Deanna cried even harder when she heard her grandmother's words. The hospital room was filled with an atmosphere of sorrow.
Lance noticed the old lady's gaze on him, as if she had something to say.
But perhaps she had used up all her strength earlier, for now, she opened her mouth but no sound came out. Even so, Lance knew what worried her the most.
He stepped forward, stood beside Deanna, and solemnly promised, "Don't worry, I will take good care of Deanna and the children. I will never let them down. If I break this promise, may I meet a terrible end with no reincarnation."
Old Ashley, hearing this vow, nodded with tear-filled eyes and slowly closed her eyes. Now she could leave in peace.
At that moment, the life-monitoring equipment in the room emitted a rapid alarm. Deanna heard the sound and saw her grandmother lying on the bed with closed eyes, looking as if she were asleep. She immediately knew what had happened and her pupils contracted.
"Grandma-" she screamed heart-wrenchingly and then fainted from the shock. Fortunately, Lance was right behind her and caught her in time.
The two little ones saw their grandmother pass away and their mommy faint, and they cried even harder. Julia was not much better off. The room was in chaos for a while.
But the doctors arrived quickly. Lance handed Deanna over to them and began to arrange Old Ashley's funeral. Logan and Samantha heard the news and rushed over to help.
By the end of the night, Old Ashley's memorial hall was set up at the mountain estate, and her body was transported back there. Black and white fabrics were hung all around.
The next morning, the sky was overcast with a light drizzle. Deanna woke up feeling her eyes swollen and painful.
Memories of what happened before she fainted replayed in her mind. She sat up abruptly and realized she was not in the hospital room but in a bedroom at the estate.
As she was in a daze, the door opened from outside and Lance walked in with a bowl of soup.
"You're awake," he said as he approached her, looking at her swollen eyes with concern. "They're still swollen. I used an egg compress on you last night, but it doesn't seem to have helped much."
Deanna stared blankly at the man in front of her, wanting to say something but unable to find the words. Lance wasn't in a hurry.
He sat down next to her with the bowl of soup and said softly, "The kitchen simmered this chicken soup all night. I had them add some rice this morning; it's just right now. Have some to eat; there are many things you need to handle later."
Hearing this, Deanna blinked hard but tears still fell. She didn't eat the chicken soup porridge Lance offered but instead threw herself into his arms, burying her head in his chest and speaking in a hoarse voice filled with sobs. "I have no family left. It's just me now."
"It's okay, you still have me, Gregory, and Chloe. In six months, we'll have another lovely baby," Lance said gently, knowing what Deanna cared about most. He put down the bowl and held her, comforting her softly.
Deanna sobbed without saying anything. Lance didn't mind; he just kept gently patting her back and soothing her. "Cry it out, let all the pain out."
She cried for half an hour before finally calming down. Her voice was hoarse beyond recognition, and her eyes were even more swollen like goldfish eyes.
Lance tenderly wiped away her tears and asked, "Do you feel a bit better now?"
Deanna nodded slightly and then spoke in a raspy voice, "My grandmother..."
Although she didn't finish her sentence, Lance knew what she wanted to ask and explained everything he had arranged the night before.
"I've brought Grandma back. She's in the best wood coffin. The memorial hall is ready, and the public memorial service is at noon."
"Thank you," Deanna said gratefully.
She knew that given the situation yesterday, Lance had arranged everything overnight and even provided the highest level of treatment for her grandmother. The effort he put in was considerable.
Lance looked back at Deanna's tear-filled eyes with endless tenderness in his heart. "Silly girl, don't thank me. This is what I should do. Don't forget, I'm also Grandma's grandson-in-law."
Deanna forced a smile that looked worse than crying. Lance didn't mind; he ruffled her hair gently and said softly, "Eat something. You'll need to be present for the memorial service at noon."
Deanna nodded, took the bowl of soup he handed her, and slowly ate it. For a while, the only sound in the room was the clinking of the spoon against the bowl.
After finishing the porridge, Deanna suddenly looked at Lance and asked, "Did they catch Eula?"