Chapter 131
Dang it!” Connie was fuming, itching to go up and give Vesta a piece of her mind.
“Why is she acting so high and mighty? She’s just a homewrecker’s daughter, and she’s no better herself. Thinks she’s the belle of the ball? She’s nothing but trouble, ugh!”
Charlene poured her another glass of water, asking, “Belle of the ball?”
“Vesta. Just like Dalton’s buddy, Kelvin Scott, was saying. All these trust fund kids with more money than sense are totally smitten with her. Now, everyone’s calling her the ‘belle of the ball.‘ Like she’s Miss Popular or something!”
Connie kept ranting, “And it’s not just those airheads saying it, even Thorne and Dalton-”
She caught herself, realizing Charlene might be hurt by this, and abruptly stopped: “I mean, Charlene, I just…”
Charlene shook her head, “I’m fine.”
From the days when folks like Henley, Laverne, and Katie switched sides to Vesta, to Thorne falling head over heels for her, to Jasmine wanting her as a mom…
She never shared how she felt about all these events with anyone.
She never really cried over it either.
If she was going to break down, any of those moments would’ve been more than enough reason.
But years have passed, and she’s still standing.
Compared to all that, what’s Dalton and his friends to her?
Hearing Dalton and his buddy’s words, she was unfazed.
Connie paused, then hugged her, “Charlene…”
Charlene managed a smile, saying, “It’s getting late. Let’s head back.”
“Sure. About your grandma’s birthday gift, I’ll come shopping with you another day. We’ll find something perfect.”
Charlene smiled, “Okay.”
They left together, hand in hand.
As they headed to the parking lot, they bumped into Thorne and Vesta, who were also leaving.
Ignoring Thorne and Vesta, Charlene was the first to get into the car.
Connie gave Thorne and Vesta a snort and opened the passenger door.
They drove off quickly.
Vesta glanced at Thorne, a sweet smile on her face. “Let’s go.” Her smile deepened as she caught a glimpse of Charlene leaving.
After dropping Connie home, Charlene was about to leave when Jasmine called.
“Mom, when are you coming back?”
Charlene connected to Bluetooth, starting the car and replying, “I won’t be back tonight, honey. You should go to bed early. I’ll come see you once I’m less busy.”
Okay…”
Charlene could tell Jasmine was just bored.
She usually loved hanging around Vesta. But with Vesta and Thorne out tonight, Jasmine was left alone, feing bored and lonely, hence the call to her mom.
Charlene said, “Goodnight.”
“Night, Mom.”
The next couple of days were hectic for Charlene, leaving no time to look for a birthday gift for her grandma.
After working nonstop for two days, Stewart decided to treat their team to a lavish meal to celebrate their hard work.
“Mid–meal, Charlene excused herself to the restroom.
Returning, she paused, spotting Vesta and a group leaving another room.
They didn’t notice her as they entered the elevator.
“Who’s that?”
Stewart had come up beside her unnoticed.
He also noticed Vesta with Henley, Laverne, and a few others, including a beautiful woman and an elderly lady. That beautiful woman seemed very close to Henley, likely his wife now.
The elderly lady was being assisted by Vesta.
Charlene simply said, “The Hawkins family.”
Stewart nodded in understanding.
He looked at her, “That elderly lady, is she your…”
It was Katie.
“But she’s no relation of mine now.”
Stewart hugged her, “Shall we head back?”
“Yeah.”
Charlene had long changed her name and cut ties with the Hawkins family. They truly were no longer her concern. What mattered was something else.
Given that the Spencer family, from Vesta’s uncle’s side, was establishing themselves in Starfall, she surmised that the Hawkins would likely follow.
Though she hadn’t kept up with their whereabouts, seeing them all in Starfall confirmed her suspicions.
Charlene and Connie went shopping after work, hoping to find a suitable birthday gift, but to no avail.
During Connie’s fitting session, Jasmine called again. “Mom, when are you coming back?”
Charlene asked, “What’s up?”
“Dad’s away on a trip, and I’m so bored.”
Usually, Thorne’s trips didn’t stop Jasmine from visiting Vesta.
But calling her mom instead suggested Vesta was unavailable, probably due to the Hawkins family’s arrival in Starfall.
With Thorne away, Vesta had no time for Jasmine.
