Betid Yvonne on the master bed, but as he turned, he realized Bullet had followed him.


    The little dog was standing on its hind legs with its front paws on the edge of the mattress, its big, dark puppy eyes watching them without blinking.


    The three of them shared a moment of awkward silence.


    Bet''s expression darkened. He rolled off the bed, grabbed Bullet, and unceremoniously lifted him to the floor.


    "Get some rest. I''m taking Bullet out," he said, then gave the dog a light, nudging kick with his foot.


    Bullet let out a yelp and scurried out of the bedroom. But he didn''t go far. He nted himself right outside the door, his eyes fixed on Bet, as if to say, They kicked me out, so why does he get to stay in the master''s room?


    Bet followed him out and gently closed the bedroom door.


    The next day was Christmas.


    Yvonne had been invited to perform at the Istra TV g and left the apartment early.


    Bet went to the base to finish up somest-minute work. Once he was done, he drove to the television station to wait for Yvonne''s performance to end so they could go to the Jones family''s house together.


    Yvonne was part of an opening song and dance number with several other starlets.


    She was dressed in a dress with peony hair ornaments that made her look both beautiful and cheerful.


    As she settled into the passenger seat of his car, Bet couldn''t resist reaching out to pinch her fair cheek.


    "So cute," he said with a yful, lopsided grin.


    Yvonne yfully pped the back of his hand. "Just drive."


    Bet started the car, and they smoothly merged into traffic.


    The Jones family''s house wasn''t too far from the TV station, and with the roads unusually clear on Christmas night, the trip took a third less times than usual.


    The car came to a slow stop in an open space in the family''s courtyard.


    Bet and Yvonne got out. Bet went to the trunk and took out the holiday gifts he''d brought for the family.


    With the gifts in one hand, he took Yvonne''s with the other and started toward the house.


    Yvonne instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Bet''s grip tightened.


    "They''ll find out sooner orter. We can''t hide this forever," he said.


    Yvonne bit her lip, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.


    Bet''s identity as a Thompson was a very sensitive matter.


    Bruce and Monica didn''t know she was their Yvonne. What would they think of her? Would they believe she е


    had befriended them with the ulterior motive of getting close to a Thompson?


    What if they misunderstood her and pushed her away?


    "Don''t worry. They''re reasonable people. They''ll understand," Bet reassured


    her, squeezing her hand before leading her confidently inside.


    Mrs. Moore had just finished


    cooking when she heard a car in the courtyard. She came qutto gre them and saw Bet leading Yvonne in by the hand.


    "How did you two get here together?"


    "I finished up at the base and went straight to the TV station to pick her up," Bet exined.


    It was only then that Mrs. Moore noticed their intertwined hands. Her eyes widened in shock.


    "You two... are together? I was just saying your age gap was too big, but look at you, robbing the cradle!"