After eating, Deanna felt much better.
Lance noticed the improvement in her complexion and asked with concern, "How are you feeling now?"
"Much better," Deanna replied, exhaling a breath of relief.
However, when she saw the documents on Lance's hospital bed, she frowned. "It's so late, why are you still working? Didn't Dr. Cohen tell you that your body needs proper rest after detoxification?"
Seeing her disapproval, Lance felt a warmth in his heart, and his smile grew even brighter. "These are urgent documents, but I've finished them. Don't worry, I won't jeopardize my health."
Hearing this, Deanna finally relaxed her frown.
At that moment, Lance's tone shifted. He gazed deeply at Deanna and said in a low voice, "I heard you saved me."
For some reason, Deanna felt her ears tingle at his words.
"It wasn't just me; Dr. Cohen also put in a lot of effort," she said modestly, waving her hand.
Lance looked at her humble demeanor with increasing tenderness in his eyes. "Regardless, you saved me. How should I repay you?"
Deanna was taken aback, clearly not expecting Lance to say that.
But she didn't need Lance's gratitude, so she shook her head and declined. "No need to repay me. I was just doing my job. Don't forget, I'm your personal doctor, and you've helped me a lot too."
"That's different. The help I provided was minor. Dr. Deanna, you saved my life," Lance insisted.
If one looked closely, they could see a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Deanna didn't notice it because she suddenly thought of an old saying: "A life-saving grace should be repaid with marriage."
At that moment, she heard Lance's voice echoing the same sentiment. "There's an old saying: 'A life-saving grace should be repaid with marriage.' Dr. Deanna, what do you think?"
Deanna choked on her own saliva upon hearing this.
She looked at Lance in astonishment, with a mix of surprise and shyness in her eyes. "Mr. Mercer, don't joke around. It's late; you should rest. I'm also tired."
After saying this, she quickly pulled up the blanket and lay down, turning her back to Lance to avoid any more unsettling remarks.
Out of Lance's sight, her cheeks were flushed red like ripe apples.
Lance watched her retreating figure with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. But he didn't press further.
After all, his approach to Deanna had always been gradual and gentle, allowing her to accept him slowly.
...
The next day, the two little ones were relieved to see their mother awake.
"Mommy, you're finally awake! My brother and I were so worried about you," Chloe said, snuggling into Deanna's arms.
Deanna hugged her and patted her son's head, knowing that her two-day coma had frightened them. She gently reassured them, "It's Mommy's fault for scaring you."
"No way! Mommy is great," Gregory retorted, looking up at her.
Deanna chuckled warmly.
Samantha and Lance watched the loving interaction between the mother and children with tender expressions.
In contrast to this warm atmosphere, Bella was seething with anger after returning home.
Especially since she had stayed by Lance's side in the hospital, hoping to gain his favor when he woke up.
But before she could act, Lance had sent her away, leaving her furious and regretting not getting involved in Deanna's kidnapping earlier out of fear of being discovered.
"Damn it! I thought Alonso was more capable. He couldn't even handle one woman. No wonder he's been suppressed by Lance all these years!"
Ironically, just as she finished cursing Alonso, she received a call from him.
"Bella, I heard Lance sent you back," Alonso's cold voice came through the phone.
Bella's face darkened immediately upon hearing this. She snapped back angrily, "What does that have to do with you?"
"Indeed, it has nothing to do with me. But if you had cooperated with me, you wouldn't be in this situation. You keep trying to please Lance, but he doesn't care about you at all," Alonso taunted.
Bella felt like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She gritted her teeth and said angrily, "Instead of mocking me, you should think about what your Valencia family will do next! Now that Lance is awake, he won't spare your family."
"That's true," Alonso replied after a pause. "But Miss Cody seems to forget that Lance won't spare your Cody family either."
He then extended an invitation. "So, Miss Cody, how about we work together to take down Mercer Group? Once Mercer Group is gone, getting Lance will be much easier for you."