A breeze swept through the cemetery, rustling the pines by Mr. Cooper''s headstone, as if he were silently bidding them farewell.


    The Thompson family''s banquet was held on the weekend at their estate. Besides the Thompsons andpany shareholders, they had also invited the political and business elite of Istra.


    This was Yvonne''s first time attending a banquet as Mrs. Bet Thompson. She wore a haute couture gown Emma had prepared for her a limited-edition, handcrafted piece. The pure white dress was impably tailored, its design exuding an air of dignified elegance, adorned with natural pearls and gems that made it utterly magnificent.


    After so many years as the matriarch of the Thompson family, Emma was ustomed to a life of luxury, and her gestures were always grand.


    Yvonne stood before the full-length mirror, gazing at her reflection. It was the first time she''d ever felt like she was wearing an entire mansion—a weighty, wonderful feeling.


    "You look beautiful today," Bet said, walking up and embracing her from behind. He was dressed in a ck, vintage-style suit. In the mirror, their figures intertwined, looking like a couple truly made for each other.


    "Don''t we make a perfect pair?" he asked with a low chuckle.


    Yvonne''s cheeks flushed slightly as she gently pushed him away.


    "The banquet has already started. Shouldn''t we go out?"


    Bet replied, "There''s no rush. The most important people, of course, make thest entrance."


    With that, Bet took Yvonne''s hand and ced it in the crook of his arm. "Let''s go, Mrs. Thompson. It''s time for our debut."


    "Alright," Yvonne said, her lovely, fox-like eyes curving as she took his arm and they walked into the ballroom together.


    The ballroom was already teeming with guests.


    Yet, the moment Bet and Yvonne appeared, they became the center of


    attention. All eyes fell on Yvonne, making her feel even more watched than she had at the Starlight Awards.


    "Mr. Bet Thompson."


    "Mr. Thompson."


    "Mr. Thompson, and this is...?"


    With Yvonne on his arm, Bet stepped forward. "Everyone, I''d like to introduce you to my wife, Yvonne."


    "Wife? This is Mrs. Thompson?" A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.


    When Bet introduced Yvonne, he hadn''t called her his girlfriend or his fiancée, but Mrs. Thompson. That meant she had officially secured her position.


    "That starlet really knows how to y her cards. I thought Mr. Bet Thompson was just having fun with her, but it turns out she''s got a title."


    "I heard she''s the granddaughter of the James family, though she''s not favored Mr. James Sr was sharp his whole life, but he''s gotten blind in his old age, letting such a prize of a son-inw slip through his fingers."


    The James family was naturally in attendance, and they couldn''t avoid the pointing and whispers, feeling utterly humiliated.


    But this was a Thompson family banquet, and no one paid the Jameses any mind. All attention was focused on the newly minted Mrs. Thompson.


    "Mr. Bet Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, congrattions."


    "Wishing you both a happy marriage and may you have children soon."


    "Congrattions on your marriage, Mr. Bet Thompson."


    Yvonne felt like a rare animal on


    disy and waspletely ill at et


    ease. Perhaps she was just


    ordinary person at heart, unable to enjoy being the center of attention.


    Bet clearly noticed her difort and smoothly came to her rescue "Alright, everyone, please don''t stare at my wife so intently She''s young and gets shy easily. Besides, she''s an actress and needs to focus on her career. We''re keeping our marriage private for now, so we''ll need all of your help to keep it a secret."


    The crowd chuckled and offered a few more pleasantries before dispersing.