“Entertain yourself for now. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Really? Promise you’ll come back in the morning?”
“Yes.”
That night, empty–handed and without a gift, Charlene felt burdened by her unresolved past and the difficulties ofher current situation.
Helena’s birthday was just around the corner, and Charlene thought about settling for a so–so gift. But in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
The next morning, Charlene made her way back to the Thorne mansion.
While Jasmine was munching on her breakfast, Charlene remembered she had to pick up a few things and headed upstairs to the master bedroom.
As soon as she stepped into the room, her eyes caught sight of two exquisite velvet boxes sitting atop her dressing table.
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Just like with the previous house deed, if something was placed on her vanity, it meant it was meant for her.
Charlene puzzled, opened one of the round brocade boxes.
The moment she opened it, she was struck speechless.
This… was the emerald jewelry set she had wanted to bid on at the auction days ago!
The other was a heavier, rectangular box. Could it be….
Setting aside the round box, Charlene opened the other to find, indeed, it was a scroll,
She placed the scroll on the round table in her room and slowly unrolled it.
A vibrant, shimmering tapestry came into view, taking her breath away.
She had successfully got the two auction items she had set her sights on.
Charlene was silent for a long moment. She thought, if she wasn’t mistaken, these items were birthday gifts Thorne had bid on for Helena.
One in the name of Irma. The other, a joint gift from her and him…
“Mom, I’m done eating, can we go out now!”
At that moment, Jasmine came running up the stairs to find her.
Seeing the opened boxes, she peered inside and said, “Oh, Dad brought these home a few days ago, said they were for you, Mom.”
Charlene hummed softly, carefully rolled up the scroll, and placed it back in the box.
After securing the boxes, Charlene and Jasmine headed out.
Jasmine wanted to go shooting, so Charlene took her to the shooting range, and afterward, they rode the roller coaster.
After spending most of the day with Jasmine, Charlene now had some time for herself. Jasmine, still buzzing. with energy, wanted to continue the fun.
In the past, Charlene would never dampen her spirits, always putting Jasmine first and her own affairs last.
But now, Charlene said calmly, “Mom has some errands to run. If you want to keep playing, maybe the bodyguard can stay with you?”
Jasmine didn’t want the bodyguard’s company.
She pouted unhappily, clinging to Charlene, “Mommy…”
This tactic used to work every time, and Charlene couldn’t resist her pleading.
But this time, gently pushing her away, Charlene said, “Mom really has to do something, I’ll join you next time.”
Seeing Charlene’s firm stance and frowning, Jasmine realized her mom must have something important to do and reluctantly agreed, “Okay then…”
After making sure the bodyguard would take good care of Jasmine, Charlene got in her car, turned on the GPS, and headed to an antique market she had never visited before.
After browsing for a while, she found a set of writing tools of exceptionally rare materials and craftsmanship.
Charlene fell in love at first sight and purchased it for a hefty sum..
Although this set of writing tools was much cheaper than the tapestry and jewelry set she had previously considered, Charlene knew Helena would appreciate it more.
Gently touching the special texture of the paper and the delicately carved ancient wood of the brush, Charlene could already picture her grandma’s delighted expression upon receiving the gift.
Yes, this set of writing tools was a birthday gift she had personally chosen for her grandma.
As for Thorne’s gifts……
Her thoughts were interrupted by Connie’s call coming in.
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Connie?”
“Sorry, Charlene, I’ve got to head out of state tomorrow for some urgent business. I won’t be able to join you for your grandma’s birthday gift shopping.”
“No worries, I’ve already got it sorted.”
Charlene had never visited this antique shop before. She thought she’d try her luck here, and if nothing caught her eye, she planned to continue the search with Connie on another day.
But, to her surprise, she had found the perfect gift.
Connie was pleasantly surprised, “Really? That’s wonderful!”
Charlene smiled, “Yeah.”
As the conversation flowed, Connie suddenly mentioned, “Oh, Charlene, you told me the other day you ran into
he Hawkins. I’ve been doing a bit of snooping, and it turns out the Hawkins are indeed planning to settle in Starfall. They’ve been on the hunt for a house these past few days.”
Hearing about the Hawkins dimmed Charlene’s smile slightly, “Alright, thanks for letting me know.”
“And about Grandma Vesta’s family, I heard they’ve already picked a place and will be moving in soon. They’ve been busy sending out invitations for a housewarming party.”
