They talked as they walked.


    Yvonne: The reception was so boring.


    Bet: Other people''s parties might be boring, but when we have our wedding reception, you''ll have plenty to keep you busy.


    Yvonne: Who said I''m having a wedding reception with you?


    Bet stopped, his arm wrapping around Yvonne''s slender waist, pulling her into his embrace. "If not a reception, then let''s get the license first. Ms. Jones, you''ve already slept with me. You have to take some responsibility. At least give me a title?"


    "If you y your cards right, I''ll consider it," Yvonne said, reaching out to tug on Bet''s tie.


    Bet caught her hand, brought it to his lips, and gave it a suggestive peck. "Alright, I''ll be on my best behavior tonight."


    Yvonne''s cheeks flushed slightly. She pulled her hand back and hurried to the car, pulling open the door.


    "I''m hungry. Let''s go get Japanese food first."


    Bet chuckled, then walked around to the driver''s side and got in.


    After Bet and Yvonne left, the wedding reception began to wind down.


    The bride and groom, exhausted from the long day, left early.


    Frank couldn''t be bothered with the guests either and left after making an excuse. Vincent and Mrs. Walker stayed behind to manage the remaining guests.


    The couple couldn''t possibly handle everyone, so Mrs. Walker asked someone to get Karina to help. But Karina made up ame excuse and refused.


    Noah looked at Karina''s rather foolish disy and found it somewhat amusing.


    Karina had been fawning over the Monroe and Walker families for


    while. If she had seen it to


    the end the Walker family might have remembered her efforts.


    But the moment Bet showed up, she was eager to draw a line between herself and the Walkers. Now not only would no one appreciate what she''d done, but the


    Walker family would likely resent her


    for it.


    At times like this, Noah couldn''t help but think of Cynthia. If Cynthia were here, she


    would have handled everything perfectly.


    Cynthia was a well-breddy, meticulously groomed by the Scott family. Any man who married her would be fortunate.


    Unfortunately, he was not that fortunate.


    "Noah, let''s go home too. Nic''s dance ss is about to end. Let''s go pick her up together," Karina said.


    Noah''s expression darkened slightly, but since it involved his daughter, he nodded.


    "I''m going to the restroom first," Noah said, getting up from his seat and walking out of the banquet hall.


    He walked through the long corridor and into the restroom. After washing his hands and tidying his clothes, he came out, only to run straight into Cynthia.


    She was standing to the side of the corridor, wearing a purple dress. Purple was a difficult color to pull off, but on Cynthia, it looked


    perfectly natural. She appear


    noble and radiant seemingly unchanged from how Noah


    remembered her.


    Noah hadn''t expected to see Cynthia so suddenly; after all, he had been actively avoiding her at many events.


    His hands, hanging at his sides, trembled uncontrobly, and he instinctively stopped in his tracks.


    Cynthia, however, was perfectly calm upon seeing him.


    "Noah, it''s been a long time," she greeted him with a smile, as if he were an old friend she hadn''t seen in ages.


    "Yeah," Noah''s voice choked for a moment before he regained hisposure. "It has been a long time. When did you get back?"


    Cynthia: "Not too long ago."


    After that, a brief silence fell between them. They stood facing each other; Cynthia''s smile never wavered, while Noah''s expression was stiff and awkward.