"Bet is a good man-steady, capable, and loyal. You two must build a good life together."


    "I will. I know. Thank you, Monica," Yvonne nodded firmly. Her eyes were already wet, and if she hadn''t been holding back, she would have been sobbing in her mother''s arms.


    If only, if only she hadn''t died. Then she could have married from the Jones family home as their true daughter. She and Bet would have been so, so happy.


    Monica was a lightweight, and having had a few extra drinks in her excitement, she fell asleep shortly after lying down.


    Yvonne stayed by her side, carefully tucking her in. She gently brushed her fingers over Monica''s temple.


    She hadn''t noticed when it had started, but strands of white hair had begun to appear there.


    "Mom, it''s me, Vonnie. I''m back. From now on, I''ll always be by your side and Dad''s."


    Since both Bruce and Monica were drunk, Yvonne was worried and decided to stay at the Jones family home to look after them.


    Bet left with Frank and Emma.


    The three of them had just stepped out of the front gate when Frank''s phone rang. Whatever the person on the other end said, Frank''s expression turned grim and urgent.


    "I have something urgent to attend to. I have to go. Bet, take your mother home."


    Emma acted as if she hadn''t heard,pletely ignoring him.


    Bet replied with a quiet, "Okay."


    Without another moment''s dy, Frank hurried to his car and urged the driver to leave immediately.


    Once Frank was gone, Emma got into Bet''s car.


    Bet didn''t start the engine right away. Instead, he turned to fasten Emma''s seatbelt.


    "You''re bing quite thoughtful,” Emma remarked, a rarepliment, as she watched her son.


    "I''m just used to doing it for Yvonne," Bet replied.


    Emma shot him a re at his answer, then changed the subject. "Your father left in such a rush. I wonder what''s going on. I hope nothing''s wrong."


    "What could be wrong with him? I


    bet it''s either Mrs. Thompson Set


    faking an illness again, or


    ?


    more tro


    stirred up me


    scoffed before starting the car.


    The car pulled out of the driveway and onto the quiet street.


    During the drive, Emma''s mood was sour. Her spirits always soured whenever Frank was summoned by his mother.


    Because every time Mrs. Thompson Sr. called for Frank, she would stir up some kind of trouble.


    She would demand money,


    resources, or property for the Monroe siblings. Once she even tried to get Frank drunk and trap him into apromising position with Carol, hoping for another grandson.


    Frank had learned his lesson from that incident and became extremely cautious. He


    had a massive fight with his mother over it, nearly disowning her.


    But after Mrs. Thompson Sr. fell gravely ill and threw a series of tantrums, mother and son reconciled.


    She was, after all, his birth mother. Frank could never truly abandon her.


    Just as Bet could never truly


    abandon Emma. No matter how


    much they argued over Yvonne, they


    were still mother


    ison bound by"


    blood-a tie that could never be


    severed.


    The car drove steadily, and silence filled the space for a moment before Emma spoke again.


    "When are you and that Yvonne nning to get legally married?"


    "She''s busy filming right now and doesn''t have the time. We''ll pick a good day after


    the movie wraps,” Bet said with a smile, his hands on the steering wheel.


    Emma knew her objections were futile, so she had resigned herself to it.