Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 211 to 220) 

Chapter 211

Nadine and Carl came over, asking Daisy if she wanted to try out the water slide.

Daisy glanced at the colorful water slide in the distance and eagerly nodded her head.

The slide was on the yacht, indoors, and heated like a hot spring, so it wasn’t cold even in the middle of winter.

It was the kind of fun that both kids and adults could enjoy, though it was mainly the domain of teenagers and children.

Charlene and Granger tried it out a few times but soon lost interest.

However, Daisy, Nadine, and Carl were having the time of their lives.

Charlene settled into a nearby chair, soaking up the warmth like she was relaxing in a hot tub.

Just then, Granger handed her a drink.

Thanks,” Charlene said, accepting the glass.

“No problem,” Granger replied, taking a seat not too far from her. “How old are they?”

“Daisy’s 16, and Carl’s 14.”

“Do you often bring them out for a fun day like this?”

Charlene shook her head. “Used to, but I’ve been caught up with work lately, so not as much.”

Granger’s phone rang, interrupting the conversation.

Seeing the caller ID, he excused himself. “I’ve got to take this.”

“Sure,” Charlene nodded.

Granger stepped a bit farther away before answering. “Thorne.”

“Where are you?” Thorne’s voice came through.

“On a yacht.”

“Out on the sea?”

“Yeah,” Granger replied, his gaze drifting back to Charlene. “Something up?”

“Yeah, Minnie wanted to hang out with Daisy. Told me to give you a call.”

“We’re out at sea right now. Maybe next time.”

“Alright.”

Thorne kept it brief and hung up.

By lunchtime, the five of them gathered for a seafood feast.

In the afternoon, they lounged on the deck, soaking up the sun and trying their hand at fishing. Eventually, Daisy, Nadine, and Carl wore themselves out and, after a bit of fishing, dozed off on the lounge chairs. Granger had some business to attend to and made a few calls from afar.

When he returned, he saw Charlene absorbed in a book.

Though he had studied finance in college, the book she was reading looked familiar.

He quickly realized it was the same one he often saw Thorne with.

Watching Charlene engrossed in her reading, Granger paused for a moment.

It took a while before Charlene noticed him again when he adjusted the blanket over Daisy, which had been ‘stirred by the sea breeze.

Granger took a seat and remarked, “That book… you read it often?”

He emphasized “also,” hinting at another reader.

Charlene immediately understood he meant Thorne.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

Her focus on the book, and her demeanor… reminded Granger a lot of Thorne.

It wasn’t about their looks, but rather the intensity in their expressions.

In that moment, Granger realized that Charlene and Thorne were, in some ways, kindred spirits, sharing a love for the same field.

With that in mind, they should have plenty to talk about.

However…

Remembering the rumors about their marriage, Granger’s eyes darkened.

People claimed she tricked Thorne into marrying her. He took their word for it without doubting. But after hanging out with her more, he felt she wasn’t really like that.

Her thoughts didn’t seem that complicated.

After dinner, the yacht began heading back to shore.

By the end of the day, Nadine, Carl, and Daisy had grown quite close.

Even with Granger, Nadine and Carl seemed at ease, casually waving goodbye as they left. “See you next time, Granger.”

Granger nodded, his gaze shifting to Charlene. “See you next time.”

Chapter 212

Charlene said, “See you next time,” before driving off without a glance back.

Once she returned to the Ross household, Charlene headed upstairs while Carl and Helena Ross chatted about the day’s events downstairs.

When Helena learned that Charlene had plans with Granger, she was taken aback. After all, Granger was a childhood friend of Thorne’s, and Charlene had barely interacted with him before. How did this sudden connection come about?

Vernon Ross chimed in, “That explains why the Harden family suddenly approached me for business recently, and why Granger’s been so friendly. So it’s true then…”

Maisie remarked, “It does sound like something’s up, doesn’t it?”

