Chloe was disgusted by Lance's words and demanded to brush her teeth as soon as she got home.
Watching her youngest daughter run upstairs, Deanna couldn't help but laugh. She playfully glared at the man beside her. "Look at how you've disgusted Chloe."
"I did it for her own good. Don't you care?" Lance raised an eyebrow in response.
Deanna was speechless. How could she not care? She had raised her daughter with so much love and care. Even if it came to fighting, she didn't want anyone to take advantage of her.
The old lady, who had just returned from the garden, was surprised to see Deanna and Lance back so early with the two little ones. "Why are you back so early? Gregory, aren't you supposed to be in school? It's not dismissal time yet, is it?"
She looked at Gregory with confusion, her gaze also sweeping over Lance and Deanna for a few seconds, as if silently asking if something had happened.
Deanna didn't know how to explain for a moment. Gregory remained quiet.
Seeing the mother and son silent, Lance chuckled. "It's nothing serious, Grandma. Don't worry. Gregory and Chloe had a conflict at school and got into a fight, so we brought them back."
"A fight?" Old Ashley exclaimed loudly.
She then looked at Gregory with concern. "Are you hurt? Why did you get into a fight with your classmate?"
"It was the classmate who provoked us first. He insulted Mommy and humiliated my sister, so I couldn't hold back. But don't worry, Grandma, I'm not hurt. It was that classmate who got hit several times by me," Gregory said with a light snort.
Old Ashley sighed in relief. "It's good that you're not hurt."
Deanna couldn't help but gently tap the little guy's shoulder and scold him, "What's there to be proud of about not getting hurt? Do you think fighting is honorable?"
She wasn't trying to scold Gregory harshly; she just didn't want him to feel proud of fighting.
Gregory looked at his mother's stern face and immediately understood what was going on. "Hehe, of course not," he said with a sheepish smile, trying to please Deanna.
That afternoon, since they were already home, Deanna and Lance didn't return to the research institute or the company. They stayed home, playing with the two little ones and Grandma in the garden, creating a very warm scene.
Eula stood by the window of her third-floor room, coldly watching the happy family in the garden below. Jealousy threatened to overwhelm her.
At that moment, her phone rang on the table. It was her confidant, Avery. "Master, everything is done. The news will break out by tomorrow at the latest."
"I can't wait until tomorrow. Make sure it comes out tonight," Eula said coldly, staring at the family's bright smiles below.
Avery acknowledged and hung up the phone.
Deanna and Lance were unaware of this. After playing with the little ones and Grandma until they were tired, they noticed it was almost lunchtime and moved to the dining room.
As soon as they entered the dining room, they saw Eula sitting at the table.
Eula greeted them with a smile. "Miss Jones, Lance, you were playing in the garden. Why didn't you invite me?"
"We thought you were out since we didn't see you around," Deanna said apologetically, though her expression lacked genuine remorse.
Lance's words were even more direct. "You're an outsider. Why would we invite you?"
"..." Eula was stunned and hurt.
She never expected that after nearly ten years of companionship, she would still be considered an outsider in Lance's eyes. What did her ten years of affection mean then?
No matter how much Eula raged inside, she maintained her elegance on the surface. She couldn't and didn't want to fall out with Lance just yet.
Old Ashley looked around, sensing the odd atmosphere among the three of them. Her eyes flickered for a moment before she changed the subject. "Let's eat before the food gets cold."
Deanna nodded and smiled as she helped the little ones with their meal.
Seeing this, Lance also served Deanna some food and reminded her, "Don't just focus on them; eat something yourself."
"Got it," Deanna replied, glancing at Lance with affection in her eyes.
Eula watched the tender interaction between them, jealousy boiling inside her almost uncontrollably. She gripped her cutlery tightly, lowering her head to hide her expression under the guise of eating.
Just then, Lance's phone rang. Xavier's serious voice came through. "President, bad news. Master Gregory and Miss Chloe are being cyberbullied for allegedly using school violence against a classmate."
"Send me the news link immediately. Have our PR team suppress it and send legal notices to the media outlets that published it!" Lance quickly made arrangements, his expression icy cold.