Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 151 to 160)  

Chapter 151

After bidding farewell to Jasmine and Granger, Thorne and Vesta hopped into their car, heading to the diner.

Minutes after they settled into their booth, Kenton arrived.

“Mr. Wagner.”

Upon seeing Kenton push through the door, Thorne and Vesta stood up to greet him.

Kenton didn’t show any surprise at seeing Vesta. Vesta reintroduced herself politely, saying, “Mr. Wagner, it’s good to see you again. We met briefly at the Future Tech Expo-

“I remember,” Kenton replied with an impassive face, shaking her hand briefly.

After Kenton took his seat, Vesta sat down next to him and said, “I’ve always admired your work, Mr. Wagner. I’ve been hoping for a chance to discuss the field of Al with you, face to face.”

“Uh-huh,” was all Kenton said.

Thorne’s phone buzzed at that moment, and he stood up, saying, “Excuse me, I need to take this call. Please, go ahead without me.”

Vesta nodded.

Once Thorne was gone, Vesta picked up a menu from the table and offered it to Kenton, saying, “Mr. Wagner, shall we order some food? We could talk over a meal?”

Kenton pushed the menu aside, “Not necessary.”

Vesta was taken aback by his blunt approach and barely had time to gather herself before Kenton cut to the chase, “So, you want to be my student?”

Vesta hadn’t expected such directness. But she wasn’t intimidated, despite Kenton being a top figure in the Al field. With confidence, she admitted, “Yes, I’m deeply interested in Al. I believe learning under your guidance would help me make significant progress.”

Naturally, Vesta came prepared. After finishing her statement, she pulled out her laptop, offering, “Would you like to see the project I worked on for my PhD?”

Kenton scrolled through her graduation project.

After examining a few minutes……

This set of data, he commented, “For a graduation project, it’s certainly above average.” Encouraged by his words, Vesta’s smile deepened, and she felt more confident. Just as she was about to speak, Kenton let go of the mouse, shifted his gaze from the laptop, and asked, “This was completed this year?”

“Yes.”

“Nothing else?”

Vesta paused, unable to discern whether he was impressed, expecting more highlights, or unimpressed but willing to give her another chance.

However, she had always been at the top of her class, winning numerous awards. Her PhD advisor, a heavyweight in the Goldland tech scene and a contributor to several Goldland space missions, had always praised her highly.

Her advisor’s commendation was significant!

Thus, she maintained confidence in her expertise.

Feeling steadied, she offered, “I’ve done some technical analysis on the exhibits at the last Future Tech Expo, including the autonomous vehicle. Would you like to hear about it?”

Go on……

Veeta then delved into a technical explanation of the autonomous vehicle, covering perception, planning, and Control

She spoke for over ten minutes, uninterrupted even when Thorne returned briefly to mention another important call.

Just as Vesta was about to continue, Kenton suddenly looked up and said, “That’s enough.”

Vesta stopped.

Kenton stood up and gave his final assessment, “You have a solid foundation, but it doesn’t quite reach the level I expect from my students.”

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Vesta bit her lip in disappointment. This was not the response she had hoped for.

As Kenton was about to leave, Vesta quickly stepped forward, “Mr. Wagner, how do you suggest I improve then?”

Kenton paused, his voice cold, “Study more, pay more attention to new trends in the field

When he said so, Thome returned.

Before Thome could speak, Kenton said, “I’ve done what I could, I’ll be in touch in a few days.”

“Alright,” Thorne replied as Kenton made his exit.

Thorne turned to Vesta and, seeing her disappointed look, asked, “Not the result you were hoping for?”

Vesta nodded in agreement, “He didn’t take me on,”

What did Mr. Wagner say? Tell me

Vesta relayed the conversation and Kenton’s advice to her.

