After Thomas parked, he and Yvonne got out of the car.


    It was only then that Yvonne realized Thomas'' "friends" were Oscar and Queena, along with Bet and Ynda.


    Yvonne froze.


    She wondered if it was toote to back out.


    Since marrying into the Rogers family, Queena had be remarkably quiet, a testament to the family''s methods of breaking people in.


    She kept her head down, looking meek and barely speaking a word.


    Ynda, on the other hand, greeted them cheerfully. "Thomas, Ms. Jones."


    She then winked at Thomas and teased, "I always knew you were pursuing Ms. Jones, but Bet didn''t believe me. So, Thomas, is she your girlfriend now?" Thomas nced at Yvonne and smiled warmly. "The revolution is not yet won."


    "Oh, a beauty like Ms. Jones must be hard to win over. You''ll have to try harder, Thomas," Ynda replied with a radiant smile.


    Yvonne kept her stunning, fox-like eyes slightly lowered, her expression calm and detached, offering nothing to the conversation.


    After teasing Thomas for a bit and getting no reaction from Yvonne, Ynda gave up.


    Bet, standing beside Ynda, simply greeted Thomas and didn''t spare Yvonne a single nce before walking past them towards the shore.


    A private yacht was moored at the edge of the water.


    Soon, the group boarded the yacht. It moved slowly, gliding leisurely across the sea. Thomas and Oscar took out fishing rods and started fishing from the deck.


    Queena sat obediently by Oscar''s side, asionally handing him water or fruit. Ynda, full of yful energy, sat between Thomas and Oscar, looking eager to try. Thomas'' fishing skills and luck were both mediocre; he didn''t catch a single fish. Oscar, however, was gentle and patient as he taught Ynda.


    "Why aren''t you teaching your own girlfriend Thomas asked, raising an eyebrow as he watched Oscar practically hold Ynda in his arms. He nced at Bet who was standing off to the side smokings


    "Don''t know how," Bet replied nonchntly, flicking the ash from his cigarette.


    “That''s a surprise. I didn''t think there was anything Mr. Bet Thompson couldn''t do," Thomas chuckled, letting the subject drop.


    Yvonne, wanting to avoid the sun, stayed inside the yacht, ying a game on her phone.


    When Bet walked in and saw her, he almost instinctively extinguished the cigarette between his fingers and dropped it into a crystal ashtray.


    He then went to the water cooler, grabbed a disposable cup, and filled it. As he drank, his Adam''s apple bobbed-a sight that, from Yvonne''s angle, was undeniably masculine and sexy


    Yvonne''s gaze lingered on him for a moment, only breaking away when Thomas came inside.


    As Thomas entered the cabin, he sensed a strange tension in the air but couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    Bet and Yvonne were separated by a clear distance, not speaking or even making eye contact yet there was an inexplicable invisible bond between them.


    "Why aren''t you out on the deck enjoying the breeze?" Thomas asked, walking over to Yvonne.


    Yvonne replied, "I don''t want to get a sunburn."


    "So delicate," Thomas teased with a helpless smile.


    "Can''t help it. I make a living with my face," Yvonne retorted without looking up from


    her game.


    Bet finished his water, tossed the cup into the recycling bin, and walked back outside.