In the end, Yvonne was the one who faltered.


    She stared at the man before her, still impossibly handsome and cool-headed, and a sudden realization hit her. The gap between them had grown immense.


    Yvonne was stuck in the past, a ghost from five years ago. Bet, however, was no longer the man he used to be.


    "I lose," she said.


    Her chest rose and fell as she caught her breath. A thin sheen of sweat covered her forehead, pasting a few damp strands of hair to her skin.


    Bet''s hands were at his sides, his thumb unconsciously rubbing against his fingers. He started to lift his hand, then seemed to think better of it and let it fall again.


    "Mm," he grunted, his expression unreadable, before turning and walking off the stage.


    His aide, Simon, was waiting below with his uniform jacket.


    Radiating a cool detachment, Bet took the jacket and left without a backward nce.


    Yvonne walked off the stage a momentter and was immediately surrounded by the crew.


    "Yvonne, you''ve been holding out on us!" Lennon eximed, his eyes shining.


    “I still lost, didn''t I?" Yvonne shrugged with a wry smile.


    "You were incredible,” Marina said, giving her a thumbs-up.


    "Ms. Jane is casting for a new martial arts film, but she hasn''t found her lead actress yet. If you''re interested, Yvonne, I can make an introduction," Julian offered.


    "Really? That would be amazing, Mr. Hill. Thank you," Yvonne epted eagerly.


    Ms. Jane was a titan in the historical fantasy genre; her series from two years ago had been a massive hit. A-list stars were desperate to work with her. Yvonne wasn''t about to turn down such a generous offer.


    Julian, Lennon, Jonathan, and even the acimed Thomas gathered around Yvonne.


    Daisy''s face twisted in a sneer. She tugged on Doris'' sleeve, giving her a look that needed no words. Understanding the signal, Doris quietly stood up and slipped away when no one was looking.


    After the talent show ended, Yvonne found herself trapped by the martial-arts- obsessed Lennon. She finally escaped by pretending she needed to use the restroom.


    In the washroom, she washed her hands and retied her slightly loosened hair.


    As she walked back down the first-floor corridor, she passed a corner where Commander Reed, Captain Lee, and a few other officers were smoking and chatting by a window.


    "Our Mr. Thompson is on another level. Unbeatable," Captain Lee said, his dark skin making his white teeth sh as he grinned.


    "Not exactly," Commander Reed countered, blowing a smoke ring. "I heard he used to lose to his ex-girlfriend all the time."


    "His ex was that good?" another officer, Mr. Smith, asked in surprise. He had transferred to the Istra military district recently and didn''t know Bet''s history.


    "She was a detective. Top of her ss inbat at the police academy. She was definitely tough but you don''t really think Mr. Thompson couldn''t beat a woman do you?" Commander Reed said, tapping the ash from his cigarette. Cóntent


    Captain Lee, who had married young, chuckled knowingly. "You''ll get it when you''re married someday. It''s not about being scared of your wife, it''s about loving her. What man could bring himself to truly fight the woman he loves?"


    “It''s a shame, though. His ex died in the line of duty five years ago, became a martyr. Mr. Thompson was a wreck for a long time after that, almost drank himself to death."


    "I think his current girlfriend is great, though," Mr. Smith offered.


    He had never met thete Yvonne, but he had met Bet''s current girlfriend, Ynda Walker. The deputy mayor''s daughter—a proper, gentle, and elegantdy.


    "Ms. Walker and our Mr. Thompson are a perfect match, a true power couple. When she''s with him, she''s really gorgeous. He won''t even raise his voice around her, afraid he might Ms. Walke


    starte her thine Mrs.


    much better fit to be Mrs.


    ieris.


    whe


    Thompson."