“You’re actually quite skilled, Thorne remarked. “His advice seems pretty fair”

Vesta paused, reflecting on her recent lack of dedication to her field and failure to keep up with new developments. She realized Kenton saw her lack of effort and focus as a sign of an unprofessional attitude, unworthy of his mentorship, rather than a lack of ability.

Knowing her rejection was due to her attitude rather than her capabilities made Vesta feel somewhat better.

“Try again when you get another chance, Thorne suggested.

“I will,” she resolved, confident that with the right attitude, she’d be able to meet Kenton’s standards next time.

She couldn’t help but regret focusing too much on racing recently. Had she not, she might already be one of Kenton’s students.

Back at his mansion, Kenton found Charlene and Stewart preparing for a potluck dinner, having just finished shopping and cleaning the ingredients.

Seeing him return, Stewart asked, “Back so soon?”

Kenton, still distant, replied simply, “Yeah.”

Noticing the glance Stewart gave Charlene as she brought out the dishes, he prodded, “So… I take it we don’t have a new protégé?”

Kenton didn’t answer, silently accepting a bowl from Charlene and sitting down.

His silence spoke volumes.

Stewart chuckled, looking at Charlene, “I knew it. I had her pegged the moment we met.”

Charlene laughed, sending him to fetch the remaining meat from the kitchen, “Yes, you’re always right.”

As Stewart returned with the meat, curiosity got the better of him, “So, teacher, where do you think she stands in our field?”

“A notch above the average PhD graduate.”

“Great minds think alike.”

In the last decade, the Al field has made significant strides domestically, arguably outpacing global standards for some time now. As a key player in this revolution, Kenton interacts daily with the best products, technologies, and talents in the industry.

By general standards, Vesta was indeed quite talented. But she was only exceptional among the generally gifted.

Compared to those around Kenton, she was far behind.

And when it came to Kenton and Charlene, the difference was even starker.

After all, at twenty–five, Vesta was nowhere near achieving what Charlene had years ago.

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Perhaps noticing their genuine exhaustion, Kenton let them head home just after 9 p.m. that evening.

After a long day, Charlene took a quick shower when she got home and crashed into bed early.

The next day, there was a situation at Neural Nexus Tech that needed their attention.

Charlene and Stewart carved out some time in the afternoon and made their way to Neural Nexus Tech.

Upon arriving at Neural Nexus Tech, Charlene and Stewart had just started discussing some technical issues when Dalton and Kelvin, under the guidance of a Neural Nexus Tech employee, walked in.

Seeing Charlene, Dalton and Kelvin were visibly surprised.

Kelvin raised an eyebrow. “She works at Neural Nexus Tech? What a coincidence, huh?”

Dalton just shrugged. He barely knew her; how was he supposed to know if she worked at Neural Nexus Tech or not?

Hearing their discussion about Charlene, one of the Neural Nexus Tech employees chimed in, “You mean Ms. Ross? She’s not one of ours. She’s a tech whiz from PrimeStar, here to sort out some system glitches for us today.”

Feeling eyes on her, Charlene glanced over. When she recognized Dalton and Kelvin as the critics from the auction house, she gave them a brief look and then turned away indifferently.

Kelvin laughed, “Woah, looks like she’s giving us the cold shoulder.”

Dalton, however, lost interest in discussing Charlene any further.

Just then, Vesta walked in through the door, pausing in surprise upon seeing them.

“Ms. Hawkins.”

Seeing Vesta, Dalton’s demeanor softened compared to his earlier indifference when Kelvin mentioned Charlene.

Vesta nodded with a cool expression, greeting them, “Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Scott.”

Dalton stepped forward, “Ms. Hawkins, you’re working at Neural Nexus Tech?”

“No,” Vesta replied. “I’m deep into algorithms. Been looking to level up, so I thought I’d come over and learn a thing or two from the brainiacs here.”

Although Dalton was a born–and–bred Starfall local, he seldom stayed in town.

He had only recently returned.