Helena, who knows Charlene well, mentioned, “Charlene isn’t officially divorced yet. I don’t think she’s looking for anything serious. Let’s just see how things unfold and not meddle too much.”

“Got it,” they all agreed.

The next morning, Charlene woke up at the Ross household. She was just finishing her breakfast when her phone buzzed.

It was Thorne calling.

Charlene saw the call but decided not to answer.

Shortly after, a text from Thorne came through: “Minnie’s school has a parent-child event tomorrow. Make sure you’re there.”

Charlene read it and replied, “I’m busy.”

Thorne called again.

Charlene ignored it and turned her phone off.

Once she finished her work and turned her phone back on, there was another unread message from Thorne: “Are you at the Ross place?”

Though it was just a few words, Charlene understood he was implying he’d show up at the Ross house if she didn’t respond.

Clutching her phone, Charlene texted back, “What time does it start?”

Thorne took over half an hour to reply, “Nine.”

Charlene didn’t respond again.

That evening, Jasmine called.

Charlene answered, and Jasmine immediately asked, “Mom, why aren’t you home yet?”

Her dad had said her mom would be back in time for the school event tomorrow, but it was already after nine and there was still no sign of her…

Charlene assured her, “Mom’s not coming home tonight, but I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”

Jasmine was surprised by this arrangement but replied, “Oh… okay.”

Charlene urged, “Get some rest, sweetheart.”

“I know, Mom.”

After hanging up, Charlene let Stewart know she’d be late to work the next day.

On Monday morning, she arrived at Jasmine’s school right on time.

“Mom!” Jasmine stood beside Thorne, waving excitedly when she saw her.

Charlene walked over, and Thorne greeted her, “You made it?”

Remembering his veiled threat from yesterday, Charlene ignored him and opened Jasmine’s tablet to review the event schedule.

After a while, she and Thorne took their seats.

Ms. Payne, noticing her arrival, approached with a smile, “Ms. Ross, glad you could join us!”

“Yes,” Charlene returned a warm smile.

Jasmine handed a flower crown, prepared by the school for the mothers, to Thorne, asking him to put it on Charlene.

Charlene took it, saying, “I can do it myself, honey.”

Thorne didn’t insist and handed it over to her.

Charlene’s and Thorne’s striking appearances caught the attention of nearly every parent and child in attendance.

Sally’s Mom, having heard about Charlene’s marriage and daughter from her own child, walked over. “Charlene, is this your husband?” she asked.

Chapter 213

Jasmine wasn’t around, so Charlene gave a small smile and said, “We’re about to split up.”

Sally’s mom had suspected as much. After all, even though Charlene had a daughter, she lived alone just across the street…

Besides, the last time there was a parent-teacher meeting, Charlene didn’t show up. Instead, a glamorous woman turned up.

Thorne, ever the sociable one, greeted them with a, “Hey there.”

Sally’s mom replied, “Hey…”

Thorne asked, “You two know each other?”

Though he directed the question at Sally’s mom, his eyes were fixed on Charlene.

Charlene wasn’t interested in engaging with him, so she stayed silent. Sally’s mom answered, “Charlene and I are neighbors.”

Noticing the awkward vibes between Charlene and Thorne, and seeing that Charlene seemed eager to dodge him, she quickly found a reason to slip away.

Thorne commented, “Looks like you’re getting along well with the new neighbor.”

Charlene just glanced down at her phone.

Thorne didn’t seem bothered, but he didn’t push any further.

Right about then, Jasmine returned, and the school’s family event was about to kick off.

Charlene had attended this sort of event back in Jasmine’s first year at preschool. But after Jasmine and Thorne went abroad last year, she hadn’t been to one since.

The first activity on the agenda was a good old–fashioned game of musical chairs.

The game was straightforward: set up chairs in a circle, two less than the number of families playing. Parents and their kids would walk around the chairs while the music played. When the music stopped, it was a scramble to find a seat. The family left standing would be eliminated. The last family remaining would be crowned the champions.

