"Why am I so weak now?" Yvonne mumbled into his embrace, sounding small and pitiful. "My heart isn''t strong, and I get these awful cramps... Will it affect my ability to have children? Bet, what if I can''t have kids?"


    Bet was silent for a moment.


    He then reached out and gently flicked Yvonne''s forehead, his tone a mix of helplessness and affection. "You and your little head, always overthinking things." "Ow," Yvonne rubbed her forehead, a hint of a pout in her voice.


    They didn''t continue the conversation. For Bet, the most important thing was spending the rest of his life with Yvonne. Children were a wonderful bonus, but their absence would be a small regret, nothing more.


    Yvonne''s attitude was much the same; she would let nature take its course. There were too many other important things in her life to worry about it for now.


    "Bet, tell me a story," Yvonne said, feeling a bit needy from the difort.


    Bet thought for a moment before recalling the story of *The Little Prince*, which he had heard many years ago.


    "The fox said: ''To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world...""


    Before Bet could finish the story, he looked down at Yvonne and saw that she had already fallen asleep.


    Perhaps it was the warmth of his chest, or maybe the painkillers had kicked in, but snuggled in his arms, Yvonne had drifted off quickly.


    "Little fox, can I tame you?" Bet whispered with a faint smile, gazing at her peaceful face.


    After Yvonne was sound asleep, Bet carefully slipped out of bed.


    He went to the bathroom to wash up, changed into some loungewear, and then went to his study to work.


    Bet worked until midnight before returning to the bedroom.


    The moment hey down, Yvonne naturally turned and snuggled into his arms. A small smile touched. Bet''s lips as he wrapped his arms around her, cing a soft kiss on her forehead.


    Bet held Yvonne as he drifted off to sleep, but only a short whileter, the phone on the nightstand suddenly vibrated.


    His eyes snapped open. He grabbed the phone and answered it.


    While on the call, he got out of bed. By the time he hung up, Bet was already dressed and ready to leave.


    Suddenly deprived of the warm embrace, Yvonne woke up, rubbing her eyes as she sat up in bed.


    "Did I wake you?” Bet asked, turning to her and lowering his voice.


    Yvonne shook her head and nced at the military uniform he was wearing. "A mission?"


    "Yeah," Bet nodded, his


    expression hardening slightly,


    though his gaze softened when it


    some more sleep. I''ll be back. tomorrow morning


    Yvonne, however, threw back the covers, got out of bed, and wrapped her arms


    around him. “Be safe. I''ll be waiting for you at home."


    "Good girl," Bet said, ruffling her hair before hurrying out the door.


    Yvonne walked barefoot to the floor-to-ceiling window and watched Bet''s ck Mercedes drive off into the night until it disappeared from view.


    She stood by the window for a long time before finally returning to bed.


    She snuggled under the covers, but sleep wouldn''te.