Since meeting Vesta, he had noticed that she was quite the talk of the town in their circles. Rumored to be a prodigy, she had graduated from college at 18 and was now pursuing her doctorate at one of the world’s top universities.

He couldn’t help but feel a bit inferior.

Besides, she was known to excel in racing and esports, even bagging some trophies. And she had a taste for adventure, like rock climbing and skydiving.

The more Dalton learned about Vesta, the more he found her intriguing and charismatic.

His interest in her only grew.

Unfortunately, she was Thorne’s woman.

With that thought, he kept a respectable distance, complimenting her, “Ms. Hawkins, you really are dedicated and eager to learn.”

Vesta modestly replied, “You flatter me, Mr. Ramirez. It’s recognizing one’s own shortcomings that drives the pursuit of knowledge, isn’t it?”

Vesta’s excellence and humility only increased Dalton’s admiration for her.

Dalton and Kelvin’s visit to Neural Nexus Tech was work-related as well.

Their company, EchoWave, was collaborating with Neural Nexus Tech on a project.

Interestingly, PrimeStar, Neural Nexus Tech, and EchoWave were all involved in the same project, though PrimeStar and Neural Nexus Tech focused on system technology, while EchoWave and Neural Nexus Tech’s collaboration was on the material side.

Upon Dalton and his party’s arrival, Edwin, another project leader at Neural Nexus Tech, came to greet them.

They all walked over to where Charlene and Stewart were.

Edwin smiled, introducing them, “Mr. Ferguson, these gentlemen are-”

Stewart looked up as the newcomers walked in, recognizing them immediately. “Ah, Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Scott, Ms. Hawkins,” he greeted.

Charlene, who had only glanced at Dalton before diverting her attention away from the door, hadn’t noticed Vesta’s arrival.

Hearing Stewart mention “Ms. Hawkins,” she immediately guessed it was Vesta.

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But she didn’t look up, continuing her conversation with the tech team from Neural Nexus Tech.

Edwin chuckled, “Do you know Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Scott?”

Stewart replied, “Yeah.”

After all, they were all part of the Starfall elite, the second and third generations deeply embedded in a network of privilege. It was only natural that they would be familiar with each other.

However, Stewart had taken a different path from them; they were acquainted, certainly, but not close.

Dalton and the others exchanged brief greetings with Stewart before moving aside with Edwin to discuss work matters.

Vesta, however, stayed by Stewart’s side.

She had noticed Charlene too.

But with a mere glance, she dismissively turned her attention back to Stewart, “Did Mr. Ferguson just arrive?”

Stewart, competent in his own right and a student under Kenton, noticed Vesta’s persistent effort to bond despite sensing a hint of bias from Charlene towards her, which had always kept their interactions cool. But Vesta was undeterred, knowing well that their paths would cross more often once she became Kenton’s student too.

“I’ve been here for a bit,” Stewart replied, jotting down notes without much care, “Ms. Hawkins seems like she’s been here for a while.”

Vesta said, “I arrived at Neural Nexus Tech this morning but got caught up. I went upstairs to grab a drink and take a breather.”

Going upstairs, of course, meant visiting Thorne’s office.

Stewart paused, his tone cooling, “Oh, is that so? Mr. Henderson isn’t here with Neural Nexus Tech today?”

“No, he’s at The Henderson Group.”

Meaning, even without Thorne around, she had free access to his office?

Did Thorne keep no secrets from her?

Stewart just hummed in response, turning to approach Charlene to discuss a point in his notes.

Charlene glanced over, nodded in understanding, and turned back to her task.

Seeing this, Vesta inquired, “Is there a problem with a part of the project? Can you share it with me?”

Stewart replied tersely, “Ms. Hawkins, I’m in the middle of work. It’s not a good time.”

Just as Vesta was about to respond, Charlene approached Stewart with a set of data.

Vesta’s gaze turned icy at Charlene’s approach.

Charlene didn’t mean to exchange glances, but after speaking with Stewart, she found herself caught in Vesta’s icy stare. She briefly met her gaze before they both turned their attention back to resolving the data issue.