“Got it, thanks.”
After hanging up, Charlene drove back to the city..
Next week was her grandmother’s birthday. On Sunday, Charlene, along with Jasmine, returned to the Ross household to discuss the birthday party details with Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Ross.
Thorne wasn’t around on Sunday, and Charlene stayed over at the villa.
Thorne would return by Tuesday.
For the next few days, she wouldn’t need to come back here.
Previously, Thorne had left a gift box on her dresser, making her initially think it was for her.
But after seeing its contents, she realized Thorne meant for her to give it to her grandmother on her birthday.
So, when she left, she also took the two ornate boxes with her.
After dropping Jasmine off at school, Charlene returned to the office.
With PrimeStar launching three to four new projects simultaneously, the new week had Charlene and Stewart busier than ever.
Given that Jasmine hadn’t called her in the last couple of days, Thorne must have returned on schedule.
On Wednesday evening, Charlene and Stewart had dinner plans with a client.
As they were about to enter the dining area, they bumped into Thorne and Vesta, along with Henley and Katie.
This time, Katie and Vesta’s mother, Maureen Spencer, were also in Starfall. Thorne, as the prospective grandson–in–law, indeed made his presence felt.
Barely back from his business trip, he had already made time to dine with them today.
He was still deeply involved in matters concerning Vesta.
Last time, Katie and the others hadn’t noticed her. This time, however, they noticed her and paused, as if wanting to say something. Perhaps Thorne’s presence made them hesitate, and they ultimately remained silent.
As for Vesta and Thorne, their positioning prevented them from seeing her.
Charlene, expressionless, withdrew her gaze and left.
Katie and the others saw her leaving but did not follow.
Over an hour later, after finishing their meal, Charlene and Stewart were leaving the restaurant when they again saw Vesta’s group.
They were also in the parking lot, about to leave.
Thorne was not with them, likely having left earlier.
Before Charlene and Stewart could react, their client Felix noticed Vesta and her group.
walking over enthusiastically, “Ms. Hawkins, Mr. Hawkins.”
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Marc……
A Felix.”
As Felix approached, Henley and Vesta extended their hands in a friendly manner, then engaged in small talk, “Felix, are you here discussing business with Mr. Ferguson?”
“Yeah, Mr. Ferguson’s company has a few projects that really caught my eye, so I thought I’d come over and have a chat with Mr. Ferguson.”
Noticing Stewart and Charlene hadn’t come over to join them, Henley paused but didn’t make much of it.
Felix, oblivious to the underlying tension, found Stewart’s behavior somewhat odd.
After all, in the world of business, even if Stewart wasn’t familiar with the Hawkins family, coming over to say hello and making new acquaintances never hurt anyone.
While Vesta and Henley chatted with Felix, Katle greeted Felix and then walked over to where Charlene and Stewart were standing with Maureen.
Stewart glanced at Charlene.
Seeing Katie and Maureen approaching, Charlene didn’t move an inch.
Katie, with a warm tone, said, “Charlene, it’s been too long.”
Charlene remained silent.
Katie, seeing Charlene’s stubborn demeanor, sighed, “Charlene, you…”
Just then, Maureen spoke up with a cool tone, “Charlene, even if you have all these misunderstandings and grievances against me, it’s between you, me, and your mother. It has nothing to do with Henley and Katie. I hope you can see that not everyone who cares about you should be pushed away.”
Maureen, elegant and aloof as ever, reminded Charlene of the time before her mother and Henley divorced. Henley had once told her with deep affection that Maureen was the unattainable moon he had always longed for.
He said it was only after meeting Maureen that he truly understood what love was.
They were mutually smitten.
Henley had insisted that despite Maureen’s cool exterior, she was genuinely kind-hearted and hoped Charlene wouldn’t side with her mother in their disputes, urging her to appreciate Maureen’s virtues.
Unlike the typical homewrecker, Maureen was indeed kind to her, though always with a distant coldness.
Years had passed, and Maureen remained as stunningly beautiful and as unapproachable as ever.
Thus, her advice, coming from a place of sincere concern rather than manipulation, carried more weight.
After all, a woman of Maureen’s stature wouldn’t bother to make life difficult for her stepdaughter without reason–if there was any friction, it was merely due to the girl’s immaturity.
