"Actually, it's not entirely Julia's fault. I bear some responsibility too. As an adult, I should have more self-control."
Deanna changed her words at the last moment.
Lance looked at her, annoyed. "You changed your tune quickly, but don't think that saying this will get you off the hook. I told you before, if you eat recklessly again, I'll punish you."
Hearing this, Deanna blinked and suddenly hugged her leg, crying out, "Ouch, I think I have a cramp. It hurts so much."
She whimpered while sneaking glances at Lance's expression.
Lance didn't notice her little act and thought she really had a cramp. Ever since the baby grew bigger, Deanna's body had changed, and her legs often swelled and cramped.
"Don't hug your leg. Give it to me, and I'll massage it."
Lance quickly walked over to Deanna, skillfully pulled out her leg, and began to massage it.
At that moment, he was full of concern for Deanna, with no trace of his earlier sternness.
Deanna looked at his serious profile and felt a pang of guilt. For a moment, she wanted to admit she wasn't really cramping. But she suppressed the impulse immediately. If she admitted it, Lance would surely scold her even more.
After a while, Lance didn't hear Deanna moaning. He turned his head and asked, "Does it not hurt anymore?"
"Uh, it doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you, honey!"
Deanna was stunned for a second, then smiled brightly and acted coquettishly towards Lance.
Lance looked at her smiling face, full of helplessness. "You always take advantage of my love for you to act recklessly. You even pretended to have a cramp to trick me."
Hearing this, Deanna realized her little trick had been exposed. She smiled ingratiatingly at Lance and tugged at his sleeve, acting cute again. "I was just afraid you'd be mad at me. I promise I'll be good from now on."
"Your promises mean nothing. I don't believe you anymore."
Lance pinched Deanna's nose playfully and continued with a sly smile, "I've already discussed with Grandpa. Before you give birth, we'll go stay with him in the mountains. I don't believe Julia will follow us there."
Deanna was stunned. She never expected Lance to make such a decision and protested immediately, "I don't want to go. It's so boring in the mountains. Besides Grandpa, I have no one to talk to. And I promised Julia I'd be with her when she gives birth."
"Your protest is invalid. It's your own fault for not behaving."
Lance dismissed Deanna's words without any sympathy.
Seeing this, Deanna truly regretted it but didn't plan to give in. She didn't believe that acting cute wouldn't work on him. "I don't want to go. There are still several months until my due date. Can you really bear to be apart from me for so long? Gregory and Chloe will miss me too."
"For your and the baby's sake, Gregory and Chloe will endure missing you. Besides, I can take them up the mountain to visit you on weekends."
Lance countered every argument as if he was determined to send Deanna to the mountains.
Deanna felt utterly helpless now. She stared at the man in front of her, feeling a sudden wave of grievance as big tears rolled down her cheeks.
Her crying filled the room.
Lance was startled. He never expected Deanna to cry so suddenly and hurriedly wiped her tears while comforting her. "Why are you crying?"
"You bully me!"
Deanna accused Lance with teary eyes.
Lance was speechless and almost wanted to laugh. He thought he understood why Deanna was crying and gained a deeper understanding of the doctor's words about pregnant women's sensitive emotions.
"I'm just thinking about your health. Do you remember what the doctor said last time?"
Lance tried to reason with Deanna.
But he forgot that reasoning with an emotional pregnant woman was impossible.
Deanna didn't listen at all and irrationally retorted, "You're not thinking about my health; you're thinking about the baby. You care about the baby more than me. You've changed."
Lance suddenly felt heartbroken.
And Deanna kept crying, making his heart ache even more.
At that moment, perhaps due to her intense emotions, Deanna really got a cramp. "It's numb! It hurts so much! It's all your fault!"
She grabbed the cramped spot with her hand and looked at Lance resentfully.
Seeing this, Lance felt both helpless and heartbroken. In the end, he couldn't punish her and gently massaged her leg instead.
"You always take advantage of my love for you."
"That's right! I rely on your love for me. So what? You promised to love me forever. Are you regretting it now?"
Deanna looked at Lance triumphantly and deliberately provoked him.
What could Lance do? He could only accept it.
After all, he had spoiled her himself.