That evening, when Lionel came to pick up Julia, he saw Deanna and Lance standing together. Julia was taken aback.
Deanna noticed his change in expression and smiled lightly, "Professor Grant wouldn't mind if we add one more person from our side, right?"
"Not at all, not at all."
Lionel, hearing Deanna address him so formally, dared not object.
Seeing this, Deanna hummed in satisfaction. She had specifically called Lance to support her friend. As for the two little ones, she had sent them back. After all, if the evening turned unpleasant, having the children around would affect them.
"Julia, let's get in the car. My parents are already at the restaurant," Lionel said with a gentle smile.
Julia glanced at him but didn't refuse and walked towards the passenger seat. Lionel eagerly opened the car door for her and helped her in with gentlemanly care before closing the door. After doing all this, he looked at Deanna and Lance.
Before he could say anything, Deanna said, "We drove ourselves here. You go ahead; we'll follow behind."
"Alright then, I'll go first," Lionel said as he turned and got into the driver's seat.
Watching the car start, Deanna and Lance also got into their waiting car. On the way, Lance looked at the car ahead and sighed, "I didn't expect someone so decisive in work to be so confused about family matters."
"I didn't expect him to be like this either, which is why I insisted on attending this family dinner," Deanna sighed. "Julia helped me a lot over the years, and her parents also gave me a lot of support. Now that I have the ability, I naturally don't want to see Julia being bullied by others. No one can bully my people."
Lance looked at his protective wife and smiled, feeling a bit jealous. To think he had never enjoyed such protection despite being with Deanna for so long.
"I'm suddenly a bit jealous of Julia," he said, holding Deanna's hand.
Deanna turned to look at him, understanding his thoughts. She teased, "Enough already. It's one thing to be jealous of our son, but now you're even jealous of Julia? This is sour grape!"
There were two chuckles from the front seats. Xavier and Shannon couldn't help but laugh but immediately regretted it as they felt a chill down their necks.
Xavier thought he was doomed this time but then heard Shannon's voice.
"Xavier, don't you think this sunlight is too glaring? Such bright light could hurt Missus's eyes. Quickly put down the sunshade."
"Oh, you're right. This sunlight is too glaring," Xavier responded after a few seconds of confusion. He quickly agreed and pressed the button to lower the partition between the front and back seats.
Deanna stared at the partition, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. Shannon's excuse was terrible; it was already evening-there was no sunlight.
"Your people really know how to lie with their eyes open," Deanna pretended to be annoyed as she glared at Lance.
Lance smiled warmly.
Thus, the two of them arrived at the restaurant in this affectionate manner. As soon as Deanna and Lance got out of the car, they saw Dalilah blocking their friend and Lionel.
Dalilah stared at Julia and Lionel holding hands, her smile faltering. "Lionel, why is this woman here?"
Tonight's gathering was supposed to be about discussing Lionel's marriage with her. How could they discuss it with this woman here?
Julia looked at the arrogant woman in front of her and smirked sarcastically, glancing at Lionel. Her look clearly said that Lionel should handle it himself.
Lionel had no intention of making Julia deal with it. He frowned and said, "Julia is my fiancée. Since tonight is a family dinner, why can't she be here?"
Deanna approached just in time to hear this and added forcefully, "I also want to ask why a random woman can come to the Grant family dinner while our Julia, who is your legitimate fiancée carrying your child, cannot?"
Lance remained silent, standing quietly beside Deanna as if silently supporting her.
Faced with questions from both of them, Dalilah's face turned red with embarrassment. Having already questioned Lionel earlier, she didn't want to make him dislike her more, so she redirected her anger towards Deanna.
"I know you; you're Julia's friend. But tonight is a family dinner for Lionel's family. As a friend..."
Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the handsome man beside Deanna and was momentarily stunned.
Deanna rolled her eyes at such a reaction and glared at Lance as if saying, "See? You're causing trouble again."
Lance was already displeased with Dalilah's infatuated gaze. Now being blamed by his fiancée made him even more irritated.