"Mr. Mercer, we just received news from Espuenia that Eula is missing."
A few days earlier, Max had sought Lance's help to launch a rebellion against Eula and eliminate her influence.
Lance naturally did not refuse such a request; he even hoped that Eula would be imprisoned in this incident. After all, as long as Eula lost power, she would no longer be a threat to Deanna.
However, Lance never expected that Eula would go missing despite being surrounded by so many people.
Thinking about this, Lance's expression grew serious. "Have people been sent to look for her? All major exits, including sea routes?"
"They've searched everywhere but found no trace of Eula," Xavier reported truthfully.
Lance narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. A few seconds later, he questioned again, "Have all of Eula's confidants been captured?"
Hearing this, Xavier understood his meaning. "Not one escaped; they've all been caught."
Xavier found it strange. All of Eula's confidants had been captured, and her forces were taken down in one fell swoop. How did she manage to evade their pursuit?
Unable to figure it out, Xavier looked at Lance. Lance understood the confusion in his eyes and said indifferently, "I told you not to underestimate Eula. She didn't rise to power among many illegitimate children by luck but by real ability."
Xavier wanted to defend himself. He hadn't underestimated Eula; he just found it odd. They had set up an inescapable net, capturing everyone else. How did Eula alone manage to escape?
Lance pretended not to see the emotions in Xavier's eyes and spoke again, "Eula has lost everything and knows I orchestrated this. She will definitely seek revenge on me. However, she should also know that the chances of succeeding against me are slim. Therefore, her targets will likely be Deanna and Gregory and Chloe. In the meantime, have Shannon and Leighton keep a close watch on Deanna and Gregory and Chloe. Also, increase security at the old house and the mountain sanatorium."
No one understood better than Lance how dangerous a desperate Eula could be. She would do anything to make her enemies suffer, even if it meant harming herself.
What Lance couldn't imagine was that while he and Xavier were discussing, Eula had already disguised herself and arrived in Cloudmere.
Eula's appearance had changed drastically. Her golden hair was now black and cropped short. Her blue eyes had turned brown. Although her features still bore some Espuenian characteristics, she now looked like a mixed-race person.
She disembarked from a coal ship and looked up at the sky with intense hatred in her eyes.
Lance, Deanna, she was back! This time, she would not show any mercy and would make them regret ever crossing her!
As she stewed in her thoughts, a voice shouted at her, "Finley, what are you standing there for? Get over here and move these things!"
Finley was the identity Eula had stolen. In her haste at the Espuenia dock, she had found someone of similar height and build to disguise herself as. The original person had been fed to the sharks-dead men tell no tales.
Deanna knew none of this. After nearly a week of rest, she applied to return to work at the research institute.
Gunner naturally agreed.
That evening, when Lance returned home, Deanna mentioned going back to work.
"I've already spoken with my master; I'll start working at the research institute tomorrow."
Seeing the smile on Deanna's face, Lance knew she genuinely wanted to do something productive. Although he worried about her health, he understood that idleness made her uncomfortable.
"I won't oppose you going back to work; your happiness is most important. But I have one condition: take care of your health while you're busy. You're pregnant now, and I don't want you to overexert yourself. It would make me worry."
Lance spoke earnestly while looking at Deanna.
Deanna smiled sweetly at him. "I know; I won't overwork myself. I care about our child too."
"I'm just afraid you'll forget once you get busy," Lance said, still not entirely reassured by her promise.
Deanna felt slightly embarrassed and was about to say something playful when Lance's pleasant voice interrupted her thoughts again.
"Can you postpone your start date at the research institute by one day?"
"Why?" Deanna asked, puzzled.
Lance didn't elaborate much. "I need you with me tomorrow to handle some matters."
He planned to take Deanna and the two little ones to the old town the next day to thank those who had once taken care of them. This was one of his objectives.
The other objective was to heal the emotional scars of the twins.