Vesta had her own data to process and returned to the conference room to sit down.

Dalton and the others were fine-tuning some contract details and noticed her return, asking, “Was there a bit of tension just now?”

Dalton and Kelvin were unaware of Vesta and Stewart’s earlier exchange.

From their perspective, the two seemed to be getting along fine.

But then, Charlene suddenly came over, pulled Stewart away, and cast a not–so–friendly glance at Vesta before leaving.

It almost looked like she was upset over Vesta speaking with Stewart as if Vesta was trying to flirt with him. Vesta, without shifting her gaze from the computer, replied coolly, “Not at all. I was just asking Mr. Ferguson some professional questions.”

After Vesta explained, Dalton and the others recalled that she and Stewart were in the same major. They remembered that Stewart, being one of Kenton’s students, was highly regarded for his skills,

Vesta, always eager to learn, seeking advice from Stewart made sense,

Yet, Charlene seemed to misinterpret Vesta’s initiative as an attempt to flirt with Stewart, hence why she quickly intervened and gave Vesta a warning look.

Chapter 155

He casually asked, “Are you close to that woman?”

Hearing him inquire about Charlene made Vesta’s fingers pause mid–type.

Charlene was undeniably attractive.

Dalton’s question sparked a thought in Vesta’s mind that maybe he was interested in Charlene.

But recalling the conversation she overheard at the charity auction, and Dalton’s current demeanor towards her, Vesta realized she might have jumped to the wrong conclusion.

With a poker face, she replied, “Not really, why do you ask?”

Dalton glanced towards where Charlene and Stewart were chatting, commenting, “She seems quite capable, talking to Stewart like that, doesn’t she?”

Vesta responded indifferently, “Not sure, but I heard she only has a Bachelor’s degree.”

Just a Bachelor’s?”

“Mhm.”

That explained a lot. Charlene couldn’t compete with Vesta in terms of qualifications or charm, so it made sense that she was concerned about Stewart’s attention drifting.

Understanding her concern about Stewart possibly being snatched away, Dalton could empathize.

However, the fact that Charlene seemed hostile towards Vesta, always on edge about other women seducing her boyfriend, struck him as rather petty.

This thought shifted Dalton’s neutral stance on Charlene to a mild disapproval.

Meanwhile, Stewart, having a moment to himself, peered through the glass window at Dalton and Vesta, speculating softly to Charlene, “Dalton likes Vesta?”

Caught up in her analytics, it took Charlene a second to register Stewart’s question and remember who Dalton was.

She replied nonchalantly, “Seems like it.”

Her disinterest was palpable. After her brief response, she urged Stewart to focus on work, dismissing the gossip. After all, the sooner they finished, the sooner they could leave.

Stewart made a face, “Weird taste.”

That was the end of their gossip.

Dalton, noticing Stewart’s glances, mistakenly thought he was eyeing Vesta.

He assumed Charlene’s irritation in pulling Stewart away was due to jealousy over his attention to Vesta.

Vesta hit a snag in her work and considered consulting Stewart, but seeing him and the tech team from Neural Nexus Tech all ears for Charlene, she retracted her gaze. Anyone would think Charlene was some tech wizard.

By five in the afternoon, Charlene and Stewart had nearly finished their work, putting the final touches on the contract between EchoWave and Neural Nexus Tech.

Mr. Ferrell invited Charlene and Stewart to the conference room for a break and a drink.

Noticing Dalton and his party were also done, he suggested, “It’s getting late; how about we all grab dinner together?”

Dalton’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at Vesta.

Vesta, acting as if she didn’t catch his look, excused herself, “Sorry, Thorne from The Henderson Group is picking me up soon. We have other plans, so I’ll have to pass. Enjoy your dinner.”

Hearing Vesta decline, Dalton instantly lost interest in the dinner, saying, “I’ve got things to handle too, maybe next time.”

