Lance did not intend to explain much. He shifted the topic and said, "Until Deanna is found, please take care of the company's matters. Also, please inform others that the wedding is postponed."
There were less than ten days left until his wedding with Deanna. He wasn't sure if he could find Deanna within these ten days, so he had to change the date.
Samantha nodded, indicating she understood. Finally, Lance's gaze swept over Old Ashley and saw the distressed expressions of the two little ones.
The two little ones looked at him, their lips trembling as they choked out, "Daddy, you have to find Mommy quickly. I'm so worried about her."
"I will find your mommy as soon as possible, but during this time, you need to be good, okay?" Lance promised them.
The two little ones nodded tearfully. Old Ashley, however, expressed her concern, "You also need to take care of yourself. Delegate tasks to others. If you fall ill, even if Deanna comes back, she will feel guilty."
"I know, Grandma. I will take care of myself," Lance nodded in agreement.
The next two days were very quiet for the Mercer family. The silence made Eula uneasy.
She contacted her confidant and asked again, "What's the situation with Lance now?"
"According to our informants, Lance has been at home receiving treatment these past two days. It seems he is ill, and Gunner is personally treating him. However, his men are investigating the places you and Ollie have been recently. They still seem determined to find evidence that you harmed Deanna," Avery reported.
Eula snorted, "Let him investigate. If he finds a clue, I'll admit defeat!" She then shifted the topic, "You mentioned Lance is ill?"
Suddenly, she remembered being driven out by Lance the other night when he was sitting in a wheelchair.
A vague idea formed in her mind, making her excited. However, to implement this idea, she needed to think it through carefully. At the very least, her identity had to be clear on Chiaz's side.
At this moment, Deanna was being escorted out of a room.
In the corridor, Bella looked at Deanna, who seemed in good spirits, and said cheerfully, "Very good. It seems you've accepted your fate and taken care of yourself these past few days. Once I sell you for a good price, I won't spend a penny of that money. I'll give it all to your son as the last thing you do for them as a mother."
Hearing this, Deanna bit her gums hard to keep herself from exploding. She repeatedly told herself that now was not the best time.
Bella noticed Deanna glaring at her angrily without speaking and felt bored. "Forget it. I don't want to waste words on someone who's about to become a plaything. Take her and follow me," Bella ordered her men.
The henchmen nodded and grabbed Deanna, following Bella. Soon, they exited the cabin and reached the deck to disembark.
Deanna quickly scanned the surroundings and noticed many guards around Bella. If she wanted to escape, she would have to jump into the sea from the stairs while disembarking and swim under the boat.
Having decided on her route, she began to gather strength and prepare for action. One, two, three...
Deanna counted down and then made her move in the disembarkation passageway. She first stomped hard on the foot of the guard holding her. As he loosened his grip in pain, she bent down and broke free from his hold. Without stopping, she climbed onto the nearby railing and flipped into the sea.
Everything went smoothly. "Damn it! Are you all useless? You can't even hold onto a woman!" Bella's furious curses echoed into the water.
Deanna couldn't afford to enjoy her success; she held her breath and swam towards the boat's underside.
Just then, she heard a gunshot and felt a dangerous sensation spreading from her back. Instinctively trying to dodge, she found her movements slowed by the water and her weakening body.
The next second, she felt something hit her body, causing excruciating pain that nearly made her faint. Bright red blood seeped through her clothes and spread rapidly in the water.
In no time, a large area turned red. Seeing the red spreading on the surface, Bella knew she had hit Deanna. Her eyes filled with malice as she fired several more shots.
When her gun was empty, she tossed it to a guard and ordered, "Stay here. If that woman isn't dead, capture her. If she's dead, feed her body to the sharks!"
The guard nodded and stood on the deck, watching the surroundings.
At the same time, far away at home, Lance and Old Ashley suddenly felt a pang of unease as if something important had been lost.