Maureen attempted to assure her that the issues between her, her mother, and Henley didn’t affect Henley and
Katie’s affection for her.
All children crave parental love and familial bonds, a longing that intensifies after a divorce.
At that time, Charlene, only eight or nine years old, loved both her parents but was more sympathetic towards her mother.
During the custody battle following the divorce from Sybil Ross, even though Sybil had already begun to lose her grip on reality, Charlene chose to stay with her, despite Henley and Katie’s attempts to keep her.
Yet, even after leaving with Sybil, Charlene still held Henley and Katie in her heart, keeping her feelings hidden to spare her mother’s feelings.
A year after the divorce, Katie visited Starfall on a pretext and secretly arranged to meet Charlene, claiming she missed her. Despite her own feelings of longing, Charlene was hesitant but couldn’t resist the opportunity to see Katie.
Unknown to her, Katie had also invited Vesta, emphasizing the importance of strengthening sisterly bonds.
Charlene resisted the idea, but the disapproving look in Katie’s eyes, reminiscent of accusations of being too much like her mother–too sharp, too closed–off–left her questioning whether she was indeed too narrow–minded.
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It’s been over a decade, but the memory was as vivid as if it happened just yesterday.
She recalled the day she returned from a tearful trip to the restroom only to find Katie holding out two ice creams, one for her and one for Vesta. As a waiter passed by with a tray full of dirty dishes, one of the ice creams got nicked and smeared with a bit of grease.
Vesta immediately chose the untouched one.
Katie just ruffled her head with a laugh, not bothering to exchange the spoiled one for a new treat.
When she handed over the ice cream without a word about the missing piece, it struck her. Given the Hawkins family’s wealth at the time, replacing the ice cream would have been no issue. They could afford thousands, yet Katie didn’t.
That moment crystallized the realization that Katie’s affections had soured.
She would never forget the malicious glint in little Vesta’s eyes as she held the tainted ice cream.
As for Henley, well, there were countless similar instances.
Yet, as she faced Thorne now, those feelings seemed irrelevant.
Facing Katie’s faux kindness and Maureen’s self–righteous attitude, both acting as if they were looking out for her, she replied with a sarcastic smile, “So, you say you care about me, yet you shove Vesta into my marriage? That’s an odd way to show concern, don’t you think?”
Katie and Maureen didn’t even flinch at her words, probably anticipating her response.
Katie sighed, “Charlene, you know the state of things between you and Thorne. Why cling to someone who doesn’t love you? You could start fresh after the divorce. I was just-”
“Trying to help, right?” Charlene cut her off, her gaze shifting between Katie and Maureen. “I’ve heard you. ‘concerns more times than I can count. Don’t you get tired of repeating the same old lines? Maybe find some new material next time?”
Before they could retort, Charlene turned to Felix, who had just returned, “All set, Felix? Shall we head out?”
Felix, sensing the tension, gave a nervous smile and nodded, “Yeah, let’s go.”
Then, addressing Katie and Maureen, he added, “Granny, Mrs. Hawkins, we’ll be off now.”
Katie managed a smile, but her sigh as she looked at Charlene spoke volumes. Ever since Henley initiated the divorce, any deviation from their wishes seemed to exhaust them, as if she was the source of all trouble.
Returning to live with her mother at the Ross household after her parents‘ divorce filled her with fear of being blamed and receiving disapproving sighs, causing her to tread very carefully, despite the Ross family’s kindness.
She became exceedingly obedient, afraid to make mistakes or assert herself, a trait that stayed with her well.
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After walking a bit farther, Felix finally asked, “Is there some kind of misunderstanding between you guys and the Hawkins?”
Stewart and Charlene exchanged glances, with Charlene replying, “No.”
Because it wasn’t just a misunderstanding.
Felix, however, took her words the wrong way, thinking she meant there was truly no beef with the Hawkins family,
“That’s good to hear.” He was quite optimistic about PrimeStar and said earnestly, “Given how much Thorne values Ms. Hawkins, the Hawkins family is set for a meteoric rise. You don’t want to mess with the likes of the Hendersons or Thorne. So, even if you’re not cozying up to the Hawkins, it’s best not to cross them.”
Hearing this, Charlene couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony.
