Although Nelly and Emma hadn''t seen each other in years, they had kept in touch and had simr temperaments, so their conversation flowed easily.


    Nelly''s gaze asionally drifted to Bet, and she asked Emma, as if casually, "If I remember correctly, Bet is almost thirty this year. Is he still not married?"


    "He''s always at the base, so busy you can barely see him. Who would want to marry him?" Emma said vaguely.


    She refused to acknowledge Yvonne and didn''t even want to mention her name. "How old is Mignon? Does she have a boyfriend?" Emma then turned to Mignon. Mignon appeared soft and well-behaved, the kind of girl that elders adored.


    "Oh, her, she just finished her master''s degree this year. Her father and I only have this one daughter, so of course we keep a close eye on her. Mignon is a good girl; she doesn''t hang out with the wrong crowd. She''s never even been in a


    rtionship."


    Nelly took Mignon''s hand and said with a doting look, "Her father and I just want her to marry someone from a good family that we know well, someone of equal social standing. That way, we can be at ease in the future."


    As she spoke, Nelly subconsciously nced at Bet.


    But Bet was nonchntly staring at the cup in his hand, seemingly uninterested in their conversation.


    "Yes," Emma nodded in agreement. "This is a lifetime decision, not a game. Make sure she''s stepping into something solid."


    "Remember how you''d tease about marrying our children someday, if mine was a girl?" Nelly said, half-joking.


    Emma froze for a moment, instinctively looking from Mignon to Bet.


    Mother and son made eye contact, and Bet''s gaze turned noticeably colder.


    He hadn''t expected that the Powell family, who had scurried back from abroad and hadn''t even found their. footing in Istra, would already dare to set their sights on him.


    "You must be joking, Mrs. Zade. I already have a girlfriend. We might even be inviting you to our wedding soon."


    Nelly was clearly taken aback. The


    smile on her face froze for a moment before she managed a strained are. "On see Bet has a girlfriend. Well, of course. A man as outstanding as Bet must have many girls who is into him."


    Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. A waiter entered and began serving the dishes.


    "Come on, try it. See if it''s still the taste you remember," Emma said, picking up her utensils and encouraging Nelly and Mignon to eat.


    The previous topic of conversation was quickly dropped.


    ...


    Yvonne wasn''t filming any projects recently, and the variety show she was on was about to wrap up.


    Sandra had secured an advertising deal for her with a major cosmetics brand, and today they were scheduled to meet with the brand''s representative.


    Sandra had heard that the person in charge was a local from Istra, so she booked a table at a century-old restaurant.


    Sandra parked the car at the restaurant''s entrance.


    "This endorsement deal is pretty


    much settled. The brand is very


    satisfied with you. My dear, you have


    to be on yo


    best behavior


    best behavior today.


    No willfulness, understand?"


    Sandra lectured Yvonne as they walked into the restaurant.


    The endorsement fee was substantial. More importantly, the cosmetics brand was very well-known. Bing their spokesperson would significantly boost Yvonne''s status.


    "I know, I''ll definitely behave this time. Even if that boss gets handsy, I promise I won''t chop off his wandering hands."