Chapter 558

"Mom, it's getting late. We should go in. What if we're late and God gets upset?” Bennett, tired of the lecture, opened the car door for Emma.

Emma gave him a sharp look before stepping out of the car in her high heels.

“That starlet.......” Emma couldn't stop herself, but Bennett cut her off.

"Mom, I know what I'm doing." Bennett took Emma's arm, and they walked toward the temple entrance.

"You'd better," Emma huffed.

Mercy Temple was always bustling with worshippers, and today being the fifteenth of the month, it was even more crowded.

Emma entered the main hall, lit a large stick of incense, and knelt in pious prayer.

Bennett had never been a believer in gods or deities, but since Yvonne's return, he was willing to believe in the idea of past and future lives.

He stood behind Emma, looking up at the compassionate face of the statue.

After her prayers, Emma stood up with Bennett's help.

Bennett handed a signed check as a donation.

Seeing this, Emma smiled slightly. "I thought you didn't believe in this sort of thing."

"I do now,” Bennett shrugged, half-joking. “If I donate more, maybe God will bless you with a grandchild sooner."

"Stop fooling around," Emma chided. "If she actually gives birth to a son, I won't treat her poorly. Whether she wants money or shares in the company, the choice is hers."

Bennett just smiled without replying.

He wasn't particularly fixated on having children. Whether Yvonne wanted to have them, or when she wanted to, was entirely up to her.

Bennett accompanied Emma out of the main hall, walking slowly toward the exit. As they walked, he spoke.

“I heard from my secretary that Eden's illegitimate son has caused trouble again?" "There was a murder on that plot of land in Riverbend yesterday. It looks like both the demolition and construction will have to be postponed," Bennett said dismissively.

Emma snorted. "So it was a murder. The way that old woman was carrying on again, demanding the new energy company under the Thompson Group."

Bennett asked, "Did Dad agree?"

"How could he?" Emma scoffed.

The transportation company was established later and operated independently, with weak ties to the Thompson Group. That was why Frank had the authority to spint off to Eden.

But the other companies were directly controlled by the Thompson Group and were

Bennett's assets. Not even Frank had the right to touch them.

"If Dad didn't agree, did she keep making a scene?"

"She was rushed to the emergency room again last night. That illegitimate son called your father,

but hen't answer, Emma

sneered. "Cry wolf too many times, and nobody believes you anymore."

Mrs. Thompson Sr.'s go-to tactic for manipulating Frank was to get sick and pretend

she was dying. After all these years, she was still alive and well.

She had pulled that stunt so many times that Frank had grown tired of it.

Besides, yesterday was Frank and Emma's wedding anniversary.

"Why wasn't there a celebration for the anniversary this time?" Bennett asked.

"It's better to wait. A celebration

while she's in the hospital would

raise eyebrows Besides, we have celebration every year, and entertaining all those guests gets tiresome," Emma explained

“Right. A wedding anniversary should be a private celebration for two," Bennett nodded.

"At our age, what 'private celebration'? You know your father. Besides giving expensive gifts, he's not very creative."

Though her words were complaining, her eyes were filled with warmth.