The idea that she’d be advised to make nice with her husband’s mistress, to not cross the woman he’s taken a fancy to, seemed to be a situation unique to her in the whole wide world.
Stewart couldn’t stand the conversation either.
“We at PrimeStar aren’t afraid of Thorne,” he declared.
Thanks to certain connections, their company had always enjoyed government protection.
Thorne had been unable to influence PrimeStar for some time, and with the projects they were currently spearheading, Stewart was confident they’d soon secure substantial government support.
By next year, their company’s market presence was expected to soar, making Thorne even less of a threat to PrimeStar.
So, when he said they weren’t afraid, he wasn’t just blowing smoke.
This was the confidence Charlene had fought hard to secure for herself!
Helena’s birthday was on a Saturday.
Whether Thorne showed up for the old lady’s birthday was now irrelevant to Charlene.
But Jasmine was a must–show.
To prevent Jasmine from sneaking off to see Vesta, making her impossible to find on the day, Charlene took the initiative to call Jasmine on Thursday morning.
This was her first call to Jasmine since returning from Country Goldland on her own birthday.
Jasmine was having breakfast.
Thorne was there too.
Seeing the call from Charlene made Jasmine genuinely happy.
She quickly set down her utensils and answered, “Mom!”
“Yeah.” Charlene could tell she was eating, so she made small talk, “Having breakfast?”
“Yeah! Have you eaten, Mom?”
“I have.” Charlene quickly got to the point, “I called to remind you that Saturday is your grandmother’s birthday. So, don’t go wandering off; you need to come with me to your grandmother’s house to celebrate, okay?”
Jasmine hadn’t expected Charlene’s call to be about this.
She hadn’t gotten to hang out with Ms. Hawkins the previous weekend and had been hoping to make up for it this week.
Hearing Charlene’s instructions now made her a bit reluctant.
But she couldn’t just ignore what Charlene said.
Charlene could easily pick up on her reluctance.
She knew exactly what Jasmine was thinking.
Tightly gripping her phone, Charlene asked, “Is your dad there?”
“Dad? Yeah, he’s here.” Jasmine, while speaking, glanced at Thorne sitting across from her and asked Charlene, “Do you want to talk to Dad?”
“Yes, pass him the phone. I need to discuss something with him.”
Okay.” Jasmine handed the phone to Thorne, who was in the middle of breakfast, “Dad, Mom wants to talk to you.”
Thorne paused his meal to take the call, “What’s up?” he asked.
“The day after tomorrow is my grandma’s birthday. I hope you can tell Minnie to spend the day with me at the Ross family’s place, and she’s not allowed to run off for the whole day.”
Thorne responded, “Okay.” Then he asked, “Anything else?”
“I’ll come pick her up Friday night to take her to the Ross family’s.”
“Alright.”
With his agreement, Charlene felt a bit relieved and after a second of silence, she said, “Thanks.”
Thorne replied, “Nothing.”
She hadn’t asked if he was free on Saturday when she handed him the invitation previously, and it was the same situation this time around.
Besides, since he had given her the auctioned item to pass on as his gift to her grandma, it implied she was to represent him in delivering the present.
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That was to say, he won’t be attending. Why bother asking any further? Thus, she didn’t utter another word and promptly hung up the phone.
Thorne seemed to have not noticed that Charlene, who in previous years always asked if he could join her for her grandmother’s birthday celebration at the Ross family home, hadn’t posed the question this year.
After Charlene hung up, he handed the phone back to Jasmine and said, “Mom will be back tomorrow evening to take you to grandma’s house. On Saturday, you need to listen to her and make sure you don’t wander off * anywhere.”
Jasmine pouted, “But-”
Thorne didn’t say anything, just gave her a look that brooked no argument.
Realizing this, Jasmine could only reluctantly say, “Okay…”
Thorne nodded in approval, “Good girl.”
Jasmine couldn’t help but haggle a bit more, “Then, on Sunday, I want to go hang out with Ms. Hawkins. You have to come with us.”
Thorne chuckled, “Alright.”
Friday evening, after work, Charlene headed back to Thorne’s villa.
Upon entering, she was surprised to find Thorne at home.
It was quite rare for him to be home at this time.
He was busy on a call but glanced at her upon hearing her footsteps, then turned back to continue his conversation.
The housekeeper was aware of Charlene’s plan to take Jasmine back to the Ross family home that evening.