Thorne looked at Charlene, “You want to do it, or should I?”

Charlene was about to say, “You go ahead,” but Jasmine piped up first, “Dad’s got this.”

Thorne turned to Charlene, “What do you think?”

Charlene nodded, “You go ahead.”

“Alright,” Thorne handed her his phone, “You can record it then.”

Charlene hesitated, not wanting to use his phone, “I’ll use mine and send it to you later.”

Thorne shrugged and pocketed his phone.

With Jasmine in his arms, Thorne joined the other parents, forming a circle around the chairs.

Charlene stood up, switched her phone to video mode, and focused on Thorne and Jasmine.

Suddenly, Thorne glanced over at her.

The camera caught his face.

He gave her a quick smile.

Charlene paused, gripping her phone a bit tighter.

Then the music kicked in, and Thorne turned back, effortlessly carrying Jasmine as they circled the chairs with the other parents.

After a few rounds, the music stopped suddenly. Thorne, fast on his feet, grabbed the nearest chair and sat down with Jasmine, sporting a big grin.

Seeing their victory, Jasmine waved excitedly at Charlene, “Mom, we got the chair!”

Charlene smiled back, “I saw that, sweetie.”

Honestly, when Charlene first read through today’s event schedule, she figured both Thorne and Jasmine might find these school games a bit dull.

But it turned out Jasmine was thrilled even before the games began, just being lifted into Thorne’s arms.

Now, having snagged a chair, she was even more ecstatic.

Thorne, catching Charlene’s eye, chuckled.

Yet, perhaps there was something infectious about the lively music and the friendly competition. Soon enough, even he was caught up in the spirit, genuinely enjoying himself.

With his quick reflexes, Thorne breezed through each round, clinching the championship without breaking a sweat.

Chapter 214

Jasmine ran excitedly towards Charlene, her little hand raised for a high–five. “Mom, we did it! We won!”

Charlene grinned, giving her daughter a high–five. “Yeah, we sure did.”

Thorne walked over, a smile playing on his lips. “Did you get it all on camera?”

“Yep,” Charlene replied, sending the video to him with a quick tap on her phone.

After the thrill of musical chairs, it was time to tackle the next adventure: the unstoppable wheel of fun.

The rules were simple: four families formed a team, each member stepping and spinning the hula hoop tape as they moved forward. The first team to reach the finish line would claim victory.

Thorne turned to Charlene. “You want to join this round?”

Jasmine nodded eagerly. “Yeah, Mom, come with me!”

Charlene was game. “Sure thing.”

As the game was about to start, Charlene glanced at her purse. She hesitated for a moment before Thorne reached out his hand. “I can hold that for you.”

“…Thanks,” Charlene said, handing it over.

For many couples, a husband carrying his wife’s bag was pretty common. But for them, this was the first time Thorne had ever held her purse.

Charlene wondered if he’d ever carried a bag for Vesta.

Today, Thorne wasn’t dressed as formally as usual, but with his straight black coat, he somehow looked perfectly natural holding her purse, as if he were waiting for his beloved to return.

Charlene quickly looked away.

This game was all about teamwork and coordination.

Charlene stood in the middle, matching the rhythm of those ahead as she lifted her arms to spin the tape.

Jasmine clung to the hem of her mom’s sweater, following along and having the time of her life.

When she noticed Thorne filming them with his phone, her laughter grew louder. “Dad!”

Thorne stood slightly in front of them, and though Charlene was aware of his presence, she focused on the game, avoiding looking directly at him.

She heard Jasmine’s voice trail off, followed by Thorne’s calm instruction from the side. “Keep your eyes on your mom and stay in sync.”

Jasmine replied with a cheerful, “Got it!”

Earlier, when Charlene filmed Thorne and Jasmine, she stood still, capturing footage without following their game movements.

But Thorne, recording Charlene and Jasmine, moved backward with them, keeping pace with their game.

