Hearing this, Yvonne reached out and gave his arm a firm pinch. "Does that hurt?” she asked with a softugh.


    "No," Bet replied, shaking his head.


    Just as Yvonne was about to pinch him again, Bet wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.


    "Vonnie, if this is all a dream, I never want to wake up."


    A wave of bittersweet emotion washed over Yvonne. She wrapped her arms around him, patting his back gently. "The baby and I will always be by your side," she soothed.


    At only six weeks pregnant, Yvonne hadn''t made a big announcement.


    She had only told Sandra. After all, the pregnancy meant her work schedule needed aplete overhaul. Yvonne wouldn''t be able to take on any new jobs for at least a year.


    Yvonne had expected Sandra to scold her for being lovesick and unprofessional. But surprisingly, Sandra was thrilled and even came to visit her at Cherry Bay, bringing a host of supplements and gifts.


    "So it''s really true?" Sandra asked, her hand gently touching Yvonne''s t stomach.


    "The doctor said it''s been six weeks," Yvonne confirmed.


    "You''re something else, you know that? Only finding out at six weeks," Sandra teased, lightly poking Yvonne''s forehead. "So, where''s your own personal prince?"


    "He just got a call and had to go back to the base," Yvonne replied.


    Bet was supposed to go back this morning but had taken an extra day off because Yvonne wasn''t feeling well.


    But when his unit called tonight, it sounded like an urgent mission, so he left in a hurry.


    What Yvonne didn''t know was that Bet''s hasty departure was due to a breakthrough in Eden''s case. More precisely, the investigation was nearing its end, and the military''s cooperation was required.


    Sandra nodded, not prying further. Instead, she changed the subject.


    "We were in talks for two


    endorsement deals and a script, but I''ve already turned them down for you. You definitely can''t work for the next year. After that, what are your ns? Are you thinking of being a full-time mom, or do you want to make aeback?"


    "I''ll definitely go back to work," Yvonne answered without hesitation.


    It wasn''t in Yvonne''s nature to be confined to the home, her life revolving solely around her husband and child.


    A woman is herself first, before she is a wife or a mother.


    "If a suitable projectes up, I''ll schedule t for thetter half of next year for you" Sandra said, her gaze returning to Yvonne''s stomach, hint of sadness mixed with her


    gentle expression.


    Yvonne knew Sandra was probably thinking of the child she had lost the only child she and her husband would have had, but couldn''t save.


    For years, Sandra had been trapped in a cycle of self-me and regret, unable to move on. She always believed she hadn''t been strong enough to keep her child.


    Sandra''s sadnesssted only a moment before sheposed herself. "Since you''re pregnant, what have you and Mr. Bet Thompson discussed?”


    "Discussed what?" Yvonne asked, confused.


    She was pregnant, so of course she was going to have the baby. She and Bet didn''t need to discuss whether or not to keep it.


    P


    Sandra was momentarily speechless You two are still secretly married," she said, exasperated. "If the baby is born now, people could easilybel i illegitimate. For the child''s sake, don''t you think you should announce your marriage? Or just go ahead and have the wedding I''ve already had thepany''s PR department draft an announcement, ready to go whenever you are."


    Yvonne hadn''t even considered this. Sandra''s reminder made her realize that their secret marriage was indeed a problem that needed to be addressed.