Deanna noticed that Lance's expression had changed.
She looked over somewhat guiltily, "Are you angry?"
"What do you think?" Lance shot her a cold glance.
Deanna awkwardly said, "This is just a fake breakup. Once I develop the special medicine and we get through this crisis, we'll be fine."
Seeing Deanna still talking about the fake breakup without understanding why he was angry, Lance's face darkened even more.
He grabbed Deanna's wrist, pulling her into his arms, forcing her to look at him. "Even if it's fake, I won't allow it!"
Feeling the emotions emanating from him, Deanna knew he was truly angry and guiltily defended herself in a small voice. "I'm doing this for everyone's good."
"You have so little faith in me, thinking I can't protect you all?" Lance laughed angrily.
Deanna looked at him seriously and said, "It's not that I don't believe in you. On the contrary, I know you can protect me. But what about the cost? It's not just you considering me; I also have to consider you and the entire Mercer Group. Like this time, we didn't even know how the other side made their move, and we both fell into their trap."
Hearing this, Lance couldn't help but feel touched.
He tightened his grip on Deanna's arm slightly and said in a deep voice, "That's why we need to work together. Have you thought about what would happen if we pretended to break up and you got into trouble? Could I ignore it? As soon as I help you, the people behind this will see through our fake breakup, making it meaningless."
Deanna fell silent because she realized Lance was right.
Finally, she sighed and said, "Alright, let's pretend I never said that."
Lance, seeing this, felt both angry and amused.
But he held it in, shifted the topic, and raised an eyebrow. "So, are we done with the serious talk?"
"We're done," Deanna responded, unaware of the impending danger.
Lance snorted softly, "Good. Now let's settle this."
Without warning, he placed Deanna face down across his lap.
Before Deanna could react, Lance spanked her like a child being disciplined.
"Lance, what are you doing?!"
Deanna came to her senses, blushing with shame as she questioned him.
She couldn't believe that at her age, Lance had spanked her-it was too much!
Just as she was about to struggle free, Lance pulled her up to straddle his lap.
They were face to face, barely a fist's distance apart.
Under the light, Deanna's fair cheeks were flushed red, whether from embarrassment or anger.
"You actually spanked me... there. You must apologize!" She couldn't bring herself to say "butt," glaring at Lance like an angry kitten.
Lance looked at her calmly and said, "Why should I apologize? This is your lesson for wanting a fake breakup."
Deanna's eyes widened even more in anger.
"Lance, be reasonable. The fake breakup was for your sake too. And in the end, you didn't agree to it!"
"Not agreeing is one thing. But having the thought itself is wrong. You shouldn't even have such thoughts!"
Lance's domineering declaration left Deanna speechless.
In the end, unable to find a rebuttal, she threw a tantrum and struggled to leave. "Let go of me. I have work to do."
Little did she know that her actions were causing a reaction in Lance's body.
"Work can wait until tomorrow. Tonight, you're mine."
With that, Lance lifted Deanna and strode out of the study.
Deanna knew what he intended to do.
But thinking about how he had spanked her earlier made her unwilling to let him have his way.
She struggled again. "Who says I'm yours? I'm sleeping with Gregory tonight."
Seeing Deanna's little tantrum, Lance knew she was upset about the spanking.
Lance chuckled softly and leaned closer to Deanna, his voice teasing. "Since you're so energetic, we can try a few more positions tonight."
Deanna's face turned beet red in an instant.
"Lance!"
She gritted her teeth in embarrassment and anger.
Lance looked at her with a smile and said dotingly, "I'm here."
Seeing the smile on his face, Deanna felt like she was punching cotton. She puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
Yet she had no way to deal with this man.
The night was long.
Deanna didn't know how many times Lance wore her out before she finally fell asleep from exhaustion.
Before drifting off, she vowed that she would remember this grudge!