After selecting the photos, Deanna and the others stayed in Feblesh for another day before returning home.
After a flight of more than ten hours, they arrived in Cloudmere in the middle of the night.
The two little ones were already asleep in Lance and Deanna's arms.
"I'll take you home. You won't be able to get upstairs alone," Lance offered.
Deanna nodded and didn't refuse. "Thank you, Mr. Mercer."
Once home, Deanna settled the two little ones and urged Lance to rest since it was so late and they had been on a long flight.
The next day, Old Ashley was surprised to find that Deanna and the others had returned.
"When did you get back? Why didn't you call to let me know?"
"We landed in the middle of the night and didn't want to disturb you," Deanna explained, then asked, "How has everything been at home these days?"
Old Ashley smiled. "Everything's been fine. Did you have fun abroad? Where did you go?"
"Great-grandma, we went to so many places. It was so much fun," Chloe chimed in before her mommy could answer, detailing their adventures abroad.
When Old Ashley heard that Deanna and Lance had helped someone shoot a wedding dress advertisement, she was quite surprised. She looked at Deanna with a gossiping gaze, wanting to ask something.
But Deanna saw through her intentions and quickly handed over a gift she had bought abroad. "Grandma, this is a gift I got for you. See if you like it."
Old Ashley was handed the gift and couldn't help but laugh. She could tell her granddaughter was trying to avoid questions about her and Mr. Mercer. She decided not to press further and started unwrapping the gift.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. The two little ones ran to open it and exclaimed happily, "Godmother, Uncle Landon, why are you here?"
Julia and Landon were also surprised to see Deanna sitting in the living room.
"Deanna, when did you get back?" Julia asked.
Deanna turned and smiled. "We got back last night. It was too late to inform you. But why are you two here together?"
She looked at her two friends with a teasing gaze.
Julia noticed and glared back playfully. "Don't overthink it. We just ran into each other downstairs. Since you were abroad, we didn't want Grandma to be alone, so we came by every day to check on her."
Saying this, she sat down on the sofa, and Landon followed suit.
Seeing their unspoken understanding, Deanna smiled but said nothing. "Since you're here, I have gifts for you both. Saves me from having to arrange another time."
She got up to fetch the gifts she had prepared for them and handed them over.
Finally, she sincerely thanked them. "And thank you for taking care of Grandma while I was away."
"Don't mention it. Remember, your grandma is my grandma too," Landon replied, raising an eyebrow in protest of Deanna's formal tone.
Julia nodded in agreement. "Exactly, Grandma is my grandma too."
Then she seemed to remember something and leaned in close to Deanna with a mischievous look. "I heard you and Mr. Mercer took wedding photos and even kissed. Come on, tell me how far you've gotten."
"Don't talk nonsense..." Deanna began to deny it but was interrupted by Julia.
"Don't tell me you're just friends. What kind of friends take wedding photos and kiss?" Julia teased.
Deanna was at a loss for words. Seeing her friend's persistent look, she finally said, "Mr. Mercer and I are just friends for now. But if that changes, I promise you'll be the first to know."
Julia was stunned. They had done so many intimate things but were still just friends?
She looked at her friend strangely.
Deanna noticed her gaze and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing, just thinking you're a rare straight woman," Julia teased.
Deanna felt both amused and exasperated.
Meanwhile, after resting for a night, Lance went straight to the company. After being away for so many days, there were many things waiting for him to handle.
Around noon, Xavier suddenly entered the CEO's office with a serious expression.
"Mr. Mercer, regarding the email investigation you asked for earlier, I just got the word that the guy behind framing Dr. Deanna is identified."