"Just now, while you were away, I received news that the doctor who gave your mother her final treatment has been found."
Lance had just started speaking when Deanna looked over excitedly.
But before she could say anything, Lance apologized again, "Don't get too happy yet; this isn't exactly good news."
"Didn't they find the person?"
Deanna was momentarily confused and looked at him in puzzlement.
Their eyes met, and she saw the darkness in Lance's eyes. A bad feeling spread through her heart.
She pursed her lips and asked, "So, is the person dead?"
Lance did not deny it.
"Three months ago, the doctor's house caught fire unexpectedly, and he and his family were burned to death."
Deanna's face darkened.
Three months ago was when she had asked Lance to start the investigation.
Thinking of this, she was filled with doubt and looked up at Lance. "Could it be that Mia and her people found out we were looking for evidence and killed him to silence him?"
"That's unlikely. Three months ago, Mia and Emily were too preoccupied with their own issues to send someone abroad to kill."
Lance shook his head in denial.
Deanna frowned. "But if it wasn't them, could it be someone else the doctor offended?"
She could only guess this way.
The reason being that the doctor had once hidden the truth for Mia and her daughter for money. It was possible he had served others as well.
After all, living abroad wasn't easy.
Lance listened to Deanna's words without immediately refuting them. He even nodded in agreement.
"What you said is possible."
Hearing this, Deanna felt a wave of disappointment. "Why is it like this? Do I have to watch the murderer walk free in front of me without being able to bring her to justice for my mother?!"
Her eyes reddened with anger, and she clenched her fists tightly, trembling all over.
Lance looked at the self-loathing Deanna in front of him, feeling heartbroken.
"It won't be like that. There must be other ways. Calm down first."
He stepped forward and hugged Deanna, gently patting her back repeatedly.
Deanna leaned into his embrace, unable to hold back her tears any longer. They soaked through his shirt.
For a while, the room was filled only with Deanna's sobs.
It was unclear how much time had passed before she stopped crying.
Lance looked down at her and spoke softly, "Have you cried enough?"
Deanna's cheeks instantly turned red with embarrassment.
How could she cry like that in front of Lance?
At that moment, she wished she could find a hole to hide in.
Lance noticed her discomfort and chuckled lightly. He led her to the sofa, sat her down, and gently wiped her tears with a tissue. "Don't feel uneasy. In front of me, you can cry as much as you want."
"I'm not a child."
Deanna mumbled softly but felt sweet inside, a smile forming on her lips.
Lance glanced at her with doting eyes. "To me, you can be a child."
Because of this sentence, Deanna's defenses broke down again, and tears started to fall once more.
"Why are you crying again?"
Lance was startled. The tears on his hand felt like they were burning his heart. He carefully wiped her tears again.
Seeing his panicked expression, Deanna suddenly burst into laughter amidst her tears. She playfully punched him and said, "It's your fault for saying things that make me want to cry."
"That's my fault. I'll be more subtle next time."
Lance admitted naturally.
Hearing this, Deanna looked at him intently, her eyes filled with affection.
Suddenly, she reached out and hugged Lance tightly. "It's so good to have you," she said in a muffled voice.
Lance was momentarily stunned but then slowly embraced her back.
They held each other for a while until Deanna's emotions calmed down. She then continued their unfinished conversation.
"I want to visit that doctor's house to see if I can find any evidence from the remains."
She lifted her head from Lance's embrace and looked at him.
Lance met her gaze and smiled gently. "I had the same thought. I've already arranged for someone to guard the site. Once we're done here, we'll go there."
Hearing this, Deanna felt very grateful.
But she didn't thank him immediately because she knew Lance didn't want her to thank him. She planned to show her gratitude in other ways later.
For now, she couldn't wait. "I want to get discharged now. I might not finish everything today, but with tomorrow morning as well, it should be enough. What about you?"
"I should be done by tomorrow morning as well," Lance replied, not wanting to disappoint Deanna.
At worst, he would work overtime after they got to Uyrila.