The housekeeper brought out the dishes one by one, filling the table with avish spread.


    The family of four sat around the table, but the atmosphere was cold and quiet.


    Teresa picked at her food, her face tinged with sadness.


    "Out here, we can eat whatever we want. But your father is locked up, not eating or sleeping well. He got sick. When I visited him, he was so thin he was almost unrecognizable."


    "Sigh, this house hasn''t felt like a home since George and Queena left."


    George''s affair and his illegitimate daughter had once filled Teresa with hatred.


    But with him in prison and so much time having passed, she couldn''t help but remember the good times they''d shared.


    Joseph hadn''t seen his father in a long time and missed him terribly.


    With tears in his eyes, he cried, "I miss Daddy. I want Daddy. Why isn''t heing home?"


    The crying gave Yvonne a headache. She mmed her silverware down on the table with a tter.


    "Are you really nostalgic for the days when you were raising your husband''s illegitimate daughter? Oh, right. Even though you were yed for a fool, your little family of five was happy andplete. Too bad George had to go and break thew, bringing it all on himself."


    "Yvonne, he''s your father! How can you say that about him?" Teresa interrupted, agitated. "George already told me you were the one who put him in prison. He''s your own father! Have you no heart?"


    "I don''t have a father who''s worse than an animal," Yvonne sneered.


    "You saw George suffering in prison, but did you see his victims? A young girl, so humiliated she threw herself from a tall building, ending up a bloody mess on the pavement. Have you seen her parents, holding their daughter''s body, their faces etched with pain and despair?!


    While you''re feeling sorry for


    George''s poor appetite, who''s feeling


    sorry for the victims and their.


    famines? They never see their


    Childrene home again


    "Even if you''re so blinded by love that you''ve lost allmon sense, you should at


    least have a basic human conscience."


    Yvonne had said too much in one breath and lost her appetite. She stood up abruptly.


    "Enjoy your meal. I''m not hungry. I''m leaving."


    As she turned to go, Jeffrey grabbed her arm.


    "Mom didn''t mean to me you. It''s a family dinner. Please, stay and finish."


    Jeffrey wouldn''t let go, and while Teresa didn''t say anything, she picked up her fork and ced some of Yvonne''s favorite food into her bowl.


    Joseph stopped crying and looked at Yvonne with wide, pleading eyes, holding his own small bowl.


    After a moment of hesitation, Yvonne sat back down.


    The rest of the meal was eaten in dead silence.


    After dinner, the housekeeper cleared the table and brought out hot tea.


    Teresa held her teacup and looked at Yvonne again, speaking cautiously.


    "The epic drama you''re filming is about to wrap up, isn''t it? I heard Mr. Taylor was the one who got you the role. You should invite him over for dinner sometime so we can express Our gratitude."


    "I don''t know Thomas well enough to invite someone of his stature," Yvonne replied


    coolly without looking up.


    Teresa''s temper red, but she


    forced herself to remain calm.


    "Everyone in the industry knows Mr. Taylor is pursuing you. Your


    grandfather called me yesterday. He said it you marry into the Taylor, family, he''s willing to give you 10% of the James Group''s shares. You know, your uncle has worked tirelessly for thepany for years, and your grandfather never gave him that much. What more could you want?"