Before and after the Christmas, Jeffrey had called her countless times.


    First, he asked her toe home for Christmas''s Eve. Then he said Teresa missed her. This time, he was asking if she coulde back for a family dinner at the end of the holidays.


    Given that every visit home ended unpleasantly, Yvonne refused him again.


    Jeffrey''s voice was tinged with disappointment. He reminded her to take care of herself before hanging up.


    The call didn''t dampen Yvonne''s good mood. During the drive, she continued to chat andugh with Bet.


    Two hourster, they arrived at their destination.


    Yvonne was the first to open her door and jump out of the car.


    The ce was where the river met the sea, and the wind that swept in carried a biting chill.


    Yvonne took a deep breath, finding the cold air surprisingly fresh.


    "Put this on, you''ll catch a cold," Bet said, getting out of the car and draping a heavy coat over her shoulders.


    Then, with one arm around her and the other pulling a suitcase, he led her toward a wooden cabin in the distance.


    The area was still undeveloped, with nothing but naturalndscapes as far as the eye could see. There was only a single, small wooden cabin, giving one the feeling of being in a fairy tale.


    They entered the cabin.


    The interior was simple but tidy, with a warm fire burning in the hearth. Noah must have arranged for someone to prepare it ahead of time.


    The bedrooms were upstairs. Bet led Yvonne up the stairs and into one of the rooms.


    The room was even simpler, with only a wooden wardrobe, a chair, and a modest double bed.


    Yvonne walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked out at the scenery.


    Bet opened the suitcase, hung Yvonne''s clothes in the wardrobe, and straightened the bedding, looking every bit the doting partner.


    Then, he joined her at the window, his arm naturally wrapping around her waist.


    "Standing by the window again. Are you cold?" he asked, taking her cool hands and warming them in his.


    Yvonne leaned her soft body against his chest and pointed to the bright sun outside. "Bet, isn''t it beautiful?"


    "Yes, beautiful," Bet replied with a smile, his deep gaze never leaving her face.


    Just then, another car slowly drove up the path outside the cabin.


    The car stopped, and the driver''s door opened first. Noah stepped out.


    He then walked to the back of the car, opened the door, and lifted out a little girl in a princess dress.


    The girl, who looked a lot like her father, rested her head on his shoulder, giggling and cooing affectionately.


    Karina was thest to get out of the car.


    She was dressed in designer clothes and dripping with jewelry, looking more like she was heading to a g than a country outing.


    "Bet and the others are here. Let''s go inside," Noah said,


    caring Nicas he wa


    with Karina trailing behind.


    Lead


    She was wearing high heels and carrying a suitcase, so she couldn''t walk too fast.


    As she walked, she couldn''t help butin.


    "I told you we should have brought a driver or a nanny. It''s so inconvenient for us to look after Nic on our own."


    Noah, still holding their child, nced back at her, his expression utterly cold.


    "If you don''t want to be here, you can go back now."


    bet


    "That''s not what I meant. I''m just worried we won''t be able to manage her by ourselves,” Karina said, clearly intimidated by Noah''s stern look.


    "We''re Nic''s parents. How could we not be able to take care of her? Now let''s go inside. It''s cold out


    here and I don''t want Nicgetting sick."