, Julia's ears were perked up high.
Her sneaky behavior almost made Deanna laugh out loud.
Fortunately, she held back in time and continued into the phone, "Also, with Dalilah's arrival, I think you're smart enough to know your parents' intentions. Tonight, if you take Julia there, have you thought about what kind of situation she'll face? Is your family bullying Julia because her family isn't here?"
Lionel was rendered speechless by her questioning.
After a long pause, he finally denied it. "No, my parents..."
"Although mother-in-law and daughter-in-law issues have always been a big problem, the core of this issue lies not with the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law but with the man."
Deanna interrupted before Lionel could finish. "The man's attitude determines the family's attitude."
Back when Samantha's family opposed her relationship with Lance, Lance was willing to be disowned just to be with her.
If Lionel had that kind of determination, Julia wouldn't be treated so poorly by the Grant family elders.
Lionel was once again left without a rebuttal.
Deanna didn't mind and changed the subject. "Although tonight's dinner is a family affair and technically shouldn't include outsiders, I'm not really an outsider. Julia and I are like sisters; we've long considered each other family. So tonight, I'll go with Julia to prevent your family from bullying her too much."
"... Thank you!"
Lionel knew Deanna was standing up for Julia and thanked her gratefully.
Although he wanted to speak up for Julia, his upbringing made it hard for him to go against his parents.
Deanna snorted lightly and hung up the phone.
Julia immediately asked as she put down the phone, "What did Lionel say?"
"You heard most of it."
Deanna rolled her eyes at her friend for asking the obvious.
Julia realized she'd been caught eavesdropping and smiled sheepishly before defending herself. "I only heard what you said. I didn't hear Lionel's part. Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me."
Seeing this, Deanna stopped teasing her friend and explained Lionel's call.
"Lionel's parents want to set him up with Dalilah, whom we met this afternoon. Lionel figured it out and wants to take you to show his stance. I mentioned your issues with his parents and told him he needs to be strong-not necessarily confront them but at least protect you. Finally, I said I'd go with you tonight to prevent his family from going too far."
"Deanna, you're the best!"
Julia looked at her best friend with gratitude.