Vesta wasn’t surprised by his response, her expression unchanged.

Stewart, observing the dynamics, was convinced of Dalton’s interest in Vesta.

He noted Dalton’s reluctance stemmed from Vesta’s absence.

With Dalton and Vesta bowing out, Mr. Ferrell found the situation a tad awkward, turning to Stewart, “Mr. Ferguson, how about you-”

Stewart clinked his teacup against Charlene’s, grinning, “We’re free, aren’t we, Charlene?”

Chapter 156

Charlene knew that smile on Dalton’s face was a subtle tease, and she nodded in agreement, “Yeah.”

Vesta couldn’t help but notice how genuinely kind Stewart was to Charlene.

Her brow furrowed in thought.

Though Dalton had claimed they were too busy for lunch, their business was concluded, so he decided to leave Neural Nexus Tech with Charlene and Stewart.

Just then, Vesta got a call. After hanging up, she announced, “Thorne will be here soon. I’ll tag along with your guys.”

By the time they reached the lobby, Thorne was already waiting outside.

He got out of his car to greet Dalton and Stewart.

He glanced at Charlene but didn’t say anything to her. As for Vesta, she joined him as soon as he stepped out of his car.

Together, they indeed looked like a perfect couple.

Dalton was chatting with Thorne when Stewart, with a slight edge of disdain in his voice, interrupted, “Mr. Henderson, we’re off to grab some dinner. Excuse us.”

Thorne responded, “Take your time, Mr. Ferguson.”

Stewart and Charlene then took their leave.

After dinner with Mr. Ferrell and others, Charlene drove home. No sooner had she arrived than she received a call from Granger.

Catching her breath, she answered, “Mr. Harden.”

“The contract’s been signed,” Granger informed her. “You might want to confirm with your uncle. Let me know once you’ve done so.”

Without waiting for her response, he hung up.

Charlene was surprised by Granger’s efficiency. Still, she found herself unable to fully trust him.

After a moment’s thought, she called her uncle Vernon. “Uncle, has the company entered into a project with the Harden Group?”

“Yes,” Vernon sounded thrilled about the progress but also puzzled, “How did you come to know about it, Charlene?”

She deflected with a casual, “I heard it through the grapevine,” swiftly steering the conversation towards asking about Vernon’s health before hanging up. Moments later, she was on the phone with Granger again.

Granger picked up immediately.

Charlene mentioned, “I’m free over the weekend.”

“Great, should I set the schedule, or would you like to?” Granger asked.

“You do it.”

“Alright.”

After the call, Charlene took a relaxing bath, and since it was still early, she caught up with the latest developments in the global Al sector.

The next morning, after a quick breakfast and as she was about to leave for work, Granger called again, “l discussed it with Daisy last night, and she mentioned wanting to go skiing. Ms. Ross, are you up for skiing?”

Charlene confirmed, “Yes.” She was an experienced skier.

“Dip you need me to prepare any skiing gear for you?” Granger inquired.

“No need. I’ll buy my own,” she replied.

“See you Saturday then.”

“Sure.”

After hanging up, Charlene headed to work.

At five in the afternoon, Jasmine called, saying she was craving Charlene’s cooking.

Charlene visited her that evening.

Thorne wasn’t home, apparently away on a business trip.

Charlene ended up staying the night.

Before taking Jasmine to school the next day, she remembered the upcoming ski trip with Daisy and decided to bring her ski gear, which she had left behind, to avoid having to buy new equipment later.

Seeing this, Jasmine asked, “Mom, are you going skiing?”

“Yes, in a few days.”

Jasmine exclaimed, “I want to go too!”

She hadn’t had enough fun during their last half–day at the ski resort with Vesta and the others.

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Charlene paused before asking, “So, when do you wanna go?”

“Um…” Jasmine seemed hesitant.

