Around noon, Deanna received a call from her grandmother.
Old Ashley asked, "Where are you right now?"
"I'm at the herb field near the estate," Deanna replied, then asked curiously, "Is there something you need, Grandma?"
Old Ashley said, "Come back when you can, I have something to discuss with you."
Hearing this, Deanna sensed a bit of displeasure in her grandmother's tone. Before she could ask more, her grandmother hung up.
With no other choice, Deanna gave a few instructions to the person in charge of the herb field and hurried back home.
When she arrived, she saw her grandmother sitting on the sofa with a stern expression.
Old Ashley saw her too and pointed to the sofa in front, signaling her to sit down.
Deanna sat down, her eyes full of confusion, and asked, "Grandma, did something happen?"
"Let me ask you, do you plan to be with Mr. Mercer?" Old Ashley asked, her eyes piercing.
Deanna was taken aback and frowned, "Why are you bringing this up again?"
"It's not that I want to talk about it. Just before you got back, Mr. Mercer's mother came to see me," Old Ashley said with a sigh.
Deanna's frown deepened, "What did she come for?"
"She came to thank you for saving Mr. Mercer's life and brought a set of precious jewelry, which I declined. However, what she said left me quite unhappy," Old Ashley explained, recounting her meeting with Samantha.
Deanna was surprised. She hadn't expected Mrs. Mercer to approach her grandmother, and she felt a bit upset.
She pressed her lips together and asked, "What did Mrs. Mercer say?"
"She hopes you won't get any ideas about being with Lance because he owed you a favor," Old Ashley summarized succinctly.
Deanna couldn't help but laugh in anger.
It wasn't as if she had figured out what to do about her relationship with Lance yet.
And between her and Lance, it wasn't her who was being clingy!
Seeing her granddaughter silent, Old Ashley looked displeased and said, "I've always taken a let-it-be approach to you and Mr. Mercer, but now I feel it's necessary to state my position. I don't oppose you being with Mr. Mercer, but the condition is that you must be on equal footing!"
After saying this, she sighed again, then added earnestly, "I don't want you to be wronged, I hope you understand."
"I understand, I won't let myself be wronged," Deanna nodded, feeling an indescribable frustration and sadness.
Old Ashley nodded, "It's good that you understand. I won't say more."
Later, Deanna left the apartment. She didn't go back to the estate on the mountain but returned to Hencard Villa to pack her things.
"Dr. Deanna, what are you doing?" Sam was surprised to see Deanna coming downstairs with luggage.
Deanna smiled, "Mr. Mercer's health has improved a lot during this time. I plan to go back home."
Saying this, she was ready to leave with her luggage.
Sam wouldn't let her go so easily. If he did, Mr. Mercer would be angry when he returned in the evening.
"Dr. Deanna, don't joke around. Mr. Mercer is not fully recovered. Didn't you say he needs medicinal cuisine for another month? If you leave, there will be no one to prepare it."
Sam found an excuse to try to keep Deanna.
Deanna understood his intention and smiled, "You reminded me. How about this, I'll write down the recipe for the medicinal cuisine and give it to you."
Seeing her start writing in the living room, Sam knew he couldn't keep Dr. Deanna. He quickly signaled the servant beside him.
The servant understood and immediately went to contact Lance.
Sam tried to find ways to stall Deanna.
Of course, Deanna knew his little schemes. But she decided that even if Lance came, she would leave today.
Whether she was angry or not, Lance's mother's actions had crossed her line.
In her view, if Lance's mother had issues with her and Lance being together, she should have discussed it with her directly, not disturb her grandmother. Besides, she wasn't even with Lance yet.
Meanwhile, Lance, knowing Deanna was moving out of Hencard Villa, dropped everything and rushed back.
Entering the house, he saw Deanna sitting on the sofa in the living room with two suitcases and a pet carrier by her feet.
Deanna heard the noise and knew Lance was back. She turned her head, stood up calmly, and said lightly, "Since you're back, can I leave now?"
"Why?" Lance blocked her path, full of confusion.
Everything was fine in the morning.
Deanna pressed her lips together and said truthfully, "Did you know your mother went to see my grandmother? She didn't say anything harsh, just hoped I'd keep my distance from you. After thinking about it, I realized she's right. I'm single, you're single, people will gossip negatively about us if we keep living together."