Mr. Thompson Sr., of course, paid them no mind. He picked up his fork first, and only then did the others begin to eat.


    He served himself some food, asionally making a quietment.


    The atmosphere was stiff, and no one dared to speak out of turn. Only Bet was able to exchange a few words with Mr. Thompson Sr.


    The patriarch had a clear soft spot for his remarkably capable grandson, and his stern face would soften into a rare smile only when speaking with him.


    Even as he chatted with his Grandpa, Bet didn''t forget to put food on Yvonne''s te.


    Mrs. Thompson Sr., Eden, and Vanessa sat directly across from them.


    Unable to get a word in with her husband and unwilling to be ignored, Mrs. Thompson Sr. turned her attention back to Yvonne, deciding to pick on the easy target again.


    "How times have changed. What, is our front door a public entrance now?"


    Her sarcastic remark was a direct jab at two people.


    Both Emma and Yvonne were actresses.


    Emma''s expression soured, but Mrs. Thompson Sr. was her mother-inw. She couldn''t publicly disrespect her, so she settled for shooting a cold re at Frank.


    Frank''s face was grim; he looked displeased as well.


    Yvonne was in the middle of eating a smallmb chop Bet had given her, her lipstick slightly smudged.


    Hearing Mrs. Thompson Sr.''sment, she wiped her lips with a napkin and couldn''t resist firing back. "Ma''am, I heard that when you were still in the countryside, the provincial theater troupe came to perform in your vige. Afterward, you were desperate to join them, but you failed the auditions for years. So..."


    Yvonne let her words hang, but everyone understood the unspoken conclusion.


    She was implying that Mrs. Thompson Sr. wasn''t even as good as the ''entertainers'' she looked down on.


    Mrs. Thompson Sr. was no fool; she got the message loud and clear. Her already pale face flushed with rage.


    "You... you..."


    "What about me? Ma''am, you really shouldn''t get so worked up. With so many eyes on you, if something were to happen it would have nothing to do with me. I was just stating a fact."


    Yvonne knew exactly how to push people''s buttons.


    Mrs. Thompson Sr. looked as if she might have a stroke.


    Vanessa and Ynda rushed tofort the old woman, patting her chest and rubbing her back.


    "Ms. Jones, I suggest you stop," Eden said, his face cold as he stared at Yvonne.


    Yvonne raised an eyebrow, her beautiful eyes a mix of innocence and provocation. "Sorry, but I''ve never been one to take advice."


    Losing hisposure for a moment, Eden mmed his hand hard on the table.


    The solid table trembled, and the dishes on it rattled.


    What should have been a pleasant family dinner had turned sour for everyone.


    Mr. Thompson Sr.''s fork ttered


    onto his te. He turned to Mrs.


    Thompson Sr. and Eden''s group and


    roared, "Out! The Thompson family


    is not a ce


    for you?


    throw


    tantrums!" Confent belongs to


    Being reprimanded so harshly by his Grandpa, Eden felt utterly humiliated.


    He instinctively looked toward Frank,


    who was sitting beside Mr.


    Thompson Sr., hoping his father would intervene. But Frank didn''t even spare him a nce


    "Vanessa, Grandma isn''t feeling well. Let''s take her to the hospital first," Eden said,


    his face twisting slightly as he pushed himself up from his chair.


    "Huh? We''re leaving now?" Vanessa asked, looking lost, but Omar was already pulling her toward the door.


    Ynda quickly followed, pushing Mrs. Thompson Sr.''s wheelchair.


    Once they were gone, the Thompson home was blessedly quiet again.


    But Mr. Thompson Sr.''s heavy gaze now settled on Yvonne. After all, she had been


    a part of the trouble, too.