Charlene figured she was biding her time, waiting for a moment when both Vesta and Thorne were preoccupied so she could have her mom all to herself. However, she had no idea when that opportunity would arise, which explained her hesitation.

Charlene looked away and said, “No worries, just let me know when you’re ready, and if I’m free, we’ll go.”

Jasmine beamed, “Okay!”

After a hectic week.

On Friday evening, Charlene got off work a bit early,

Just as she was about to whip up something for dinner, Jasmine’s call came through.

Charlene hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Mom, I’m free this Saturday, let’s go skiing!”

Charlene had promised to take her skiing whenever she wanted.

But she hadn’t planned on it for tomorrow.

Tomorrow, she had a semi-social commitment she didn’t want to mix with mother-daughter time.

She responded, “I’m not free tomorrow, sweetheart. Pick another day.”

“But I really want to go this Saturday. Can’t you make it, please?” Jasmine tried to wheedle her mom into agreeing.

“Not this Saturday, maybe next week. If you still want to go, we’ll plan for it then.”

Jasmine tried to protest, but Charlene was firm, “Talk to me about it next week if you’re still interested. And remember to eat well, don’t be picky.”

With that, Charlene hung up.

Jasmine didn’t call back.

Knowing her daughter, Charlene figured Jasmine was probably miffed.

But Charlene wasn’t too bothered and headed into the kitchen to start on dinner.

The next day.

Charlene got a call from Granger asking if she needed a ride, which she declined.

After breakfast, Charlene drove herself to the ski resort.

Upon her arrival, Granger and Daisy were already there.

Seeing her, Granger looked over, but Daisy, breaking away from Granger, ran excitedly towards Charlene, “Ms. Ross!”

As Daisy hugged her, Charlene gently returned the embrace, noticing Daisy’s cheerful smile, she commented,

“Looks like you’ve grown a bit taller, and your cheeks are chubbier, making you even prettier.”

Delighted by the compliment, Daisy nodded, “Yeah! I’ve been eating lots of burgers.”

Charlene chuckled, about to reply, when Daisy suddenly pulled out a crystal keychain from her pocket, “Ms. Ross, this is for you.”

The keychain featured a miniature pink cat backpack with a tiny white kitten inside, quite unique.

It was similar but differently colored from one Jasmine had attached to her backpack’s zipper not too long ago.

Given that Granger often included Daisy in outings with Thorne, Vesta, and others, it wasn’t surprising Daisy and Jasmine had matching keychains.

Charlene paused but didn’t pry, instead smiling, “It’s beautiful, I love it. Thank you, Daisy.”

Hearing Charlene liked it, Daisy’s happiness doubled, and she tugged at Charlene, “Ms. Ross, let’s go skiing.”

Charlene agreed, “Sure.”

As they walked in, Granger turned to Charlene and asked, “Have you had breakfast yet? We brought some along in case you haven’t eaten.”

Charlene replied, “No need, I’ve already eaten.”

“All right.”

After suiting up and donning goggles, they headed out to ski.

Daisy was still a novice, but Charlene, having skied for many years, patiently guided her.

The ski resort was bustling with visitors over the weekend.

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Worried they might get bumped into, Granger shadowed them closely, ready to shield them if anyone came too close.

But today, the place was just swamped.

They’d only been at it for a little over an hour when two girls bumped into them.

Daisy was fine, but Charlene ended up crashing into Granger.

Instinctively, Granger wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in, securing her safely against him.

The sudden closeness to his broad chest took Charlene by surprise, making her uneasy. She attempted to push away but then noticed something was off with her foot. Granger didn’t release his hold. “Twisted your ankle?” he asked.

“It seems like it…”

Granger called over a staff member to look after Daisy while he bent down to scoop Charlene up in his arms.

Charlene had thought he would ask a staff member to help her. Being suddenly lifted by him, she was a bit stunned and then protested, “Put me down, I-”

Granger cut her off, “The medic’s already waiting. Let’s sort out your foot first.”

