The photo showed her holding Bullet on the sofa in Cherry Apartment. Bullet looked majestic, like the most valiant of knights.


    Yvonne sent Bet the photo to let him know she was home safe, then asked about Emma''s condition.


    Bet held his phone, quickly typing out a reply and sending it.


    Seeing Bet so absorbed in his phone, Emma immediately guessed who he was texting, and her expression turned cold.


    "Are you still mixed up with that starlet?"


    After finishing his text to Yvonne, Bet casually ced his phone back on the nightstand and looked at Emma. Instead of answering, he retorted, "Are you still fantasizing that I''ll marry Ynda?"


    "What exactly is wrong with Ynda?" Emma felt a surge of anger and instinctively clutched her chest.


    "You''ll find out in due time," Bet replied dismissively, then changed the subject. "Dad''s been waiting outside the door. He seems very worried about you. Should I let him in?"


    "I don''t want to see him." Emma''s attention was diverted, and she snapped irritably.


    She and Frank had been in love for years. When no one else supported him, she was the only one who stood firmly by his side.


    Everyone in high society knew Frank doted on his wife, but this seemingly perfect marriage had been riddled with holes for many years.


    Frank''s two illegitimate children were like a thorn lodged deep in Emma''s heart— agonizing whether it was pulled out or left in.


    Bet respected Emma''s decision. He nodded and stood up. "I''ll go tell him to head home and get some rest. There''s no need for him to wait at the hospital."


    "Alright. Hedy can stay with me," Emma said, turning over and sinking wearily onto the hospital bed.


    "It''s the holidays. Let Hedy go home and rest for a day. I''ll stay with you," Bet said.


    Emma snorted. "I suppose you have some conscience after all."


    Bet pulled the nket up for Emma, carefully tucking in the corners before leaving the room with the maid, Hedy.


    Hedy left to get some rest, and Bet walked over to Frank.


    "How''s your mother?" Frank asked.


    "She''s fine, just doesn''t want to see you. You should go home and rest. No need to wait here," Bet said bluntly.


    Frank''s face visibly darkened. He slumped into a nearby chair, lost in thought for a long moment. Finally he said, I didn''t know when Vanessa came back from abroad. After the holidays, I''ll arrange for her to leave the country. I won''t let her stay and upset your mother."


    "It''s not just Vanessa who upsets Mom. It''s this marriage of yours, which has been rotten to the core


    for years, Dad,


    have you ever considered divorce, to give her back her freedom?"


    Bet''s tone was t and objective.


    Frank stared at him intently for a


    long time before saying, "Go on in


    and stay with


    ? mothe


    I''ll just sit


    here I suppose this counts as a


    family reunion for the three of us."


    Bet''s lips thinned into a line. Without another word, he turned and went back into the room.


    There''s no point trying to convince someone who refuses to see the truth, so why waste your breath?


    Because Emma was hospitalized, only Frank and Bet went to pay their Christmas''s respects to Mr. Thompson Sr. after the holiday.


    Mr. Thompson Sr., now in his eighties and long retired, still lived in the general''s quarters provided by the military.