When Bet and Yvonne walked into the two-story white house, most of the others had already arrived, filling the living room with a rare liveliness.


    "Hey, everyone," Bet said, giving a general nod to the room. He led Yvonne by the hand, greeting his grandfather and the others before they found a spot to sit near Noah and Cynthia.


    With Karina and Nic abroad, Kevin White in prison, and Mr. and Mrs. White having sold their assets and quietly left Istra, there was no one left to cause trouble.


    As a result, Noah and Cynthia''s days were unusually warm and harmonious.


    With two pregnant women in the family and new members on the way, even the typically stern face of Mr. Thompson Sr. showed a hint of a smile.


    Although Yvonne was carrying a girl, it was her first child, and everyone was genuinely thrilled about the arrival of a baby girl. Mr. Thompson Sr. was quite content.


    Frank Thompson and Emma Moore cared even less about the baby''s gender. As soon as Emma knew she was getting a granddaughter, she stopped buying things for a boy and instead purchased enough clothes and supplies for ten baby girls.


    Frank went even further, renovating one of the Thompson family''s vacant vis into a little princess''s castle. It was a sea of pink inside, with two full floors designed as a children''s yground.


    Yvonne was carrying a girl, but Cynthia, on the other hand, was carrying a boy. The Thompson family finally had a great-grandson on the way, which made Tobias and Dana even more pleased with Cynthia.


    With the New Year''s holiday in full swing, the family gathered for a harmonious reunion dinner.


    After the meal, Mr. Thompson Sr. called Tobias and Bet into the study to discuss military affairs.


    Bet was now the future of the entire Thompson family, and Mr. Thompson Sr. and Tobias were determined to support him with all their resources.


    Frank and his nephew Noah sat on the living room sofa, chatting about business. It was nothing confidential, just a casual discussion about the current market.


    Yvonne and Cynthia sat with Dana and Emma on the other side, eating fruit, drinking tea, and chatting.


    Just as they were enjoying their conversation, Tobias and Bet came down from upstairs.


    They joined Frank and Noah, and the men talked for a while longer.


    "It''s gettingte. Cynthia and Yvonne are both pregnant, so you should all head home and rest," Tobias said, ncing at the time before turning to Noah and Bet.


    The two cousins, Noah and Bet, then took their respective wives home.


    Yvonne sat in the passenger seat of Bet''s car. Now that she was further along in her pregnancy, her belly was so big that the seatbelt no longer fit around her.


    Because of this, Bet drove very slowly and steadily, which allowed him to listen to Yvonne as she talked.


    "Our daughter is twenty-four weeks now, but she won''t be full-term until thirty-nine weeks. We still have to wait another three months for her to be born. Yvonne looked down are at her protruding belly. It felt like she had a heavy pot strapped to her stomach.


    II


    "Bet, do I look awful right now? My legs are swollen, my face seems to have gotten rounder, and even getting a double chin." Yvonne subconsciously touched her face.


    Bet held the steering wheel steady and nced at her. "Really? I haven''t noticed. You look as beautiful as ever to me."


    "My, since when did Mr. Bet Thompson learn to be so sweet with his words?" Yvonne said with augh.


    Yvonne''s belly grewrger andrger. In theter stages of her pregnancy, even moving around became difficult. She counted down the days, finally reaching full term.


    Once the baby was full-term, Mrs. Powell arranged for Yvonne to be hospitalized. The official reason was that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby''s neck, and if she couldn''t deliver naturally within a few days, a C-section would be necessary.