He had prepared the ingredients in advance so that Charlene and Jasmine could have dinner together before heading out. But Charlene preferred to eat at the Ross family home.
She said, “No, thank you.”
The housekeeper looked at Thorne, seeking his opinion.
Though still on the call, Thorne seemed to have overheard their conversation. He pulled the phone away and said, “Let’s go with what she wants.”
Then, he turned back to his call.
Seeing this, Charlene told Jasmine, “Minnie, let’s go.”
“Okay.” Jasmine waved at Thorne, “Bye, Dad. We’re leaving now, see you.”
Thorne waved back, “Goodbye.”
Charlene hadn’t spoken to Thorne from start to finish, just took Jasmine and left.
Thorne, after saying goodbye to Jasmine, watched them leave while continuing his phone conversation.
The grandmother’s birthday party at the Ross family was a grand affair. After dinner, Charlene helped out with some preparations.
By the time they finished, it was past eleven.
Charlene woke up early the next day.
Before breakfast, she gathered with Vernon and others around their grandmother to congratulate her and present their gifts one by one.
Boeing the gift–giving, Jasmine seemed puzzled and tugged at Charlene’s clothes.
Charlene bent down to listen, “What’s wrong?”
Jasmine’s face turned red as she whispered, “Mom, I didn’t prepare a gift…”
It was only then she remembered such an important detail.
Annoyed, she added, “Mom, why didn’t you remind me?”
Charlene responded, “Your dad, great–grandma, and I have prepared gifts. It’s okay if you didn’t; you’re a child. But if you want to show your love, just make sure to prepare something special for your grandmother’s next birthday.”
Though Charlene said this, there was a hint of coolness in her demeanor.
True, she hadn’t reminded Jasmine to prepare a gift for her great–grandmother.
“But if Jasmine had truly cared, she would have thought of getting a gift the moment she knew about the birthday.
Her gift didn’t need to be pricey or fancy; even a simple drawing or offering to pick something up when she visited the villa would have been enough. Yet, Jasmine hadn’t thought of a gift at all.
But with Vesta, it was different. Jasmine made a point to remember the date, counting down the days with anticipation.
Seeing Jasmine’s lack of effort made Charlene reluctant to remind her.
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Jasmine seemed oblivious to Charlene’s cool demeanor, and upon hearing Charlene’s words, she felt a sense of relief.
After Vernon handed over his gift to Helena, Charlene also presented hers.
The first gift she handed over was a beautiful tapestry. “This cross–stitch was prepared for you by Irma, with Thorne’s help.”
Helena accepted it, looked it over for a moment, and it was clear the gift truly touched her heart. She was very pleased and said, “She’s thoughtful.”
Charlene then handed over an emerald jewelry set to Helena: “This is from Thorne”
The quality of the emeralds was exceptional.
Helena really liked it.
But since it was from Thorne, she only glanced at it briefly before closing the lid and setting it aside, remarking coolly, “It’s beautiful, thank him for me.”
As for whether Thorne would come to wish her a happy birthday today.
She didn’t ask a single question.
She couldn’t be bothered to ask or even want to ask.
Charlene knew she didn’t like Thorne, and while she might have advocated for him in the past, this time, she refrained.
Instead, she presented her own gift to Helena, which, as Charlene had anticipated, turned out to be Helena’s favorite among all the presents: a set of elegant writing tools.
Helena was so delighted with them that she immediately went to her study and penned a letter.
After presenting their gifts, the family gathered for breakfast.
The breakfast was lively and filled with laughter.
Helena was all smiles, clearly very happy.
But…
There was still a hint of melancholy in her eyes from time to time.
Charlene and Vernon recognized that today was also a day for family reunion for them. However, the significance of the day was overshadowed by the absence of one person.
Thinking of this, Charlene turned her face away, her eyes slightly reddening.
However, to not spoil the mood, they all tacitly avoided mentioning Sybil.
By nine o’clock, guests who were closer to the Ross family started arriving.
In the evening, they would dine at a hotel they had booked in advance, marking the official start of the birthday celebration.
While Charlene was busy welcoming guests, Vernon’s son Carl noticed Jasmine sitting quietly to the side and, with concern, gently caressed her cheek, asking, “What’s up, Minnie? You seem distracted.”
Charlene knew she was probably missing Vesta.