After a back–and–forth, the game concluded.

Jasmine dashed over to Thorne. “Dad, that was so fun! Can we do it again sometime?”

Thorne smiled. “Absolutely.”

Charlene returned and took her purse from Thorne’s hand.

st then, she heard the familiar ping of a message notification from her phone.

Reaching into her purse, she found that Thorne had sent her a video.”

Charlene noticed the message but didn’t open it immediately.

Meanwhile, Jasmine snuggled up next to Thorne, excited to see the video he had just shot. Thorne passed her the phone, then cracked open a bottle of water and handed it to Charlene.

“Thanks,” Charlene said, accepting it gratefully.

She was indeed a bit thirsty and took a couple of refreshing sips before screwing the cap back on.

No sooner had she done so than Thorne asked, “What’s the next game?”

Charlene found it hard to believe that with his memory, he couldn’t recall the schedule.

Still, with the water bottle freshly capped in her hand, she sighed.

There is an old saying about being gracious when someone does you a favor.

With that in mind, she replied, “It’s the Ant Ball Relay.”

Chapter 215

Your turn or mine?” Thorne asked again.

Charlene glanced at Jasmine. “Let Minnie decide.”

“Dad, definitely,” Jasmine said confidently. “Mom’s not really into basketball, but Dad’s really good at it.”

Charlene could play basketball, but she kept that to herself.

Since Jasmine had made up her mind, Charlene said, “Alright, your turn, Thorne.”

“Sure thing,” Thorne replied with a nod.

As the sun climbed higher and the temperature rose, Thorne shrugged off his long black coat and handed it to Charlene. “Mind holding this for me?”

Charlene took it with a silent sigh and laid it down on the grass beside her.

Thorne raised an eyebrow but let it slide.

Just before the game kicked off, he turned to her again. “Hey, when you’re filming, try to keep up with us, alright? Don’t just stand in one spot.”

“Got it,” Charlene replied, rolling her eyes playfully.

The game, called “Ants on a Basketball,” had a simple rule: parents start by pulling a hoop with a rope while dribbling a basketball inside the hoop, and once they reach the turnaround point, the kids take over pulling the hoop, and the parents continue dribbling. The ball has to stay within the hoop’s boundary the whole time.

Charlene had taken Jasmine to play basketball and volleyball before, but back then, Jasmine hadn’t shown much interest. Maybe she was too young, or perhaps she had forgotten those outings. Now, whether it was school teaching or Thorne’s influence, Jasmine was dribbling like a pro when the game began.

Thorne easily kept up with Jasmine’s dribbling as he pulled the hoop backward, and they glided through the first round. The return trip was even smoother.

Jasmine had been right; Thorne was indeed good at basketball. He spun the ball between his hands with ease. As he rolled up his sleeves, gracefully keeping in step with Jasmine, Charlene heard admiring whispers from. the crowd. “Wow, he’s amazing.”

Charlene kept filming, her grip on the phone steady. But as Thorne dribbled, memories of him playing on the school court flooded back to her mind. A few months ago, she could recall his face and stature so vividly. Now, looking at this taller, more mature, and undeniably handsome Thorne, those memories had started to blur.

Thorne and Jasmine were the undisputed champions of that round.

Jasmine was over the moon, jumping up and down with a never–ending smile.

Thorne laughed and lifted her into his arms.

Charlene captured the moment on video, thinking that today, Jasmine was probably the happiest kid in the whole school.

Still, she mused, if Vesta had been the one to join them today for the parent–child activity instead of her, Jasmine might have been even happier.

Some of Jasmine’s classmates‘ parents came over to chat with Thorne.

He shook hands and engaged in conversation.

Sally’s mom stood next to Charlene.

As the game wrapped up and Charlene finished filming, Sally’s mom remarked, “Your daughter really has a great bond with her dad.”

Yeah,” Charlene nodded.

