Lance's expression remained calm, but he was somewhat surprised to see her.
Deanna, holding the child, smiled at him. "Mr. Mercer, why are you here at the hospital? Are you not feeling well?"
She wondered inwardly if her medicine wasn't effective. But he seemed fine, radiant even, showing no signs of discomfort.
Lance shook his head. "No, I'm just here to visit an elder."
Her medicine seemed to be surprisingly effective. He hadn't shown any signs of discomfort for a long time.
Deanna breathed a sigh of relief. That's good.
At that moment, Chloe timidly greeted, "Hello, uncle."
Gregory also greeted him.
Lance, sharp-eyed, noticed that the two children's faces were obviously not good. Their voices sounded muffled.
Seeing him, they didn't react with the excitement they used to, but rather with worried expressions, like wilted eggplants.
Especially Chloe, with swollen eyes and faint traces of tears on her chin.
Gregory, on the other hand, looked disgruntled, pouting.
Looking at Deanna, though she wore a polite smile on her face, she seemed somewhat weary.
He wondered inwardly and immediately asked, "What's wrong? Why the long faces?"
Gregory and Chloe didn't speak. Chloe pouted and lowered her head.
He frowned and looked at Deanna.
Deanna sighed. It was such an unfortunate matter, better left unspoken.
She coughed awkwardly and replied, "It's nothing, just a little conflict with someone at the kindergarten."
She obviously didn't want to say more, and Lance tactfully didn't press further.
It seemed like more than just a minor disagreement.
Lance looked at them and said, "My business here is done. Since I have nothing else to do, I'll give you all a ride home."
He noticed the bandages on Gregory's legs.
Deanna didn't want to trouble him, but considering Gregory's injury, she agreed.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Mercer."
Lance didn't say anything. He was getting used to her politeness.
Gregory looked up at him and sincerely said, "Thank you, uncle."
Every time they encountered difficulties, they always met this handsome uncle. Fate was truly a mysterious thing.
Chloe also weakly said, "Thank you, uncle."
Her voice was hoarse, obviously from crying.
Lance noticed this and frowned again.
The four of them walked outside, and neither of the children spoke along the way.
Deanna remained silent, carrying Chloe, and got into the car.
Xavier was also in the car and greeted Deanna when he saw her.
Deanna politely responded, but her exhaustion was evident.
Xavier realized she didn't want to talk and wisely stayed silent.
After they arrived home, Deanna got out of the car and nodded at Lance. "Thank you, Mr. Mercer."
Lance nodded in response.
Deanna took the two children upstairs.
Downstairs, Lance didn't leave. He sat in the car, frowning in thought. What happened to them exactly? Could it be that the Jones family caused trouble again? It seemed like Chloe and Gregory were also affected.
Thinking of the two children, he asked, "Where do those two kids go to school?"
Xavier checked the information and said, "Master, the twins attend a prestigious chain kindergarten under our company's investment, which was acquired last year."
Lance had seen their information before. He hadn't paid much attention at the time, but now that it was brought up, he remembered it was indeed that place.
The lively children from earlier seemed obviously distressed. Could something have happened at school?
He pondered and instructed Xavier, "Go find out if anything happened at school today."
Xavier was good at reading between the lines. He understood the young master's meaning instantly and nodded in acknowledgment.
The somber expressions of Gregory and Chloe throughout the day lingered in Lance's mind, haunting him.
He sighed in his office and put down the documents in his hand.
It was the first time he had seen these two children looking so despondent.
In the afternoon, Xavier knocked on his office door.
"Come in."
Lance said in a deep voice.
Xavier quickly briefed him on what had happened that day.
Lance raised his head and asked, "Do you have any results from what I asked you to investigate?"
Xavier nodded and reported, "This morning, the two children went to kindergarten. A classmate of theirs caused trouble, pushed Chloe, and then Gregory got into a fight with that classmate to protect her. In the end, that child was beaten badly, and Gregory got slightly injured. The child's mother is a noblewoman and came to the school demanding justice, claiming Gregory started the fight and insisting that the twins be expelled."
After listening, Lance's face darkened. "And then?"
"The child's father is a government official. His mother abused her power and colluded with their class teacher to frame Gregory. Dr. Deanna went to the police, and that settled it. The teacher was also fired. The child's mother just left like that."
Xavier reported truthfully, and Lance's face was frighteningly gloomy.
He clenched his fists tightly, and beneath his deep gaze, there was a faint surge of anger.
He instructed Xavier, "Go warn the principal to properly reorganize the staff. If something like this happens again, they'll be kicked out."
After carefully considering Xavier's words, he asked, "And what kind of person is that noblewoman's husband?"
Xavier thought for a moment and replied, "It seems he holds a position in the education bureau."
After hearing this, Lance said coldly, "Such people are redundant. You should know what to do."
Xavier nodded. "I understand."