Charlene paused, then stopped struggling.

Once inside the house, Granger gently placed Charlene down.

The waiting medic examined her and found it as just a minor dislocation. After a quick fix, Charlene was as good as new.

Granger asked, “Still up for skiing?”

“I’m fine, we can continue.”

She didn’t want to dampen Daisy’s spirits by calling it a day.

Hearing from the medic that her leg was indeed okay, he didn’t object.

Meanwhile, someone was watching them from a distance.

“Leah? What are you looking at?”

Leah replied, “I thought I saw someone I know.”

From the side, the person really looked a lot like Granger. But he was with a kid and a woman, so it couldn’t be him, right?

Just as she tried to get a clearer look, the person put back on his hat and goggles and left.

Over the next hour, Charlene and Daisy got bumped into two more times, but without any injuries.

Seeing Granger holding her hand to support her, Charlene gently pulled away, saying, “I’m okay now, thank you.” Only then did Granger release her wrist.

By noon, they left the ski resort for a nearby diner.

Granger passed the menu to her, letting her pick what to eat.

That’s when Daisy remembered something and asked Charlene, “Lady, what’s your name?”

“Charlene Ross, call me Charlene.”

Daisy nodded, “Ms. Ross.”

Charlene smiled, caressing her cheek.

Perhaps skiing had worn her out because Daisy started nodding off before they even finished eating, Granger lifted Daisy into his arms, wiping the grease from the corners of her mouth.

Charlene, having almost finished her meal, put down her fork and said, “Shall we call it a day?”

“Sure.” But Granger didn’t immediately get up. Instead, he looked at her and asked, “Can I ask you out again?”

Charlene answered, “Sure.”

He had been a help, and since Daisy needed her, it only seemed right to help him out in return.

“Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

With Daisy asleep, Charlene felt they had little else to say to each other, so she just turned and left.

Watching her drive away, Granger stood for a moment before getting into his car.

When he got home, Daisy was awake.

“Did Ms. Ross leave?”

“Yeah.” Holding her, Granger suddenly said, “Daisy, from now on, just call her Miss, not Ms. Ross, okay? And, let’s keep Ms. Ross‘ name a secret, just between us, alright?”

Daisy nodded obediently, “Okay.”

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Charlene and Granger had just finished their dinner and were driving away when Charlene’s phone rang. It was

Connie.

“Charlene, where are you? I’m totally beat. Come pick me up for dinner, will you?”

Charlene, not mentioning that she had already eaten, asked, “Where are you?”

“Emerald Vale,” Connie said, referring to the newly developed vintage–style housing estate. “I’ve been here since early morning with my aunt checking out houses. I’m exhausted.”

“Alright, I’m on my way.”

After hanging up, Charlene set her GPS to Emerald Vale.

A few minutes later, Connie called again, sounding less than pleased, “Guess who I ran into here?”

Charlene paused, knowing only one thing could irritate Connie that much-

Thorne and Vesta, with the whole Hawkins clan! He brought them here to look at houses!”

Keeping her eyes on the road, Charlene responded noncommittally.

Thorne and Vesta were usually glued to Jasmine’s side, so it was unusual for Thorne to leave her behind.

The only plausible reason seemed to be that he was out house hunting for the Hawkins family, especially since the Spencers had already settled in, and the Hawkins were looking to make Starfall their permanent home. Arriving at Emerald Vale, Charlene parked and messaged Connie her location, asking where she could find a restroom in the sales office.

When she met up with Connie, she learned about the exorbitant prices of the properties from her. “Houses here start at three million, and the villa Thorne bought for the Hawkins? That’s over six million!”

Charlene simply nodded, her expression unreadable.

Connie continued, venting her frustration. “And get this–Thorne and Vesta came here because Vesta’s mom loves the style of this place.”

Charlene’s step wavered slightly when she heard that–no wonder Maureen had been all smiles earlier. Struggling to keep her composure, Charlene excused herself and headed to the restroom.

