The words made Lance pause in his work.
He frowned, silent for a moment before speaking.
"It's no use looking for her. This matter ultimately falls on my side."
Xavier nodded. "Indeed."
The Jones family and the Howard family shouldn't do anything to her.
He said no more, turning and leaving the office.
After Xavier left, Lance was left alone, lost in thought.
She shouldn't get into trouble because of him.
Deanna, at this moment, was in front of her computer, following the news trends.
She furrowed her brows, her eyes flickering.
The more she looked, the more subtle her expression became.
Her news was getting fewer and fewer.
Now, she searched 'Deanna' on Facebook.
The result: no information.
The army of netizens cursing at her had vanished.
She couldn't even find any unfavorable comments about her.
In terms of speed, it was incredible.
She never followed celebrities and didn't know the online tricks.
However, even without knowing, she sensed something was amiss.
Someone had helped her suppress the news.
Suppressing this much news must have cost a lot of money.
But who could it be?
The big shots she knew weren't from the Jones family or the Howard family.
Could it be Mr. Mercer?
Her eyes widened at the thought.
But then she thought again, finding it unlikely.
"What benefit does he get from doing this? He has no reason to help me," she muttered to herself.
Lance wasn't the type to meddle in others' affairs.
And she didn't think their relationship was that close.
But besides him, who else could it be?
She searched her mind, considering every possible person.
She was pondering when the phone rang.
She glanced at it. It was Garrett.
Her expression turned cold, and she hung up the phone.
She had retrieved the necklace and didn't want any involvement with the Jones family.
She had no obligation to answer his call.
However, a few seconds later, the phone rang again.
Deanna felt puzzled.
Lance had caused trouble last night.
Garrett shouldn't be targeting her again.
So why was he calling?
She was about to block him when she remembered the news.
This incident had caused significant harm to Emily.
Could it be that Garrett was also involved in this?
She answered the phone, and Garrett's questioning voice came through.
"Deanna, did you ask Mr. Mercer to deal with the online news?"
Garrett sounded furious, evidently very upset.
Her? Mr. Mercer?
Deanna was baffled, her lips twitching.
How did these two things connect?
She didn't have the ability to order Mr. Mercer around.
Besides, she couldn't afford such a hefty sum of money.
Seeing her silence, Garrett took it as confirmation and grew even angrier. "How could you do this to Emily? She's your sister!"
His accusation made Deanna burst into laughter.
She hadn't expected him to have the audacity to question her.
The news online this morning was full of insults directed at her, all orchestrated by the Jones family, wasn't it?
They could make her suffer but not allow Emily to suffer even a bit?
She coldly replied, "I don't understand what you're talking about."
Garrett snorted, cursing, "Don't play dumb with me! It's you who sent people to smear Emily online and made her the target of public criticism!"
He took a deep breath and ordered, "Stop it immediately and make Lance cease his actions!"
Deanna sneered. Garrett actually thought highly of her.
She really wanted to ask him how he became Mr. Jones.
If she had the power to command Mr. Mercer, she would have been calling the shots in the city long ago, instead of living such a tight life as she was now.
She scornfully retorted, "Are the online rumors false? Wasn't Mia the third party? Didn't Emily snatch my man? Which sentence online has wronged them? I dare you to say a word, and I'll chop off your head and use it as a ball!"
Her voice was loud and imposing, matching Garrett's.
The Jones family could spread rumors about her and her late mother, and now, the online comments were just a few truths.
And yet, he dared to command her for their reputation?
Did he really think she was such an easy target?
Garrett was furious but had no retort.
He yelled, "Stop talking nonsense with me! Because of these trivial matters, the Jones family's stocks have been fluctuating. I command you, stop it immediately!"
He was convinced that she was responsible.
No one else could mobilize the Mercer family except her.
And no one else would hate Emily and the Jones family so much except her.
The Jones family was her maternal family.
In his eyes, what she did was unforgivable.
Deanna scorned, sneering, "Who do you think you are? You're not my father, you have no right to command me!"
Then, without hesitation, she hung up the phone.
If Garrett insisted on believing it was her, then so be it.
The Jones family must now think she and Mr. Mercer were a pair.
Although it was just a rumor, it would save them the trouble of bothering her again.
On the other end, Garrett's face turned livid with anger.
"This rebellious girl!" He slammed his phone down, cursing.
If he had known that he would end up with such a troublemaker, he would have choked her to death the moment she was born!