With a loud crash, a glass vase shattered on the floor, making a piercing noise.
Julia and Deanna snapped out of their shock from earlier.
They exchanged glances, the atmosphere tense and strange.
Deanna was the first to break the silence, frowning as she asked, "Who is the father of the child?"
Julia bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with struggle.
Finally, as if making a decision, she took a deep breath and said, "Deanna, it was an accident. No matter who the father is, I don't plan to keep this child."
Seeing her friend calm and resolute, Deanna felt even more conflicted.
She had already guessed who the father was.
"Julia, are you really not going to tell him? I think he has the right to know," Deanna tried to persuade her friend.
Julia knew Deanna had figured out the truth. She never thought she could hide it from her, given how obvious things had been.
She pressed her lips tightly together and said in a low voice, "What good would it do to tell him? It was an accident between us. Now that we don't interfere with each other, I'm satisfied. Although I haven't spoken to him much, I can tell he's a conservative gentleman. If he knew about this, our peaceful days would be over."
Deanna was at a loss for words.
"Alright, I respect your choice. If you don't plan to keep the child, when will you go to the hospital? I'll go with you."
She respected her friend's decision and was willing to face it with her.
Julia thought for a moment and decided it was best to handle it sooner rather than later. "Let's go tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll go with you tomorrow," Deanna said firmly.
Julia opened her mouth but said nothing in the end.
Having Deanna with her would save her from being afraid alone.
A few minutes later, Deanna returned to the dining room alone.
Old Ashley and the two little ones noticed she was alone and asked with concern, "Where's Julia?"
"Mommy, is Godmother okay?"
Though the others didn't speak, they also looked at Deanna with concern.
Deanna replied nonchalantly, "Julia's stomach is a bit upset. I told her to rest. I'll have the kitchen prepare something light for her later."
"Why is her stomach suddenly upset?" The old lady was puzzled but didn't ask further.
Later, after everyone finished eating, Landon said his goodbyes.
Deanna, worried about Julia, didn't insist he stay longer.
After seeing him off, she turned to Lance and said, "I'm going upstairs to check on Julia."
"I want to go too!" The two little ones chimed in, eager to see their Godmother.
Deanna couldn't refuse and took them upstairs.
She knocked on the guest room door. "Julia, it's me. I'm coming in."
She entered and saw Julia sitting on the bed, scrolling through her phone. She looked much better than before.
Deanna walked over and asked with concern, "Is your stomach feeling better? How are you now?"
"Godmother, Chloe will make it better," one of the little ones said sweetly.
Both children leaned on the bed, looking at Julia with concern.
Especially, Chloe, whose soft and comforting demeanor could melt anyone's heart.
Julia smiled slightly and patted their heads gently. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Godmother, get well soon," they said with sweet smiles.
Deanna watched without interrupting their interaction.
Later, seeing Julia getting tired, she took the children out of the room.
Outside, the two little ones held Deanna's hands and asked cutely, "Mommy, can we sleep with you tonight?"
"We haven't slept with you and Daddy for a long time."
Faced with their request, Deanna couldn't refuse.
She also wanted to spend more time with them while she could.
So she took them back to the master bedroom.
Lance raised an eyebrow when he saw the children bringing their pillows but didn't say anything. Instead, he looked at Deanna and asked, "Is your friend alright?"
He asked because he noticed Deanna had been preoccupied during dinner.
Although she hid it well, as her partner, he could sense even the slightest change in her mood.
Deanna didn't realize Lance had seen through her.
Not wanting to discuss it in front of the children, she shook her head lightly and said, "Julia is fine now."
She then took the children to wash up.
Lance decided not to press further.
After all, he wasn't very familiar with Julia. He had only asked out of concern for Deanna's emotions.
About an hour later, after putting the children to sleep, Deanna quietly got out of bed and walked over to Lance. She whispered, "I won't be going back to the villa tomorrow. I'll stay at Julia's for a few days."