"Showbiz is a messy world. Have your fun with starlets like her, but when it comes to marriage, you need to find a respectable, elegant girl from a good family, like Yolanda."

Bennett didn't reply, but his gaze turned cold and heavy as he looked at her.

April sensed the shift in his eyes. "What is it? Did I say something wrong?" she asked, lowering her voice.

Bennett's expression remained unchanged as he let out a low, chilling laugh.

"I just find it surprising to hear those words coming from you. You're a highly respected university professor. I never took you for someone who engages in professional discrimination and demeans other women."

He added, "And for the record, I don't play with people's feelings."

"Bennett, I..." April realized she had misspoken and tried to explain, but Bennett gave her no chance.

He reached out and pulled her car door open. "Professor Martinez, please get in," he said coolly.

Seeing his closed-off demeanor, April could only let out a heavy sigh and get into the car.

The vehicle sped away.

Bennett remained standing on the curb, silently watching it disappear into the night.

"What are you looking at?" Yvonne asked, walking up and taking his hand. "April's driver... I've seen him with Vincent's secretary before," Bennett said.

"Professor Martinez? How could she be connected to the Walker family?" Yvonne exclaimed in shock.

"It seems April and Vincent have a rather close relationship," Bennett said, then suddenly asked, "Did she know about your undercover mission?"

"No, absolutely not," Yvonne answered without hesitation.

Undercover assignments were top secret, never to be disclosed to anyone, not even close family.

Besides the issuing department, the only person at the police academy who knew Yvonne had left for a mission was the administrative vice principal.

Someone at April's level would never have had access to that information.

Hearing this, Bennett's furrowed brow relaxed slightly. He took Yvonne's hand and led her toward his car.

Since Bennett had been drinking, he couldn't drive.

Yvonne got into the driver's seat and drove them back to his apartment at Cherry Bay.

Helen was on vacation for the holiday.

The apartment was dark and quiet until Bullet heard the door open and came

trotting out, giving a few happy yips to greet his master.

Bennett flipped on the lights and patted Bullet's head.

They changed into slippers in the entryway and went inside.

Smelling of smoke and alcohol from the reunion, they both went to their separate rooms to shower.

Yvonne finished her shower,

wrapped herself in a towel, and

walked to her closet. She pulled out

a simple house dress and stood

before the vanity mirror, drying her hair.

FindNovel.net

Over the hum of the blow-dryer, she faintly heard the sound of a beautiful piano melody.

She instinctively turned off the dryer and stepped out of her room.

By the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows stood a black Yamaha piano. Bennett was seated before it, his long, elegant fingers dancing across the black and white key

He had also just showered and was dressed in a simple grey t-shirt and pants. The casual clothes did

nothing to diminishi his ajr of nobility. to was reminder that true elegance wasn't about wearing finery, but something ingrained in one's very bones.

Yvonne padded over barefoot. Reaching the piano, she playfully pressed her

slender fingers down on the keys, creating a loud, dissonant chord.

Bennett caught her mischievous hand, a helpless smile on his face. "Behaving badly again."

"I don't want to hear it," Yvonne said, pulling her hand away with a pout.

Bennett looked at her, his dark eyes filled with confusion.

"You've played it for someone else," she said. "I don't want to hear it anymore."