Inside, she clenched her fists in frustration. While she had grown accustomed to hearing about how well Thorne treated Vesta, she still couldn’t keep her cool when she found out he was going out of his way to please Maureen.

Suddenly, voices from the sales staff outside floated in. “Mr. Henderson really has an eye for beauty; his girlfriend is absolutely gorgeous.”

“Totally, and her mom is just as impressive–elegant and poised. Plus, her husband and mother–in–law totally spoil her. They cater to her likes and pamper her like nobody’s business. It just makes me green with envy when I think about my own husband!”

“Mr. Henderson’s girlfriend is living the dream. A six–million–dollar villa before they’re even married? Talk about life goals!”

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When Charlene stepped out of the bathroom, it had already been ten minutes.

After having dinner with Connie, she suddenly felt the urge to visit the nursing home.

But remembering Sybil’s condition and how the director mentioned she shouldn’t see familiar faces, she found herself parked outside the nursing home. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to go in and drove back home.

Once home, she locked herself in her room and busied herself with her own things.

Time passed unknowingly.

Her phone rang again. It was a call from Thorne.

Charlene glanced at it, noted down the data she was working on, and didn’t pick up.

The call eventually went to voicemail.

A few minutes later, it rang again. Charlene still didn’t answer.

Shortly after, Thorne sent a text: [Grandma wants us over for dinner at the family home.]

Charlene didn’t reply.

On the other side, seeing no response, Thorne held his phone in silence for a moment.

Then, Jasmine’s voice floated up from the stairwell, “Dad, you’re back!”

By the time she finished speaking, Jasmine had already reached the bottom of the stairs and jumped into his arms.

Thorne steadied her, murmuring an acknowledgment.

Noticing he was holding his phone, seemingly about to send a text, she asked, “What are you doing, Dad?”

Thorne replied, “Your mom’s not answering her phone.”

Hearing him mention Charlene, Jasmine huffed in annoyance and turned her face away.

Seeing her reaction, Thorne pinched her cheek gently, “Getting mad the moment I mention your mom? Did you upset her?”

Jasmine’s eyes widened with irritation as she exclaimed, “No, it’s Mom who made me mad!”

Thorne, supporting his chin with his hand in a thoughtful pose, feigned curiosity and responded, “Oh really?”

Jasmine puffed up, complaining, “Mom promised to take me skiing, but when I called her today, she said she was too busy and we’d go some other time!”

“If your mom said she’s got things to handle and can’t take you out, shouldn’t you be understanding instead of getting mad at her? Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

“You!”

Thorne chuckled, playfully mussing her hair, then stood up, “Let’s go.”

Jasmine paused, “Where to?”

“Your great–grandmother’s calling us over for dinner.”

“Oh…” Jasmine made a noise of acknowledgment and hurried after him.

Meanwhile, Charlene ordered a takeout, and just after she finished her meal around seven, Irma’s call came through.

She could ignore Thorne’s calls, but Irma had been kind to her family, and she felt compelled to answer, “Hello, Grandma.”

Irma said, “Charlene, I heard from Thorne you’re busy. When will you be free?”

Charlene didn’t want to go back to the family home.

Since Thorne had already made an excuse for her, she went along with it, “I’m swamped these next few days, sorry Grandma, I won’t be able to visit you.”

Irma didn’t mind, “That’s alright, dear. I’m just worried you’re overworking yourself.”

“I won’t, Grandma, I know my limits.”

“That’s good to hear,” Irma responded. “Thorne is coming over tomorrow. I’ll send back some treats with him. Make sure you eat well.”

Charlene said, “Will do.”

After hanging up, Irma, who was eyeing her grandson lounging on the couch with a newspaper, commented, “Next time, if Charlene doesn’t come back with you, you might as well not come back either.”

Thorne raised an eyebrow, asking, “Should I leave now then?”

Irma just huffed.

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