Lance looked at Deanna, who was ignoring him, and with a swift motion of his long arm, he pulled her into his embrace.
Xavier, sitting in the front passenger seat, glanced at the scene through the rearview mirror and immediately signaled the driver.
The driver understood and promptly raised the partition inside the car.
Lance was very pleased with this. He held the sulking Deanna tightly and softened his voice to coax her, "Alright, don't be mad. I won't laugh next time. I was just happy because I know you care about me."
Hearing this, Deanna's anger subsided a bit. After all, the man was happy because of her attitude, but she couldn't stand other women eyeing her man.
"You may be happy, but I am not," she huffed, glaring at him. Seeing his exceptionally handsome features, she felt both love and annoyance, muttering softly, "Handsome trouble."
Although her voice was low, Lance heard it clearly since she was in his arms.
"Thank you for the compliment from my fiancee," Lance responded mischievously, tightening his hold on Deanna.
Deanna was speechless. Was she really complimenting him?
Before she could say anything, Lance's apologetic voice, tinged with amusement, came to her ear, "It was my fault this time. Next time something like this happens, I will firmly reject it right away and make it clear that I am married and a father of two."
Hearing this, Deanna could no longer stay angry. Besides, she wasn't truly mad; she just felt uncomfortable with the open culture abroad. It made her wonder if Lance had encountered similar situations when he traveled abroad before.
Seeing her emotions so clearly displayed on her face, Lance chuckled and said, "No one dared to approach me before."
"Hmm?" Deanna looked at him in confusion.
Lance looked down at her and gently pinched her cheek with a smile, "Think about the first time we met."
Upon hearing this, Deanna instinctively recalled their first meeting and immediately understood what Lance meant. She still remembered how scared she was when she first met Lance. Yet now, she couldn't help but feel sweet inside because she knew Lance's transformation was all because of her.
As the atmosphere between them eased, they arrived at the hotel. Lance led Deanna out of the car.
Seeing them reconciled, Xavier breathed a sigh of relief. He knew firsthand how Mr. Mercer could be. When Mrs. Mercer ignored the boss, the boss would take it out on innocent people like him.
Lance was unaware that his capable assistant was silently criticizing him. He took Deanna to their room and suggested they rest.
After all, they had been on a plane for a whole day and night. Even in the comfort of first class, their bodies were still tired.
Deanna slept until nightfall. When she woke up and found Lance wasn't beside her, she didn't mind. She got up, freshened up briefly, and walked out of the room.
She saw Lance sitting on the living room sofa, working on his laptop. Hearing her movement, Lance looked up, "Awake? Hungry?"
"A little. Let's order some food," Deanna said, rubbing her stomach.
Lance smiled, put down his laptop, and walked over to her. "No need to order. I've already booked a restaurant."
Deanna thought Lance was going to take her to try some local cuisine. To her surprise, he led her to the hotel's rooftop.
It was then that Deanna realized the hotel's rooftop was an open-air restaurant, beautifully decorated. In the center stood an evergreen tree adorned with colorful lights and ribbons, resembling a wishing tree.
As Deanna admired the surroundings, the restaurant manager approached with a flattering smile.
"Mr. Mercer, your reserved table is ready. Please follow me."
"Thank you," Lance nodded slightly and led Deanna after the manager.
Soon, they arrived at an open-air table with a spectacular view of the capital's nightscape.
Deanna immediately loved the spot. "It's beautiful!"
She gazed outside with awe and felt a surge of excitement that dispelled much of her usual frustration from research setbacks.
Seeing her more relaxed smile, Lance's eyes were full of tenderness. "I guessed you would like it here, so I had Xavier book it in advance. There's supposed to be a show later."
"Really? I'm looking forward to it," Deanna replied with a bright smile.
As they talked, the waiter began serving dishes.
With their children not around, Lance only needed to focus on taking care of Deanna during the meal.
Their warm interaction and striking looks made them a pleasing sight for the staff and other guests around them.