Yvonne didn''t particrly want to approach them, but since Thomas had already spoken, it would be rude not to go over and say hello.


    "Ms. Jones, hello," Ynda said with a soft smile, offering her hand to Yvonne. But the slight lift of her eyebrows betrayed a hint of arrogance.


    As Mr. Walker''s daughter, it was only natural that she wouldn''t see Yvonne as an equal.


    Yvonne had no intention of trying to curry favor. After a brief exchange, she looked at Bet and simply said, "Mr. Bet Thompson."


    Bet''s cool gaze swept over her for a moment before he replied with a nomittal, "Hm," then turned back to speak with Ynda.


    Yvonne wasn''t one to linger where she wasn''t wanted. She turned to chat with someone else and then walked away.


    As the heir to the Thompson family, Istra''s wealthiest family, Bet was quickly surrounded by people trying to make connections.


    Ynda clung to Bet''s arm, effortlessly mingling with the guests. She smiled brightly, clearly enjoying thepliments and attention.


    Bet, as usual, said little, but he seemed very attentive to Ynda''s mood. No matter what she said, he would look at her and respond at the appropriate moments.


    Someone suggested that Ynda, a talented pianist, should y a song. The idea quickly evolved into a request for Ynda and Bet to perform a four-hand piano duet. The room erupted in cheers.


    Ynda blushed and nced at Bet for his opinion.


    Bet rarely refused Ynda anything. They walked hand-in-hand to the ck grand piano and sat down to y.


    The man and woman sat side by side-he, tall and handsome; she, gentle and lovely. Anyone would have called them a talented man and a beautiful woman, a perfect pair.


    Yvonne stood in the audience, the familiar notes of the piano filling her ears, her eyes fixed on the stage.


    The man''s profile was as handsome and cool as ever, seemingly unchanged from before. But Yvonne knew he was no longer her Ben, and hers alone.


    When the piece ended, the room filled with apuse.


    Thomasughed and joked, "Aren''t you two being a little too much? You''re going to steal the spotlight from the birthday boy."


    Bet remained silent, while Ynda just smiled shyly, a faint blush on her cheeks.


    "It''s your birthday; it''s supposed to be lively! You entertainment people are all so multitalented. Lhad this... antique piano brought in specifically. to give everyone a chance to show


    off


    Karina said with a smile.


    However, after Bet and Ynda''s performance, no one was eager to volunteer


    to go next.


    Karina''s eyes scanned the crowd, finallynding on Yvonne.


    “Ms. Jones looks like a multi-talented woman. Why don''t you y a song for us?"


    As soon as Karina spoke, all eyes in the room turned to Yvonne.


    “Karina,” Noah said, gently pulling his wife''s arm.


    Karina was a woman of high society, aplished in every way, but her one w was her intense jealousy He had only nced at the young woman for a moment, and Karina was already looking for a chance for, to give her a hard time.


    But Karina shrugged off Noah''s hand and raised an eyebrow at Yvonne No need to be shy Mis Jones. Just y whatever you like. No one willugh, regardless of how well you do."


    Yvonne listened and then smiled faintly.


    Karina was putting on this whole show just to see her make a fool of herself.


    She had actually had a good impression of Karina before, though she''d heard rumors of her jealousy—that Noah wasn''t allowed to have so much as a female mosquito near him.


    Yvonne had always thought it was an exaggeration, but now she was seeing it firsthand.


    “Then I suppose I shouldn''t refuse," Yvonne said with grace, lifting the hem of her dress as she walked to the stage.


    She sat down at the piano and adjusted the microphone.