Yvonne hadn''t expected Thomas to bring her here.


    She hadn''t been back in years, but every tree and de of grass felt achingly familiar.


    During those years when she and Bet were childhood sweethearts, he often brought her here for vacation.


    He had once held her in his arms, teaching her how to y golf hand over hand. They had ridden the same horse together, galloping across the fields.


    She had learned to y golf, ride, swim... all of it right here, with Bet as her patient teacher.


    Their first time had been here, too.


    She was still in college and hade to the estate with Bet during summer break.


    She had been soakingfortably in the outdoor hot spring, her eyes closed. When she opened them, she saw arge, yellowish snake coiled on a branch of a nearby tree.


    Yvonne feared nothing in the world except snakes. Her face paled with terror, and an involuntary scream escaped her lips.


    Bet, who was changing in the next room, heard her and came running.


    By the time he arrived, likely scared off by her shriek, the snake was long gone.


    All that remained was Yvonne in the hot spring, looking like a flower floating on the water, ethereal and exquisitely beautiful.


    "Where''s the snake?" Bet asked, his gaze deep as he raised an eyebrow at her.


    "It was on the tree just now, I don''t know where it went," she said, still shaken.


    "Did it hurt you?" he asked again.


    "No," Yvonne shook her head.


    But Bet didn''t seem to believe her. He jumped into the spring, insisting on checking her himself.


    His method of ''checking'' involved


    wrapping one arm around her waist, using the other to tilt her chin up,


    and asking with a yfulsmirk, Did you do that on purpose?"


    Furious, Yvonne tried to push him away, but he pinned her against the edge of the pool in a passionate, unrestrained embrace.


    That was the first time she realized how strong a man could be, so dominant and powerful.


    She was so mortified and angry that she didn''t speak to him for days.


    Bet spent that time trying to win her back, humbling himselfpletely. The proud Mr. Thompson knelt on one knee to put on her shoes. He made her a kite by hand, his handsome fingers covered in cuts from the bamboo strips. He even drove for hours just to buy her favorite breakfast.


    He had once held her close, whispering in her ear, "Vonnie, we''ll be together forever."


    But their ''forever'' had been far too short.


    "Yvonne. Yvonne." Thomas called her name a few times, but she didn''t respond.


    He waved a hand in front of her face, finally snapping her out of her daze.


    "What are you thinking about, spacing out like that?" Thomas asked casually as he leaned over to unbuckle her seatbelt.


    "Nothing," Yvonne said, pushing the car door open.


    She stood at the entrance of the estate, looking up at the surrounding mountains, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.


    "This estate is the Thompson


    family''s private property, not open to the public, I''ve invited a few friends, over and thought you could meet them," Thomas said with a warm smile, guiding her inside.


    The people Thomas wanted her to meet were well-known investors, producers, and


    two major directors in the industry.


    It was quite an impressive lineup.


    Thomas was clearly trying to use his connections to help advance her career.


    He really was a good suitor—not overly pushy, but thoughtful about what Yvonne


    needed and willing to provide it to the best of his ability.


    With any other woman, Thomas probably would have won her over long ago.