It was the holiday season, so most employees were off, aside from a skeleton crew at the office.


    But Noah was a worrier and would asionally go in to check on things. He still needed to personally oversee urgent projects to prevent any mistakes.


    Noahcked a natural talent for business, but he was clear-headed and methodical, making him apetent steward of the family enterprise.


    By the time he finished his work at thepany, it was already afternoon.


    He took out his phone and called Bet. Learning that Bet was at the militarypound with their grandfather, he decided to drive over.


    During the holidays, there was a steady stream of visitors to Mr. Thompson Sr.''s home, mostly old army buddies and men who had served under him.


    As Noah entered the general''s residence, he could hearughter andplimentsing from the living room.


    Bet, being the most aplished of the younger generation, was a perennial object of praise among the elders.


    "Mr. Turner, you''re too kind," Bet responded to the praise with his usual modesty.


    "Bet has that same calm demeanor his grandfather had back in the day," Mr. Turner chuckled. He had been Mr. Thompson Sr.''s aide-de-camp and was one of the few who could still be so rxed around the old patriarch.


    Just then, Mr. Turner noticed Noah walking in.


    "Ah, Noah''s here too. General, your two grandsons—one in business, one in the military—are both exceptional. It''s truly something to be envious of."


    "Mr. Turner," Noah greeted him politely.


    Mr. Thompson Sr. and Mr. Turner were reminiscing about the old days, a time long before either Noah or Bet were born.


    Finding they couldn''t contribute to the conversation, the two brothers tactfully moved aside to talk.


    "Karina told me her good-for-nothing brother caused trouble again, and was foolish enough to target you." Noah said lighting a cigarette and probing for details.


    Bet nodded and recounted the events at the bar the previous night, sticking to


    the facts without any embellishment.


    When he finished, Noah''s expression was grim.


    This wasn''t the first time Kevin had resorted to such despicable methods.


    He had always relied on his family''s money and influence to smooth things over.


    Of course, there had been times


    when money wasn''t enough. A few years ago, Kevin had drugged and raped a girl. The girl was


    strong-willed, refused any


    efn


    settlement, and reported hinto the


    potice.  ne


    The White family had pulled every string they could for their precious son, eventually


    using the Thompson family name to exert pressure and bury the incident.


    Mr. Thompson Sr. and Tobias, both military men with upromising principles, despised criminals like Kevin.


    Mr. Thompson Sr. had been furious, and had beaten Noah half to death. He had been against Noah from the stan


    marging Karina from


    believing the Whites were bad stock.


    But Noah had been stubborn, and now it had led to this mess.


    Noah had been thoroughly disappointed in Karina and had decided to divorce her. Karina had refused, crying and begging. But Noah had been resolute—until he found out she was pregnant.


    He couldn''t divorce a pregnant woman, so he had to wait until the child was born.


    Later, Karina had a difficult delivery and nearly died. When Noah held his newborn daughter, so small, innocent, and fragile, his heart melted.


    For the sake of giving his daughter aplete family, Noah abandoned the idea of divorce and settled into his life with Karina.