Jasmine had indeed heeded Thorne’s advice and stayed put with the Ross family without wandering off. But ber mind was clearly elsewhere.
She had sent several messages to Vesta throughout the day, but Vesta seemed to be busy too, hardly replying to her messages.
In the afternoon, they all headed to the hotel.
Around six, quests began to arrive in droves.
Vernon accepted gifts and led guests to their seats, only to notice one of them looking somewhat
embarrassed, saying, “Sorry, Mr. Ross, I have another celebration to attend today. I’ll just have a glass of water and then I must be off.”
Vernon and Charlene, understanding that the guest had other commitments, didn’t insist on him staying.
They thought this was an isolated case.
But half an hour later, seeing many business associates leave after delivering gifts, and even more who didn’t come in person but sent their secretaries instead, they realized many tables would remain empty tonight.
This was supposed to be a day of great joy, a meticulously prepared banquet, yet such a situation had arisen…. Helena would surely be upset if she found out.
They understood that guests had their own commitments, but it was hard not to feel disheartened.
Seeing so many people in a hurry to attend another celebration, Vernon couldn’t help but ask one of his closer business associates, Laird, “Many friends tonight mentioned they couldn’t stay for dinner, coincidentally all attending another celebration. If I may ask, whose celebration are you attending later?”
“The Spencer family,” Laird replied, adding, “Mr. Henderson’s girlfriend’s grandmother’s side. They’re not originally from Riverstone but are moving to Starfall, so they bought a property recently. Today marks their housewarming.”
Hearing this, Charlene and Vernon’s expressions darkened.
They had assumed that resolving the villa issue would put an end to any surprises. Yet, here they were, faced with the Spencer family making a scene!
They couldn’t believe the timing of the Spencer’s housewarming on the same day was mere coincidence.
After all, the Spencer matriarch and Vesta’s grandmother had known each other for years, celebrating countless birthdays together.
Could the Spencer family have forgotten about Helena’s birthday?
No.
They surely remembered.
And it was precisely because they remembered that they deliberately set their housewarming on this day!
Laird was unaware of the feud between the Ross, Spencer, and Hawkins families.
On a day meant for celebration, seeing half the banquet hall empty, Vernon’s mood was understandable.
Laird whispered, “It’s a tough situation. With Mr. Henderson backing the Spencer family, once their invitation was out, who could afford to snub it? We aren’t close to the Spencer family, but who would dare not show face for Mr. Henderson? I really had no choice…”
If he didn’t attend the Spencer family’s housewarming or left early without dining, the Spencers would surely take it as a sign of disrespect.
Word around town is that Thorne might be tying the knot with Ms. Hawkins pretty soon.
Crossing the Spencer family would be like picking a fight with Ms. Hawkins and Thorne themselves.
And what’s more, Thorne is not someone they want to mess with.
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Some folks wouldn’t dream of crossing Thorne.
Yet, there was a crowd hustling to cozy up to the Hawkins and the Spencer families.
After all, the Ross family had seen better days, whereas the Hawkins and Spencer families were thriving under Thorne’s influential umbrella. The choice was obvious.
Laird mumbled an apology to Vernon and took off.
Helena and Aunt Maisie, along with Charlene, initially didn’t pay much mind.
But as more guests arrived only to leave shortly after, and with the banquet hall’s seats growing increasingly vacant, a sense of unease settled in. When it became obvious that most of the tables were sparsely occupied, questions began to arise.
Helena and Maisie approached, frowning, “Why are so many guests leaving? What’s happened?”
Vernon and Charlene exchanged worried glances, at a loss for words.
But the truth couldn’t be skirted around any longer.
Vernon sighed, “The Spencer and the Hawkins families have settled down in Starfall, choosing today of all days for their housewarming. They sent out invites to most of our guests, so…”
So, that explained the grim situation at hand.
Vernon and Charlene looked anxiously at Helena, fearing the worst.
The Spencer family’s betrayal had hit the Ross family hard, a wound that wouldn’t heal as long as Sybil remained in the hospital. Their spite for the Spencer family, especially now, was palpable.
Yet, Helena had weathered many storms in her time.
Upon hearing the news, she clenched the table’s edge tightly, then turned to Vernon and Charlene with a piercing gaze, “Is it Thorne pulling the strings for them?”