Clearly, Thorne and Jasmine had a solid bond, and it looked like it was only going to get stronger.

Sally’s mom didn’t mention it, but it was rare to see such a close bond between a child and their dad, often outshining the connection with the mom. Yet, she could see that Charlene’s husband was genuinely wonderful with their daughter.

Chapter 216

The kids got along well with him, that seemed pretty normal.

Besides, she noticed how other parents, when watching their spouse play games with their kids, would laugh heartily or clap in encouragement when things went well, and get anxious when they didn’t.

You could really feel the unity among them.

But when it came to Charlene…

Sure, Charlene had a smile on her face when she was with her child and playing games, but there was something different about it. It was like there was a gap between her and her husband and daughter.

Thinking back to the last parent-teacher meeting, it was clear that Charlene’s daughter had a strong bond with that other woman. So, Charlene feeling a bit left out of her husband and daughter’s world seemed kind of understandable.

Any parent would feel uneasy if their child got close to the person who disrupted their marriage, right?

With that thought, she realized Charlene must be feeling pretty down. But looking at Charlene, she just couldn’t figure out the right way to offer comfort.

Charlene caught a glimpse of pity and concern in her eyes. Charlene knew she probably had a hint of what was going on. She gave a small smile.

The hardest times had already passed for her. She understood that Vesta was busy, and that’s why Thorne and Jasmine asked her to join the event.

So today, yes, she did feel a bit like an outsider.

Just then, Thorne and Jasmine returned.

Jasmine leaned in to see the video she had recorded, and Charlene sent it to both her and Thorne, saying, “I’ve sent it to you, you can watch it on your tablet.”

Jasmine replied, “Okay.”

After three games, the parent-child activities wrapped up.

Jasmine had won two championship trophies.

With her trophies in hand, Jasmine asked Thorne to take her picture.

Thorne snapped several shots of her.

Then Jasmine turned to Charlene and said, “Mom, can you take some of me and Dad too?”

Charlene nodded, “Sure.”

She took four or five photos of Jasmine with Thorne as she had asked.

After sending them to Jasmine, Thorne suddenly suggested, “How about I take some of you and Minnie too?”

“Yeah, come on, Mom,” Jasmine encouraged.

“Alright.”

Thorne took her phone and clicked photos of her and Jasmine.

Once done, Charlene retrieved her phone, which soon started ringing.

It was a call from Stewart.

I’ll just take this call,” Charlene said.

Okay, Mom!” Jasmine replied.

“Alright,” Thorne added.

Charlene stepped aside and discussed work with Stewart for about ten minutes. When she returned, she saw. Thorne and Jasmine are seemingly on a video call with someone.

She didn’t walk over but instead checked the work documents Stewart had sent her.

A moment later, Jasmine waved her over, “Mom, come on, we need a big group photo and then we can go eat!”

Charlene joined them, and along with other parents, they took a group photo.

Ms. Payne also took photos of each family.

And with that, Jasmine’s school event officially came to an end.

As Charlene was about to leave, Thorne grabbed his coat and asked, “Where do you want to eat?”

Before Charlene could answer, Jasmine excitedly raised her hand, “I want barbecue, like the place we went last time!”

Thorne gently pinched her cheek and said, “That place is too far, and you’ve got afternoon classes. We won’t have enough time.”

“Okay,” Jasmine pouted a bit, “How about seafood then?”

Thorne didn’t respond right away but turned to Charlene, “What do you feel like eating?”

Chapter 217

Charlene said, “You guys go ahead and eat. I’m not coming.”

Jasmine looked surprised. “Mom, you’re not coming?”

“Nope.” Charlene gently patted Jasmine’s head. “You all have a great time.”

“Oh… okay.”

Charlene gave a soft smile, said no more, and turned to leave without looking back.

Thorne watched her go, but instead of calling her back, he turned to Jasmine and said, “Let’s head out too.”

“Alright.”

No sooner had they gotten into the car than Thorne’s phone rang.

