Facing the gazes of the two men, Deanna felt like she was in a trap.
She had no choice but to say neutrally, "Well, I haven't met other members of the Martinez family, but through my master, I can be sure they are very formidable. Compared to Lance, they each have their strengths."
After speaking, she didn't give them a chance to react and suddenly waved at Julia, who was walking towards her. "Julia, you're here. I was just about to find you."
She quickly walked up to Julia and pulled her away.
Watching her retreating figure, Lance and Gunner exchanged helpless smiles.
The next second, their eyes accidentally met.
Gunner snorted first and said, "I wasn't joking earlier. If you can't pass the test, don't even think about marrying my apprentice."
"Mr. Martinez, you worry too much. I will definitely marry Deanna," Lance replied firmly.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Gunner finally left.
Meanwhile, the celebration banquet went smoothly.
The group partied until midnight.
On the way back, Deanna was slightly tipsy.
She leaned against Lance's chest, smiling happily.
Seeing this, Lance gently brushed the hair from her face and softly asked, "Are you that happy?"
"Yes, the development of the special medicine can benefit so many people!" Deanna said, hiccupping from the alcohol. "Most importantly, it's a hope. If we can develop a drug to inhibit cancer cells, we can definitely develop a drug to kill cancer cells in the future, making cancer no longer a terminal illness!"
Hearing her ambitious words, Lance smiled faintly but said nothing.
He knew that at this moment, he didn't need to say anything; he just needed to listen quietly.
Indeed, Deanna continued talking happily about the future. "I'm still young. Give me a few more years, and I will definitely conquer cancer and find a way to cure Grandma so she can live a long life."
As she spoke, she fell asleep in Lance's arms.
Lance carefully adjusted her position for a more comfortable sleep and whispered, "Whatever you want to achieve, I will help you."
Hearing this, Xavier couldn't help but glance through the rearview mirror at the warm scene in the backseat, feeling deeply moved.
Their missus truly had grand ambitions.
...
For the next two days, Deanna stayed home preparing for her trip to the Martinez family estate.
Since it was an important apprenticeship ceremony, Old Ashley, as Deanna's only elder, naturally had to attend.
The two little ones also begged Deanna to let them go along.
Only Lance couldn't go with Deanna in advance due to company matters.
Deanna understood.
The night before departure, Deanna held Lance's hand and reminded him, "While I'm away, take good care of yourself. Remember to take your medicine on time. I've noticed you're running low on your previous medication, so I've prepared a new course for you. Once you finish these, you should be ready for the final treatment phase. During this time, make sure nothing goes wrong with your health. Do you understand?"
"I understand. I promise I'll take good care of myself," Lance assured her with a smile. He then pulled her into his arms and whispered close to her ear, "We're about to be apart. Are you sure you want to waste time on these reminders?"
Feeling his breath on her ear, Deanna's cheeks flushed.
She glared at him playfully. "I'm being serious."
"So am I," Lance said as he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.
Looking at his smooth jawline, Deanna felt both helpless and amused but didn't resist.
After some time together, it was already midnight.
Holding the drowsy Deanna in his arms, Lance's voice was hoarse as he said, "I'll handle things at the company as quickly as possible and come find you. You take care of yourself too."
Deanna mumbled something in response and turned over to continue sleeping.
Seeing this, Lance smiled indulgently and soon fell asleep holding her.
Meanwhile, Bella received a call from Avery.
"In ten days, Deanna will have her apprenticeship ceremony with Gunner. Many people from the Martinez family will attend. That will be your best chance to act. The master has arranged forty people for you; they'll come to you tomorrow."
"Is forty enough?" Bella asked doubtfully.
Avery replied coldly, "Forty is plenty. They are all skilled fighters who can take on two opponents each. Moreover, on the day of the ceremony, someone else will make a move on Deanna. You just need to take advantage of the situation after they succeed."
According to the master's plan, they would follow Duncan's lead and pick up the pieces. This way, they could frame Duncan and mislead Lance, delaying any rescue efforts.