Yvonne walked ahead with the dog, and Bet followed behind them.


    The afternoon sun stretched their shadows, one dog and two people, long across the pavement.


    They returned to the apartment with the dog.


    Helen had just finished cleaning and had changed her clothes, ready to leave.


    "Are you going out shopping?" Yvonne asked.


    "Oh, the young master gave me the afternoon off," Helen said with a smile, ncing at Bet.


    "Oh. Well, when youe back tomorrow, we can bake something together," Yvonne said cheerfully.


    Helen nodded, then took Bullet''s leash. "Come on, Bullet."


    “Helen, where are you taking Bullet? I thought you had the day off," Yvonne asked, confused.


    "Oh, the young master gave Bullet the afternoon off too," Helen said with a grin before leading the dog out the door.


    The door clicked shut, leaving Yvonne and Bet alone in the spacious, two- hundred-square-meter apartment.


    “Helen already prepared dinner. Let''s wash up and eat,” Bet said, taking off his jacket and hanging it on a nearby rack before striding toward the dining room.


    Yvonne washed her hands, changed into afortable set of loungewear, and joined Bet for dinner.


    After they ate, Bet did the dishes while Yvonne watched TV in the living room.


    By the time Bet finished in the kitchen, dusk had settled outside.


    Yvonne was flipping through channels with the remote when Bet came over and took it from her hand.


    "What''s so interesting about soap operas? Let''s go watch the stars on the balcony." "Watch the stars? Alright, I guess," Yvonne agreed after a moment''s hesitation.


    Bet led her by the hand out onto the open-air balcony.


    She was wearing a long, loose-fitting cream-colored nightgown, her long hair cascading freely over her shoulders. She looked cozy and


    Yvonne and Bet stood side by side on the balcony.


    The view of the river at night was breathtaking, with glittering city lights and the


    asional sound of a ship''s horn.


    "First you send Helen and Bullet


    away,


    let


    end now you''re dragging r


    out to the balcony to look at stars,


    Bewhat are you up to?


    "You''re too smart, Vonnie. It''s no fun trying to surprise you,” Bet chuckled, ruffling her hair.


    He dropped his arm, nced at his watch, and then took Yvonne''s right hand, the one with the ring on it.


    "The ring is already on your finger,


    but I


    Owe you a proper proposal,"


    said, then knelt before her,


    her hand. ...


    "Vonnie, I love you. Marry me."


    "


    As soon as he finished speaking, a loud bang echoed from the distance, and fireworks suddenly erupted over the river.


    "What did you say? I couldn''t hear you," Yvonne asked with a yful grin, her eyes sparkling. She was clearly teasing him.


    "Yvonne, I love you, marry me!" Bet raised his voice, shouting over the noise. "Okay!" Yvonne shouted back.


    Their voices mingled with the continuous explosions of the fireworks.


    The entire river was illuminated, turning the night sky as bright as day.


    Bet pulled Yvonne into his arms, and they kissed under the brilliant light of the fireworks.


    Their passionate kiss continued from the balcony all the way into the bedroom.


    The temperature in the room rose, their clothes bing disheveled.


    Bet pressed her down onto the bed. After a long, intense kiss, he pulled up the covers and wrapped Yvonne tightly within them.