It was Irma Henderson calling.

As soon as he picked up, Irma’s voice came through, tense and biting. “Did you seriously start a project with the Hawkins and Spencer families at the company?”

Thorne simply replied, “Yes,” with a slight chuckle. “You just found out?”

“You!” Irma was even more frustrated. “What is this supposed to mean? Are you planning to divorce Charlene?”

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so blatant about it.

By roping in the Hawkins and Spencer families into the Henderson Group, it was obvious he wasn’t worried about her finding out. This meant his mind was made up.

Before he could respond, Irma cut in, “I won’t allow it! You can start the project, I won’t oppose that, but you need to replace the people involved. If you don’t, then I will-*

“Grandma,” Thorne said, his tone unchanged, “I fulfilled the conditions you set before the marriage. Now, please respect your end of the bargain and don’t interfere with my decisions.”

In other words, the Hawkins and Spencer families were off–limits to her.

“You…”

Since Thorne had taken over the Henderson Group, the company has been thriving.

Over the years, the shareholders and key management understood that following Thorne’s lead almost always meant success.

If she tried to challenge Thorne, the other shareholders would likely be the first to oppose her.

In short, the Henderson Group needed Thorne more than Thorne needed the Henderson Group.

Threatening him with the company was pointless.

And using family ties as leverage?

As Thorne pointed out, marrying Charlene was already a compromise on his part.

Irma knew he was never someone who would continuously back down for others.

Once he had what he wanted, he remained true to himself.

If pushed too hard…

Irma’s silence meant she had conceded. Thorne broke the silence, “Have you eaten?”

Irma abruptly ended the call.

Thorne looked at his phone and chuckled.

Jasmine, curious, asked, “What happened?”

Thorne casually put the phone away. “Your great–grandmother’s upset.”

“Did you upset her?”

“Yep.”

“Aren’t you going to make it up to her?”

“Can’t do that right now. Maybe later.”

“Alright then…”

Back at the office, Stewart saw her return but didn’t ask about the family event. He simply said, “You’re back? Had lunch yet?”

Charlene replied, “Not yet.”

“Come on, I’ll take you out to eat.”

Charlene smiled. “Sure.”

When they reached the restaurant, they ran into Mr. Palmer from the Henderson Group, who was there with his family.

Mr. Palmer sent his family off to the private room first. Then, turning to Stewart, he said, “I thought we’d get to work together again, but I guess that’s not happening…”

Stewart gave a sly smile. “I hear your company’s new project is doing quite well?”

“Yes, it’s pretty solid. Mr. Henderson’s direct involvement usually guarantees success.”

“Oh,” Stewart responded coolly. “I also heard the parts involving the Hawkins and Spencer families are quite significant. No issues from others in your company?”

Chapter 218

“Opinions? Sure, there are always some, but they won’t make a huge impact, Mr. Palmer said. “The company has a great project, and naturally, the other shareholders want to put their people in charge. But Mr. Henderson rarely gets involved in these matters personally. You can’t expect people to have issues just because he finally arranged for his team to take on some of the work, right? Besides, the Hawkins family and the Spencer family are quite capable and play by the rules, so overall, it won’t affect much.”

Dalton stopped for a moment, then said, “I mean it. I hope you can let go of personal issues for the good of your company.”

Mr. Palmer nodded, “Sure, sure.”

After Mr. Palmer left, Stewart turned to Charlene and said, “Let’s head inside.”

Charlene nodded, “Alright.”

After having dinner and returning to the office, they were informed that Dalton had arrived.

Charlene and Stewart had no intention of meeting him.

Dalton didn’t leave, and when Charlene clocked out and headed to the parking lot, he called after her, “Ms. Ross.”

Charlene turned around, her voice cold, “Mr. Ramirez, what do you need?”

Dalton looked at her earnestly, “We need to talk.”

Charlene raised an eyebrow, “Talk, or point fingers at me?”