Without Thorne’s backing, the Spencer family, newcomers to Starfall and barely settled, couldn’t have possibly swayed so many guests.
Helena’s mention of “that Thorne” left no room for doubt.
Charlene, with tears brimming, nodded, “Yes…”
She choked out, “Granny, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Helena said tenderly, touching her face, “You all underestimated their depravity.”
“Granny…”
“It’s alright,” Helena glanced at the nearly empty banquet hall, her demeanor calm and collected, “It’s just a birthday. The way it’s celebrated doesn’t really matter. As long as everyone is safe and well, that’s all I need. Everything else is just details, not worth worrying about.”
“And remember, never let someone else’s shamefulness be your punishment, understand?”
Her words also echoed the past ordeal with Sybil.
Charlene and Vernon nodded in understanding.
Charlene had also invited Stewart and Connie, who had just arrived, fully aware of the tension between the Ross, Spencer, and Hawkins families.
Hearing the situation,, Connie couldn’t help but curse, “They’re despicable! Never seen such vile people!”
Stewart patted Charlene’s shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Then, his phone pinged. After a glance, he paused, then said, “Let me see if I can pull some strings for you.”
Charlene, puzzled, responded, “Huh?”
Stewart smiled, saying, “You’ll see.”
Meanwhile, at the Spencer family’s banquet hall….
Chapter 140
Seeing the guests streaming in nonstop, Georgina Spencer and Garfield Spencer couldn’t help but beam with smiles.
Just as Charlene had suspected, they indeed remembered Helena’s birthday.
No, to put it more accurately, after celebrating Helena’s birthday for so many years, it was a day they couldn’t forget even if they wanted to.
Hence, their decision to schedule the housewarming party on this very day was no coincidence.
They remembered their original plan to move across the street from the Ross family. However, Charlene intervened, pleading with Thorne to change this, which ultimately disrupted their plans and left them quite angry.
Nevertheless, Thorne had made it up to them later on.
In a way, their misfortune turned into a blessing.
Thinking of this, and recalling how they deliberately set their housewarming on this day, effectively snatching the Ross family’s guests, their mood brightened even further.
Leah Spencer whispered with a chuckle, “I bet the Ross family’s banquet is pretty empty by now. Hah, they went through all the trouble of preparing, and now they can’t even keep their guests. How embarrassing! If this gets out, everyone will know that the Ross family has lost not just their influence but also their connections. Let’s see who dares to do business with them after this!”
Rhoda patted her hand, also laughing, “Exactly.”
Although the Spencer family had invited many influential figures to Starfall, they weren’t personally acquainted with many of them.
Thus, while it was their housewarming, it also served as an opportunity to network.
The diamond bracelet Thorne had bid for Vesta was worn by her that evening.
Thorne’s extravagant spending of over four hundred million on four items at the auction was well–known, highlighting how much he valued Vesta. Many guests, eager to curry favor, complimented her, “That bracelet really suits you. Mr. Henderson has great taste.”
Although the guests were flattering, Vesta was naturally beautiful, and everything looked good on her. Dressed to the nines that day, the diamond bracelet on her wrist was the perfect complement, enhancing her elegance and grace.
Vesta replied, “Thank you.”
In their efforts to get close to the Hawkins family, many had done their homework.
Thus, quite a few were aware of Katie’s fondness for antique collections.
Someone couldn’t help but mention, “I heard your grandmother loves collecting antiques. Was that antique
vase from the last auction specifically purchased by Mr. Henderson as a gift for Katie?”
The use of “a gift” clearly shows they regarded Thorne as practically part of the Hawkins family.
Vesta nodded, confirming, “Yes.”
That antique vase indeed won Katie’s heart.
Thinking about the vase, Katie couldn’t hide her joy. After all, it was a vase worth over a hundred million.
It was undeniable that Thorne was both thoughtful and generous towards his granddaughter Vesta.
Hearing this, Georgina felt a pang of jealousy.
Being one of Vesta’s elders, while Katie received an antique vase, she got nothing.
However, Vesta mentioned that Thorne had also bid on two other items that night, each worth over a hundred million, even more expensive than the antique vase.
Thorne was aware of the Spencer family’s housewarming today.
Georgina speculated that at least one of those items was intended for the Spencer family.
With that thought, her spirits lifted considerably.
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