Cynthia didn''te to the family dinner either.


    The two were currently separated, and Cynthia had been staying with her parents. Noah went to his inws'' house every day, but his mother-inw rarely gave him a warm wee.


    Bet and Yvonne were thest to arrive.


    They walked in hand-in-hand, looking every bit the loving young couple.


    However, as soon as they entered, they saw the patriarch scolding Noah.


    "One divorce is a tragedy; two is a pattern. People will think you''re the impossible one, Noah."


    The patriarch was clearly furious, jabbing a finger at Noah as he yelled.


    "Everyone knows Cynthia is the perfect wife—graceful in public and capable at home. If you don''t cherish a wife like her, you might as well stay single forever! You''ve brought shame on me."


    Noah was so berated by the old man that he couldn''t even lift his head. Only after his grandfather finished did he mumble, "I never wanted to divorce Cynthia."


    "Telling me you don''t want a divorce is useless. Go tell your wife," the patriarch snapped, then refused to spare Noah another nce.


    Just then, Bet and Yvonne walked in.


    Seeing his youngest grandson made the patriarch feel much better.


    "Bet, you''re back."


    "Grandfather.” Bet nodded to him before offering a collective greeting to everyone else in the room.


    Because the patriarch had just given Noah a dressing-down, the atmosphere in the living room was tense.


    Tobias and Dana just nodded in response.


    Emma beckoned Yvonne to her side and asked gently, "Bet said you had a prenatal appointment yesterday. How is the baby?"


    "The baby is fine. Yesterday was the Down syndrome screening, but the results aren''t out yet. Helen said it''s mostly gic, though, so I should be okay," Yvonne replied.


    Emma nodded, naturally hoping to hear that the baby was fine.


    "Since everyone''s here, let''s eat,” the patriarch said, his expression softening slightly as Frank helped him to the dining room.


    The chef had already prepared the meal, which was spreadvishly across the table.


    Since it was a family dinner, there was seafood on the table, but the Thompsons all knew about Yvonne''s allergy and had specially prepared a few non-seafood dishes and ced them near her.


    At the dinner table, it was mostly the men drinking and talking.


    Tobias spoke the most, mainly about military matters. the patriarch listened,


    asionally chiming in or asking for Bet''s opinion.


    Bet was a man of few words, but whenever his grandfather asked, his answers were always sharp and to the point.


    When Bet was little, the


    patriarch had once said that this youngest grandson of his was the sharpest. At the time, Tobias and his wife thought the old man was just biased toward his youngest O grandson.


    But looking at them now, even as Noah''s own mother, Dana couldn''t lie to herself


    and say her son was more outstanding than Bet.


    A single car ident had left Noah unable to recover, and a family like the Whites could manipte himpletely. After remarrying he still couldn''t get his priorities straight, turning his life into a chaotic mess.


    Looking at Bet, it seemed that besides being hopelessly in love, he really had no other ws.


    In the past the patriarch would


    exchange a few words with Noak at the dinner table, but today he hadn''t said a single word to him, not even sparing him a nce. He was clearly still angry.


    After dinner, the patriarch called Bet into his study. The two of them talked for


    half an hour, discussing only work-rted matters.