Dalton stopped for a moment, then said, “I mean it. I hope you can let go of personal issues for the good of your company.”

Charlene was almost amused.

She replied, “I thought those words should be coming from me to you, Mr. Ramirez.”

It was clearly him who had let personal feelings about Vesta cloud their negotiations.

Yet somehow, in his mind, she was the one abusing power and being unreasonable.

With that thought, she ignored him, got into her car, and drove away.

Dalton’s expression darkened.

Just then, his phone rang. After a short conversation, he also got into his car and left.

Half an hour later, when he entered the private room, Kelvin Scott and York were already there.

Seeing Dalton’s sour expression, Kelvin asked, “Didn’t go well, huh?”

Dalton had been to PrimeStar a couple of times over the past few days.

Stewart had consistently refused to meet him.

They say the one who ties the knot must untie it.

That’s why Dalton sought out Charlene, hoping to talk things over.

Reflecting on Charlene’s unwillingness to listen, Dalton shook his head.

“If Stewart’s not budging and Ms. Ross won’t either, then snagging the PrimeStar project seems pretty unlikely,” Kelvin observed, noting Dalton’s frustration. “But hey, if you can’t get it, you can’t get it. There are plenty of profitable projects out there; it doesn’t have to be PrimeStar.”

Dalton shook his head, “I’ve looked into the PrimeStar project. I’m genuinely interested in it.”

So, even without Abelard Ramirez’s suggestion, once Dalton looked into the project, he wanted in.

“Alright then,” Kelvin said, “maybe try another angle?”

At this, Kelvin glanced at York and said, “Hey, York, didn’t you two have a good chat last time you danced? She seemed to have a good attitude towards you. Maybe you could mediate between them and soften things up?”

York set down his cup of coffee and said, “I don’t know her well enough for that.”

Chapter 219

Kelvin leaned back in his chair, considering York’s suggestion. “Why don’t you try talking to Stewart? You two have a bit of a rapport, right?”

York shrugged, uncertain. “I could, but I doubt Stewart would listen.”

From the moment Charlene agreed to swap dance partners at the gala, York had sensed that her relationship with Stewart was more complicated than it seemed. They weren’t dating, that much was clear, but Stewart definitely had a soft spot for her.

York doubted that even if he managed to smooth things over between Dalton and Stewart, it would lead to Stewart agreeing to collaborate with Dalton.

Kelvin sighed, “So, I guess we need to approach Ms. Ross instead? We barely know anything about her. Should we dig up some info?”

Dalton shook his head. “Nah, it’s not worth the effort. I’ll just reach out to my father later.”

York immediately caught on. “You mean Mr. Wagner?”

“Exactly.”

Stewart was one of Kenton’s mentees, and Dalton was sure that if Kenton had a word with him, Stewart would come around.

Determined to act on his plan, after a hearty meal of burgers and fries, Dalton was on his way home when he decided to call Abelard. But to his surprise, Abelard beat him to it with a call, getting straight to the point, “How’s the deal with PrimeStar going?”

Dalton hesitated, then admitted, “Not great. I was actually hoping to get your help.”

“Why’s that?”

Dalton explained, “I managed to annoy one of PrimeStar’s techies, and Stewart’s got a thing for her-”

Abelard interrupted, “What’s the techie’s name?”

Caught off guard, Dalton replied instinctively, “Charlene.”

There was a pause, followed by a chuckle from Abelard. “You’ve really outdone yourself, Dalton. Messing with a key player before the deal is even inked.”

Dalton was about to argue that Charlene wasn’t as crucial as Abelard seemed to think, just someone with a special connection to Stewart. But Abelard didn’t give him the chance.

“I’ll handle this for you,” Abelard said.

Dalton couldn’t help but grin, “Thanks, Pops!”

“…You shameless brat.”

Dalton didn’t feel bad about pulling his dad into the situation. He believed he could land the PrimeStar project on his own merits. To him, personal grudges were just small irritations. If he could get past them quickly, why wouldn’t he?

