Watching the two little ones bringing their homemade dishes to curry favor, Deanna felt both amused and exasperated.
Lance, enjoying their attentiveness, had a look of undisguised satisfaction on his face.
Old Ashley, observing their warm interaction, couldn't help but remark, "They are getting closer now, almost like father and son."
Deanna couldn't hold back the truth upon hearing this. "Grandma, don't be fooled by these two little rascals. They are being so attentive because they want to go to the stables."
Almost as soon as she finished speaking, the dining room confirmed her words.
Chloe looked at Lance with sparkling eyes and eagerly asked, "Uncle, can we go to the stables again this weekend? We haven't been there for days. What if the foal forgets us?"
Lance's eyes flickered at her words. Seeing the eager looks on their faces, he couldn't resist teasing them. "This weekend? It might not be possible."
"Why not? Do you have something to do, Uncle?" The two little ones immediately looked anxious.
A mischievous glint appeared in Lance's eyes as he smiled and said, "I don't have anything planned now, but I can't guarantee I won't have something come up by then."
Chloe scratched her head in confusion. "Uncle says he has nothing planned now but might have something to do later. So does he or doesn't he?"
"Foolish sister, Uncle is teasing us," Gregory said, lightly tapping his sister's forehead.
Although it wasn't hard, Chloe covered the spot and defended herself. "I knew Uncle was teasing us. I'm not foolish. But if you keep hitting me like this, I might really become foolish. Then you'll be responsible!"
"I don't want to be responsible," Gregory replied with feigned disdain.
After some playful banter, they finally agreed to visit the stables that weekend to see the foal.
Gregory then remembered something and asked, "Uncle, can we bring someone else with us?"
"Who do you want to bring?" Lance asked curiously.
Deanna was also intrigued.
"It's Godmother," Gregory replied.
Lance nodded and smiled. "That's fine. If your Godmother comes along, she can play with you while I teach your mommy how to ride properly. Walking around the stables all the time is no fun."
Deanna felt a bit frustrated. What was wrong with walking around the stables?
Before she could say anything, the two little ones made the decision for her. "Mommy should learn properly. Uncle, you can focus on teaching Mommy; we won't disturb your time together."
After saying that, they winked mischievously at their mommy and uncle.
Lance couldn't help but laugh and affectionately ruffled their hair.
Deanna was both amused and exasperated.
The next morning, Jeffery arrived early at the foreign bank building to sign an agreement with their representative.
Before he could enter the building, a young man who looked like an assistant stopped him.
"Mr. Cody."
"Ah, Mr. Wagner! Your bank manager is too courteous to send you down to meet me. Let's go up together," Jeffery greeted him warmly.
However, Mr. Wagner spoke coldly and distantly. "Mr. Cody, there's a misunderstanding. I'm here on behalf of our manager to inform you that your agreement with him is void."
"Void?" Jeffery looked shocked.
Mr. Wagner nodded. "Yes, Mr. Cody. Please leave."
He gestured for Jeffery to leave.
Realizing what was happening, Jeffery's face turned grim. "I'm not leaving! I need to see your manager! We had an agreement; how can he change his mind at the last minute?"
As he spoke, he tried to rush into the building but was stopped by Mr. Wagner and some security guards.
Outnumbered by three or four people, Jeffery was eventually forced out.
Standing by the roadside, he angrily stared at the bank building and reluctantly took out his phone to call the manager.
Fortunately, the manager answered his call.
"Why?" Jeffery demanded urgently.
The manager replied calmly, "I told you before that our deal had to be private because you've offended Mercer Group, but Mr. Mercer got the news. I think you understand now why I'm refusing."
"I understand!" Jeffery spat out through gritted teeth before hanging up and growling under his breath, "Lance!"
His sudden outburst startled passersby who turned to look at him.
Ignoring their stares, Jeffery drove furiously to Mercer Group.
"I want to see Lance! Tell Lance to come down!"