While Julia was taking care of Deanna, chaos erupted at Deanna's apartment.
The reason was simple: Old Ashley had contacted Deanna in the morning, but she couldn't reach her for the entire afternoon. She called repeatedly, but the phone was turned off.
"Could something have happened?" Old Ashley clutched her phone tightly, sitting anxiously on the sofa, muttering to herself with a deeply furrowed brow.
At that moment, Lance came in with the two little ones and saw Old Ashley looking distressed on the sofa.
"Grandma, what's wrong?" The two little ones ran over with concern, each hugging one of Old Ashley's legs.
Lance also walked over and asked with concern, "What happened? And where is Dr. Deanna?"
"Deanna went out early this morning. I could reach her by phone in the morning, but now her phone is off, and I can't contact her," Old Ashley said, looking at Lance with a pleading expression. "Mr. Mercer, could you please ask someone to help find Deanna? I'm really worried about her."
Lance immediately contacted Xavier to send someone to look for her. The two little ones were also very worried upon hearing their mother was missing.
"Uncle, will our mommy be okay?"
"Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to your mommy," Lance reassured them, patting their heads, though he was also deeply concerned. However, he needed to stay and comfort Old Ashley and the two little ones.
Lance then asked, "Grandma, have you contacted Dr. Deanna's friends, like Julia or Landon?"
"I forgot," Old Ashley admitted, feeling a bit frustrated.
"It's okay," Lance comforted. "Dr. Deanna might be with one of them. Try contacting them."
Old Ashley nodded and took out her phone to make a call. The two little ones also suggested, "Great-grandma, you call Uncle Landon; we'll call Godmother."
"Alright," Old Ashley agreed and called Landon while the two little ones called Julia.
Soon, Julia answered the phone, sounding a bit breathless. "Gregory and Chloe, why are you calling me? Do you miss me?"
"It's not that we miss you; it's that our mommy is missing. Have you seen her? Gregory and Chloe are very worried," Chloe said with a sniffle, her voice choked with emotion.
Julia's heart ached upon hearing this. "Don't worry; your mommy is with me."
"Really? Can you let mommy talk to us?" Gregory asked skeptically.
Julia paused before explaining, "Your mommy drank a lot at my place and is now asleep. How about I video call you?"
She ended the call and quickly initiated a video call.
"It's mommy!" Chloe exclaimed excitedly.
Lance and Old Ashley leaned in to see Deanna's flushed face as she slept soundly. Old Ashley sighed in relief. "She went to Julia's without telling me. Landon, sorry for bothering you; we've found Deanna," she said to Landon on the other end of the call.
Landon laughed lightly. "It's fine as long as she's found. Don't worry."
"Come over for dinner sometime; I'll make something delicious for you," Old Ashley offered kindly before ending the call.
Meanwhile, Lance had obtained Julia's address and was ready to pick up Deanna. Before leaving, he reminded the two little ones, "Stay home and take care of Grandma. I'll bring your mommy back soon."
They nodded and watched him leave.
About ten minutes later, Lance arrived at Julia's apartment complex. Following the address Julia provided, he soon stood at her door.
Julia raised an eyebrow at the handsome man standing outside but didn't let him in immediately. She blocked the doorway with her arms crossed.
"Mr. Mercer, I don't mind you taking Deanna home, but first, you need to answer a few questions."
"What questions?" Lance asked with a slight frown but didn't seem annoyed by her approach.
Julia stared at him intently. "Is Deanna's bad mood related to you? Did you two argue?"
Lance was silent for a few seconds before replying, "I don't know if it's related to me, but we didn't argue."
Julia found his answer exasperating.