“I was planning on taking a vacation soon, but now I think I’ll pass. Seeing you might just shorten my lifespan,” Abelard quipped before abruptly ending the call.

The matter of Charlene was something he chose to leave unspoken. After all, having everything too easy in life wasn’t always a blessing.

After hanging up, Abelard dialed Charlene’s number. She glanced away from her computer screen at the ringing phone, recognizing his caller ID. Her eyes flickered with curiosity as she answered, “Mr. Ramirez.”

Abelard chuckled warmly and said, “You’re always on the ball, Charlene. I’m guessing you know why I’m calling.”

Charlene nodded and replied, “Yeah, I’ve got a pretty good idea.”

Despite her intuition, Abelard went ahead and asked, “Would you consider proceeding with the collaboration with Dalton? Just think of it as doing your uncle a favor, okay?”

In business, practicality often overrules personal grievances. As long as both parties were sincere about the partnership, even rivals could find a way to work together.

Chapter 220

Charlene and Dalton weren’t exactly sworn enemies. They just had a bit of a disagreement, and Charlene wasn’t one to back down when she knew she was right. But since Abelard had personally stepped in, she figured she could let it slide this time.

“Charlene, don’t rush your decision,” Abelard said gently over the phone. “Take your time, and let me know when you’re ready.”

“Alright,” Charlene replied.

“And about Dalton,” Abelard went on, “just go with what feels right to you. Don’t stress about owing me any favors.”

“I understand,” she assured him.

Abelard chuckled, appreciating her honesty. “Alright then, I won’t keep you any longer. Let’s catch up another time.”

“Sure thing. Goodbye.”

After hanging up, Charlene pondered for a moment before calling Kenton. It took him a good half hour to get back to her.

“What’s up?” he asked.

Charlene clued him in on what was going on. Kenton quickly chimed in, “Abelard doesn’t just do favors for anyone. You might want to think this over.”

Charlene nodded at the phone, feeling reassured by Kenton’s perspective. “Got it. Thanks, Kenton.”

“Anytime.”

With that, Kenton ended the call. Charlene didn’t call Abelard back until the next morning. She figured Abelard knew she’d consult Kenton before making a decision.

When Charlene finally called back, Abelard’s voice was warm. “Thank you for getting back to me, Charlene.”

“No problem at all.”

After they hung up, Abelard sighed contently. His colleague noticed and chuckled, “Mr. Ramirez, what’s on your mind?”

Abelard settled into his chair. “Just thinking I wouldn’t mind having a daughter.”

“At our age? Don’t put your wife through that. You’ve got a son who’s old enough to start a family. You should be thinking about daughters–in–law instead.”

Abelard sighed again, “If only my son were a bit more proactive.”

Later that day, Dalton showed up at PrimeStar. Charlene had already briefed Stewart about Abelard’s involvement.

When Dalton arrived, Stewart kept him waiting for over an hour before finally meeting with him. Dalton’s intent to work with their company was clear; his new proposal was even better than the last. But Stewart’s demeanor remained cool. “Looking forward to working together,” he said, shaking Dalton’s hand.

“Likewise,” Dalton replied. He wasn’t particularly fond of Charlene, but he had no issues with Stewart.

“How about dinner to discuss the details?” Dalton suggested. “Charlene will be joining us, right? Hope that’s not a problem.”

Dalton assumed Stewart’s willingness to collaborate was due to Abelard reaching out to Kenton, who then spoke to Stewart. He couldn’t care less about Charlene. Despite his personal feelings, he was willing to set them aside for the sake of business.

“That’s fine by me, as long as Ms. Ross is okay with it,” Dalton replied.

Stewart nodded, sending someone to fetch Charlene. When she arrived, Dalton expected her to be upset or at least irritated. But Charlene was calm, extending her hand with a composed smile. “Looking forward to working together.”

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