Garrett had just walked in when Mia and Emily immediately surrounded him, their faces full of expectation.
"How was it, Dad? Did she agree?" Emily shook Garrett's arm, asking.
Garrett didn't say anything, his face dark, he walked over and sat on the sofa.
Emily hesitated to speak, feeling somewhat at a loss.
Mia, anxious, sat beside him, pressing for an answer, "Garrett, speak up, did she not agree?"
Judging by his reaction, she also guessed.
Garrett leaned against his forehead, his arms on the table, his voice low, "She said, if I return all the shares and properties left by Olivia to her, she will let Emily go. Otherwise, there's no negotiation."
Mia, upon hearing this, chuckled angrily, "What nonsense is she talking about?"
How could this be possible?
The things of the Jones family could only belong to Emily.
Emily also wore a face of disbelief, arms crossed, furrowing her brow.
"Dad, did you agree to her?"
She looked resentful, the shares and properties were obviously hers!
Garrett shook his head, sighed, and replied, "I didn't say yes, nor did I say no."
Mia turned away, feeling stifled with anger.
The shares absolutely cannot be given to Deanna!
"Garrett, how dare she bring these up? At the wedding that day, she made both the Jones family and the Howard family lose face! Causing harm to Emily and now she wants the Jones family's property, this is outrageous! You must not agree to her!"
Garrett also felt annoyed, retorting, "Do you think I'm willing to give? Haven't I given them yet!"
His face looked very bad, the dowry promised by the Cody family was taken back because Deanna called off the wedding, it all went to waste.
That's not all, she still had the nerve to ask him for shares and properties?
This Deanna is just a disaster, a money-losing deal!
Emily bit her lip, conflicted, "Dad, Mom, but if we don't give it to her, what should I do?"
If the resources keep declining, and negative news isn't withdrawn, she would be finished.
In fact, Deanna didn't really want those things.
She just said so to get rid of Garrett.
Late at night, with such a disparity in physical strength between men and women, if she continued to confront him, she might lose out.
It would be better to go back early and avoid arguing with him.
When she got home, Chloe and Gregory had already finished dinner.
They were sitting obediently in the living room, practicing what they had learned a few days ago.
Old Ashley sat beside them, keeping them company.
Seeing her return, Old Ashley asked, "Deanna, have you eaten? Why did it take you so long?"
Deanna put down her bag and smiled, "Chloe and Gregory said they wanted to repay someone nicely, so I went to do that."
Old Ashley didn't react for a moment, blinked, and asked, "Repay whom?"
Deanna sat on the sofa, explaining, "Mr. Mercer, I got some medicinal herbs and brought them over to him, had him eat some nourishing food to recover. Their housekeeper doesn't know how to cook, so I demonstrated. Mr. Mercer came back and invited me to have dinner and gave me a few boxes of pastries."
She placed the boxes on the table, lifting her chin.
"So that's what happened."
Old Ashley suddenly understood and relaxed.
Deanna hadn't come back for so long, and she was worried that something might have happened.
When she mentioned Lance to Chloe and Gregory, their eyes lit up, and they put down their pens.
Chloe tilted her head, using a childish voice to ask, "Mommy, did you come back alone? Or did the handsome uncle accompany you? Did he come?"
Deanna looked at her and answered truthfully, "No."
"What?" Chloe pouted and dragged out the word.
She thought she was going to see the handsome uncle.
She really wanted to see him.
Gregory didn't say anything, just sighed, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
Seeing this, Deanna couldn't help but find it amusing.
Her voice gentle, she teased, "You've only seen the uncle a few times, why do you like him so much?"
Gregory thought for a moment and said, "The uncle gave us gifts, he's a man of his word."
He looked serious and calm, like a little adult, which amused Deanna.
"And what about Chloe?"
She went on to ask her daughter.
Chloe looked dreamy, "I like the uncle too, he's handsome! Even more handsome than the stars on TV!"
She had never seen anyone so good-looking before.
Deanna found it amusing and teased her leisurely, "You, this girl, only care about looks."
She didn't expect Chloe to be so into appearances.
Chloe pouted, coquettishly leaning towards her, "But I like the handsome uncle!"
Old Ashley saw this and laughed too.
She patted Chloe's back, teasing, "Then when you grow up, Chloe, find yourself a handsome boyfriend!"
Chloe's eyes lit up, "Okay!"
She grinned, revealing her sharp little teeth, very cute.
Gregory, however, looked serious, furrowing his brows, interrupting her, "Just being good-looking isn't enough, he has to treat his sister well!"
The family laughed together, the atmosphere warm.
Later, Deanna went to urge the children to sleep.
She went into their room, and only came out after they turned off the lights.
Old Ashley didn't return to the bedroom, sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.
Deanna went over and sat beside her, asking with concern, "Grandma, can't you sleep?"
Old Ashley nodded, holding her hand, the two leaning against each other.
"Deanna, I don't know why, but I always feel like something bad is going to happen."
She focused, panic rising within her.
Deanna comforted her, "You're overthinking it, it won't happen! Besides, even if something does happen, I'll handle it! You can relax."
Old Ashley nodded, feeling a bit relieved.