The game continued. After Yvonne drew her cards, Bet reached over from behind and rearranged her hand. "y the seven of spades."


    After organizing her hand, Bet gave his instruction.


    Yvonne obediently did as he said, ying the card he indicated.


    From then on, she followed his leadpletely, ying whatever card he told her to.


    Emma, who was sitting to Yvonne''s left, had been consistently betting against her. Yvonne, being new to the game, hadn''t noticed at all.


    But Bet saw it instantly—his own mother was targeting his girlfriend.


    He didn''t hold back. Bet systematically dismantled Emma''s game, and soon, nearly all the bills in front of her were gone.


    "Why don''t you just y for her?" Emma snapped, annoyed at her losses. She pushed her cards forward and shot Bet a re.


    "Alright, I''ll y a few rounds with you," Bet replied cheerfully.


    "Oh no, if Bet joins the game, we''ll lose the shirts off our backs. I''m out, I''m out," Danaughed, pushing her cards in and waving her hands.


    With Bet''s involvement, Karina had also lost a fair amount. Her face was grim as she pushed her cards in with a tter.


    Yvonne now had a thick stack of bills in front of her. She neatened them and was about to return the money to the others.


    Yvonne didn''t understand the etiquette of gambling and just thought of it as a friendly game.


    "What you win at the table, you keep. That''s the rule. When we won your money, we were perfectly happy to pocket it," Dana exined with a smile, then asked the maid to clear the card table.


    Lily worked quickly, recing the cards with warm cups of tea. The group sat together, sipping tea and chatting.


    Yvonne didn''t have much inmon with them, so she sat quietly to the side.


    Bet joined Tobias and Frank, their conversation revolving around military and business matters. They also briefly touched on the Riverbend case.


    Their discussion was purely analytical and spective, as they had no authority to intervene.


    But the fact that Eden had caused


    such a major incident right after


    taking


    ver the shippingpany.


    and the property left Frank deeply" displeased and disappointed.


    Bet offered no opinion, simply lifting his cup for a sip. As he did, his eyes happened to drift over to where Yvonne was sitting looking bored and idly fiddling with her fingers.


    Bet set down his cup and stood up.


    "Where are you going?" Frank nced at him, puzzled.


    "We''ve eaten, and I have something to take care of, so we''re heading out," Bet said.


    "Isn''t it his day off? What does he have to be busy with?" Frank asked, looking at Tobias.


    Tobias was also in the military. Though not Frank''s direct superior, he was well- aware of his nephew''s schedule.


    He nced at Bet, then at Yvonne sitting nearby, and chose not to expose the lie. "Mhm," he grunted vaguely.


    ret


    "Then I''ll be going. See youter." Bet seemed to have expected this. He turned and walked toward Yvonne naturally taking her hand he reached her side.


    Yvonne, surprised by the sudden contact, tilted her head up and looked at him questioningly.


    "We''re going home," Bet said with a warm smile.


    "Okay," Yvonne replied happily, getting to her feet.


    "You two are leaving already?" Dana asked when she saw them.


    "Yes," Bet nodded. "Could you please tell Grandpa for me? I don''t want to disturb him upstairs."


    "Oh, alright," Dana agreed, then instinctively nced at Emma beside her. Emma''s face was sullen, her displeasure evident.