"What?" Yvonne looked at him,pletely baffled.


    But Bet didn''t exin. A look of exhaustion crossed his face. "Vonnie, I''m a little tired. Can you let me sleep for a while?"


    Bet closed his eyes, looking utterly drained, but his hand never loosened its grip on Yvonne''s wrist.


    Resigned, Yvonne sat down on the edge of the bed and watched him quietly, tracing the contours of his features with her eyes.


    ...


    Meanwhile.


    Ynda sat in Bet''s ck Mercedes, her eyes as red as a rabbit''s.


    The scene from the hospital room yed over and over in her mind.


    It was the first time she had ever seen Bet so out of control. So, he did have desires. He could kiss a girl with that much passion, so much that even the corners of his eyes were flushed.


    Ynda thought about how, with her, he had always been proper and reserved, never touching her more than was strictly necessary.


    She had always assumed it was just his personality. Now she realized he simply wasn''t interested in her physically.


    Because Simon was driving Bet''s car, Ynda managed to restrain her temper.


    The car finally pulled into the driveway of the Walker family estate.


    Simon got out first, then respectfully opened the back door. "Ms. Walker, we''re here."


    Ynda stepped out of the car and paused, waiting for Simon to say something


    more.


    "Rest well, Ms. Walker," Simon said with his usual neutrality. Clearly, Bet hadn''t given him any other messages.


    Deeply disappointed, Ynda hurried into the vi, ran up to her room, and began smashing things in a fit of rage.


    Mr. and Mrs. Walker had a social engagement and didn''t return untilte that evening.


    "Is our daughter back?" Mrs. Walker asked, handing her purse to a maid.


    The maid didn''t dare hide the truth. "She came back this afternoon, ma''am. She looked very upset, threw a tantrum in her room, and has been crying ever since."


    Mrs. Walker''s expression darkened, and she immediately headed upstairs.


    "Ynda? Ynda!" Mrs. Walker knocked several times, but there was no answer, only the sound of muffled sobs from within.


    She had a maid bring the spare key and let herself in.


    Inside, Ynda was lying face down on the bed, her face a mess of tears and snot.


    "Mom," Ynda sobbed, throwing herself into her mother''s arms.


    "The maid said you''ve been crying all afternoon. You''re being so foolish. Don''t you know your health is fragile? You can''t abuse your body like this," Mrs. Walker said, stroking her daughter''s back in a tone that was half scolding, halfforting.


    "Ben... he cheated on me," Ynda cried, recounting what had happened in the hospital room.


    Mrs. Walker''s face grew grim, but she managed to keep herposure.


    "Did getting shot damage Bet''s brain? How could he do something so outrageous?" Mrs. Walker cursed Bet before turning to console her daughter.


    "Is such a small thing really worth all these tears? It''s just a man''s momentarypse. You and Bet are the ones who are a perfect match with your parents'' approval. That


    little starlet is barely legal Men get curious about something young and fresh. Once the novelty wears off, he''ll remember how good you are."


    Mrs. Walker sighed. "When your father was younger, didn''t he have a


    friends? Once


    few... close fem came be


    get tired of them, he came right


    back to his family, didn''t he?"


    Soothed by her mother''s words, Ynda finally stopped crying.