Under the light, the scene of the two embracing was very warm.
Deanna had grown accustomed to Lance's closeness. She turned her head slightly and smiled, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just feeling very fortunate," Lance said softly, his chin resting in the crook of Deanna's neck.
He felt lucky to have found Deanna and to be loved by her. He knew that their two children played a part in this too.
Deanna didn't know what he was thinking, only that his mood seemed a bit strange. Before she could ask, her lips were sealed by a passionate kiss.
The kiss was gentle yet domineering, like a conqueror seizing a city. Lance held the petite woman in his arms tightly, deepening the kiss and becoming increasingly absorbed.
Deanna's heart fluttered, and her body went limp under his kiss. The room grew hotter, and clothes began to scatter on the floor.
Lance gazed deeply at the beautiful woman before him, his voice hoarse with a hint of restraint, "Is this okay?"
Deanna blushed but didn't refuse. She shyly nodded.
The next morning, Lance woke up early to see Deanna still asleep beside him. His eyes filled with affection. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes and the marks on her body, he knew he had been too rough last night and felt a pang of guilt.
He got out of bed quietly, washed up quickly, and left the room. To his surprise, he found the two little ones squatting by the door. He chuckled, "What are you doing here?"
"We're waiting for Daddy and Mommy to come out," they answered in their childish voices.
They peeked into the room behind Lance but didn't see Deanna. "Daddy, where's Mommy?" they asked.
"Mommy is still resting. She was very tired last night. Let's not disturb her and let her sleep. Daddy will take you to school," Lance said, ruffling their hair before taking them downstairs for breakfast.
Downstairs, Julia saw Lance alone and asked the same question as the kids. "Mr. Mercer, where's Deanna?"
"She was too tired last night. I didn't have the heart to wake her, so I let her sleep in," Lance replied calmly.
Julia didn't think much of it at first and nodded, inviting the kids to eat breakfast. A few minutes later, she realized what he meant and almost choked on her coffee.
She looked at Lance with a peculiar expression. Lance noticed but didn't think much of it. He remembered something he had forgotten last night and called for the butler, whispering a few instructions.
A few minutes later, the butler handed Julia a gift box. "Miss King, this is a gift from Mr. Mercer."
"A gift for me? Why?" Julia asked in surprise, looking at Lance with confusion. The kids were curious too.
Old Ashley frowned but stayed silent, observing quietly.
Lance smiled and said, "Miss King, Deanna and I are together partly because of you. This is a thank-you gift."
Julia realized what he meant and felt a bit embarrassed. "I was just joking around. I didn't expect Deanna to actually tell you."
"Anything Deanna tells me is important. And thank you for taking care of Deanna and the kids," Lance said sincerely.
Julia hadn't expected such a formal thank-you from Lance and felt uncomfortable. "Mr. Mercer, you're too kind. It was my duty."
"Regardless, thank you," Lance repeated.
The kids looked back and forth between them and pouted, "Daddy is biased. We helped you and Mommy too. Why don't we get gifts?"
"Don't worry, you will," Lance laughed.
The kids were delighted and exchanged a knowing look, deciding to help their parents get closer.
On the way to school, they took out a notebook. Lance raised an eyebrow, "Are you doing homework in the car?"
Then he realized something was off. They always finished their homework on time, and he and Deanna checked it every day.
Chloe's sweet voice reached his ears, "Nope! This is our secret guide for you."
She opened the notebook proudly and handed it to Lance. He looked down to see "Dating Tips" written in large letters.