Along the way, Chloe nestled into Lance's embrace, secretly delighted.
Her little head resting on his shoulder, she felt very safe.
Her smile revealed her little tiger teeth; being held by her uncle felt so good.
After a while, she was determined to tell her brother about it.
Gregory tilted his head, puzzled by his sister's laughter.
After getting in the car, Chloe leaned over and whispered to Gregory, "Brother, uncle's embrace is so warm!"
Hearing this, Gregory felt a bit envious.
But he wouldn't admit it!
Trying to act cool, Gregory said, "Mommy's is also very good!"
He leaned his head against Deanna, holding her arm, with an inexplicably puffed-up, cute expression.
Deanna curiously looked at them, asking, "Chloe, Gregory, what are you whispering about?"
Gregory snorted and did not answer.
Chloe giggled and said, "Mommy, it's our secret!"
She stretched out her finger, her face full of mystery.
Deanna chuckled, her demeanor filled with maternal radiance.
Lance, sitting up front, listened to their conversation quietly, his mood slightly lifted.
Soon, the car started, and it wasn't long before they arrived home.
As they entered, Old Ashley immediately noticed the bandage on Chloe's leg.
She exclaimed with concern, "Chloe, what happened to you?"
Going out for a day and getting injured.
Chloe blinked and replied, "Great-grandma, I'm fine. I just fell down accidentally, it doesn't hurt!"
She was very sensible, not wanting Old Ashley to worry.
Seeing that she was properly medicated and bandaged, Old Ashley finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Deanna, you went to pick up the kids, why did you come back so late?"
She asked curiously, a puzzled look on her face.
"After I picked them up, I took them to play for a while. We met Mr. Mercer on the road and ended up coming back together," Deanna answered without batting an eyelid.
"Yes, Great-grandma!" The children exchanged glances and agreed in unison.
The three shared a tacit understanding, not bringing up the evening's events to avoid worrying her.
Old Ashley didn't think much of it, bending down to remind the children, "From now on, be careful walking, don't jump around too much and fall again!"
"We know, Great-grandmother!" The children obediently agreed.
When Lance returned, Xavier reported to him, "Young master, Garrett has left the police station."
Lance nodded, instructing, "The news about Emily can be somewhat released; we don't need to worry about it anymore."
Her reputation was now tarnished.
Even with PR efforts, it couldn't be restored to its former state.
The main thing was to avoid Garrett becoming desperate and disturbing Deanna and the children's peace.
Xavier acknowledged the instruction, keeping silent thereafter.
He secretly thought that the young master's concern for those two children seemed a bit excessive.
But of course, being tactful, he did not voice this.
The next morning, Deanna was awakened by her biological clock.
She came out of the bedroom, finding Old Ashley preparing breakfast.
"Deanna, can Chloe's leg manage school?"
Old Ashley expressed her concern, worried about Chloe potentially hurting herself again at school.
Deanna pondered for a moment, her heart softening, "Let her rest a few days. Once her wound heals, she can go back to school."
"And Gregory?"
Deanna thought about the fright they had experienced yesterday.
Ultimately, it was she who had implicated her children.
Feeling guilty, she said, "Let him rest for a day too, and he can also keep an eye on Chloe."
Old Ashley, who doted on them deeply, naturally agreed.
The two children were immersed in dreamland, sleeping sweetly.
In the morning, Deanna visited the herb garden for routine maintenance.
When she returned, at the stairwell, she unexpectedly ran into Raphael.
He stood in the aging corridor, dressed in a sharp suit, apparently about to knock on her door.
Her expression tensed, and she clenched her fists.
His presence surely meant trouble.
"What do you want?"
She immediately snapped coldly, a defensive look on her face.
Raphael paused, turning his head to see her. He halted his hand and looked her over.
Dressed simply in black trousers and a white T-shirt, she seemed extremely plain.
Yet this did not diminish her beauty; rather, it lent her a touch of youthful freshness.
Years had not seen, yet she was even more stunning to him.
However, her eyes held an indescribable chill.
She was like a hedgehog, always on guard against his advances.
His gaze was complex.
In the past, she never looked at him so coldly.
He felt somewhat alienated; their relationship had turned to this.
"A mute now?"
Deanna scoffed mockingly.
Raphael snapped back to reality, his voice deep, "I came to talk to you."
Deanna turned her head, scoffing coldly.
Talk about what? What was there left to discuss between them?
His visit today was just another tactic by the Jones family.
If direct attacks failed, they'd resort to a softer approach, but their intentions were never good.
Thinking this, she faced him squarely, her gaze sharp, coldly sneering, "I don't think there's anything to discuss between us. Get lost, don't come near my home."
Her aura was fierce, her presence commanding without anger.