"It wasn''t on my way. The driver will bring her," Bet replied casually, taking a seat opposite Frank.


    As soon as he finished speaking, the faint sound of a car engine drifted in from the courtyard. A momentter, Emma walked in.


    She entered the hall without so much as a nce at Frank, her eyes fixed on Bet. "If you wanted to see me, why didn''t youe to my apartment? Why meet at the Thompson estate?"


    Bet raised an eyebrow and shot a look at Frank.


    It seemed Frank would say anything to trick his wife intoing home.


    Bet didn''t expose the lie. Instead, he said calmly, "There''s something I need to discuss with you both."


    “What is it?” Emma asked, her posture suggesting she wanted to get this over with and leave.


    "Emma, since you''re here, let''s eat first. We can talk over dinner," Frank said eagerly.


    Emma ignored himpletely, treating him like he was invisible.


    Seeing this, Bet spoke up. "I''m hungry too. Let''s eat first."


    He stood up and led the way to the dining room.


    The long dining table wasden with a magnificent feast, featuring delicacies fromnd, air, and sea.


    Frank even had the butler open a bottle of vintage wine from the cer.


    Bet swirled the wine in his ss, savoring it slowly.


    Frank rarely brought out the good wine from his cer; today was a rare exception.


    Emma felt ufortable just sitting at the same table as Frank. She looked at Bet impatiently. "What is it you need to tell us?"


    Bet took another sip of his wine before answering, "Yvonne and I are nning to get our marriage license."


    Emma''s eyes widened in shock. "Why the sudden decision to get married? You''re always so impulsive."


    "Bet, getting a license means you''ll be legally married. That has all sorts of implications. You need to think this through," Frank added.


    For once, Emma and Frank were on the same side, both clearly disapproving.


    Who Bet dated was one thing, but marriage was a far more serious matter.


    Bet finished his wine, set the ss down, and picked up his silverware. As he began to eat, he continued in a cid tone, "I''m not asking for your opinion. I''m O


    informing you."


    "If you''ve already made up your mind, why even tell us? Does our opposition matter?” Emma snapped, mming her utensils down.


    "Of course Thad to tell you. Yvonne''s career is on the rise right now, sowe can''t have a wedding ceremony just yet. But once we''re licensed, we''ll be husband and wife. You''ll have to provide a dowry, won''t you?"


    Bet stated it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.


    "You''re demanding a dowry from us on her behalf!" Emma eximed, clutching her chest in anger.


    Frank immediately shot up from his seat and rushed to her side. “Emma, your health is fragile. Please don''t get agitated. Let''s just talk to our son calmly."


    Emma impatiently pushed him away. "Look at this wonderful son you raised! He''s


    not even married yet, and he''s already siding with an outsider.”


    "Yes, yes, it''s all my fault. I didn''t


    raise him right," Frank said, trying to soothe her before turning to re at Bet "Apologize to your mother, now."


    "Mom, I''m sorry," Bet said, his tone devoid of sincerity.