...


    Bet had been so busy he hadn''t been home in two weeks.


    When he finally returned, it waste at night.


    Yvonne was already asleep when Bet got back. He tried to be as quiet as possible, but he still woke her.


    He was still in his military uniform, carrying the chill and dust of the night, so he didn''t dare get too close to her.


    "Did I wake you?” Bet asked.


    Yvonne shook her head, then quickly covered her mouth, scrambled out of bed, and rushed to the bathroom to dry heave.


    After the seventh week of her pregnancy, she had started experiencing morning sickness, and it was quite severe.


    Yvonne hadn''t eaten much for dinner and had already thrown up once before bed. This time, there was nothing left to bring up, and she heaved so hard it brought tears to her eyes.


    "What''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Bet asked, his eyes filled with concern as he hurried to her side.


    After she finished, Yvonne turned on the faucet to rinse her mouth and wash her face. She dried herself with a towel before turning to Bet. "It''s nothing, just morning sickness. It should pass in a couple of months."


    Yvonne had lost her appetite recently and was vomiting frequently.


    But for something like morning sickness, even the best doctors had no real solution. Helen had been trying all sorts of different recipes for Yvonne.


    Still, Yvonne had visibly lost weight and looked listless and drained.


    Bet changed his clothes and took a quick shower before lying down next to her.


    He gently touched Yvonne''s head, then her t stomach, his deep eyes filled with worry and sympathy.


    "It''s just normal morning sickness. Don''t look like the sky is falling," Yvonne said with a smile, snuggling into his embrace.


    "I never knew being pregnant was this hard. Let''s just have this one, alright? A boy


    or a girl, it doesn''t matter," Bet said, his palm still resting on her abdomen.


    His hand was dry and warm, radiating a deep,forting heat that eased her tension. Yvonne''s eyes fluttered half-closed as she started to feel drowsy again. "Tomorrow, Grandfather wants us toe over," Bet said, holding her closer. "Is something wrong?" Yvonne asked sleepily.


    "To discuss the wedding," Bet replied.


    Hearing that, Yvonne looked up at him, her drowsiness gone. "The wedding?"


    "Our marriage is still a secret." Bet''s gaze fell to Yvonne''s t abdomen, his eyes incredibly gentle. "Now that we have a child on the way, think I''ve earned an official title, don''t you?"


    "Sandra mentioned announcing the marriage too. Once the wedding date is set, we can pick a good time to make publio Thepany already has a press release ready," Yvonne replied.


    Secrets have a way of getting out, especially during a nine-month pregnancy. If a reporter snapped a picture, a dyed announcement would put them on the defensive. Besides, if they kept the mardage a secret, their child would also have to live in the shadows.


    Yvonne wouldn''t let her child suffer that indignity.


    "Okay," Bet said with a smile.


    They talked for a while longer about the wedding. Even with a wedding nner handling everything, there was still a lot for them to do.


    In her first trimester, Yvonne had a poor appetite but was constantly sleepy. As they were talking, she drifted off to sleep.


    Bet finished what he was saying and, getting no response, looked down to find Yvonne already asleep on hisp.


    The next day, they didn''t get up too early.


    The first thing Yvonne did upon waking was rush to the bathroom to dry heave. She couldn''t bring anything up, and the force of it felt like she was retching up stomach acid.


    She ate very little for breakfast. After Bet coaxed her into drinking half a bowl of nourishing soup, they set off for the Thompson residence.