Mr. James Sr. epted it with a cheerful smile.


    "My assistant tells me your schedule is booked solid for the next three years. It''s getting harder and harder for an old man like me to see you," Mr. James Sr. said, his eyes flicking to Yvonne as he probed, "And you and Yvonne...?"


    "She''s my leadingdy," Thomas replied with a smile.


    Mr. James Sr., being of an older generation, didn''t immediately catch the nuance. But Marcia, standing beside him, gasped, "Are you two dating?"


    Yvonne was speechless.


    His leadingdy? Did he have any idea how suggestive that sounded?


    "You''ve misunderstood. We''re just working on a film together," Yvonne rified. She wanted nothing to do with Thomas.


    “Oh, just co-stars. And here I thought you''d actually managed tond a big fish," Marcia muttered with a sneer.


    Mr. James Sr. shot her a cold re, and Marcia wisely shut her mouth.


    With most of the guests having arrived, it was time for the banquet to begin. The four top families were naturally seated at the VIP table.


    As Teresa was a daughter of the James family, she was also given a seat there, despite being out of favor.


    Yvonne and Bet were not at the same table, but they weren''t far from each other.


    She happened to look up and saw Bet elegantly sipping wine from a crystal ss.


    Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before they both looked away, as if they were nothing more than strangers who had briefly crossed paths.


    Halfway through the banquet, Yvonne received a call from Sandra.


    She excused herself to Teresa and left early.


    Yvonne stepped out of the hotel and saw Sandra''s car parked at the entrance.


    "Sandra." Yvonne opened the passenger door and got in.


    As Yvonne was fastening her seatbelt, Sandra, with her hands on the steering wheel, turned to look at her Her gaze drifted past xvonne to the hote entrance,


    ete Bet and Ynda were walking out together.


    Ynda was wearing a low-cut gown, and as the cool night air hit her, she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.


    Bet, who had his jacket draped over his arm, thoughtfully ced it over her shoulders.


    "Why aren''t you driving? What are you looking at?" Yvonne asked, following Sandra''s gaze to see the pair.


    Just then, Bet''s ck Mercedes pulled up. He gantly opened the door and helped Ynda into the car, his every move and nce filled with consideration.


    Yvonne''s gaze lingered for a moment before she finally looked away.


    Sandra pressed the elerator, and the car pulled away from the hotel, merging smoothly onto the main road.


    The car was unusually quiet, the atmosphere thick with an unspoken tension.


    "What are you thinking about? You haven''t said a word," Yvonne said, resting her hand against the side window.


    Sandra gripped the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, her face looking a little pale.


    "I heard that Mr. Thompson and Ms. Walker are getting engaged soon."


    Yvonne''s hand, resting on herp,


    clenched instinctively, but she forced a lighthearted smile. "Mr. Thompson and Ms Walker have been dating for a long time. Engagement and marriage were bound to happen sooner orter."


    But Sandra''s grip on the steering wheel tightened, the blue veins on the back of her hands standing out. "It just makes me think of Yvonne How devastated she would be if she knew her childhood sweetheart was engaged to another woman."


    After Sandra spoke, a brief silence once again filled the small car.