Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 221 to 230) 

Chapter 221

Charlene sat there with an air of calm like she had seen this partnership coming from a mile away.

Dalton didn’t think much of it, assuming Stewart had given her heads-up beforehand.

“Here’s to a successful partnership,” he said coolly

When they arrived at the restaurant and stepped out of the car, Charlene and Stewart were ready to head upstairs. Dalton, however, spotted Thorne and Vesta entering from the other side,

He paused and waved, “Mr. Henderson, Ms. Hawkins,”

Thorne and Vesta noticed them too.

“Mr. Ramirez, Mr. Ferguson,” Thorne replied with a nod.

Stewart’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Mr. Henderson.”

Before Thorne could say anything else, Stewart added, “You guys chat, we’re heading up.”

With that, he and Charlene stepped into the elevator.

Dalton had noticed Stewart’s disdain for Thorne during their previous encounter at Neural Nexus Tech. This time, Stewart didn’t even bother hiding it, which surprised Dalton,

He wasn’t sure what bad blood existed between Stewart and Thorne, but it was clear that Thorne was perfectly polite to Stewart…

As Stewart and Charlene disappeared from view, Thorne and Vesta turned back to Dalton.

Vesta asked, “Mr. Ramirez, are you here with Mr. Ferguson because the contract has been finalized?”

Dalton grinned, “Yeah, it’s all set.”

Dalton’s earlier dealings with PrimeStar hadn’t panned out, and Vesta was aware it was because Charlene was annoyed with him. And now, thanks to Charlene, Stewart was also starting to give Dalton the cold shoulder.

Stewart had been pretty firm about not working with Dalton.

She assumed Dalton would miss out on the PrimeStar deal just like she had, all because of Charlene.

But here Dalton was, having pulled it off.

Did this mean that, in Stewart’s mind, even if Charlene was important when it came to his own interests, he’d put business first?

Maybe Charlene wasn’t as crucial to Stewart as Vesta had thought?

With that thought, Vesta smiled and said, “Congratulations.”

Dalton chuckled at her words, “Thanks.”

Turning to Thorne, Dalton said, “By the way, Mr. Henderson, I’m quite interested in one of your company’s projects. When might you have some time to discuss it?”

Thorne replied, “I’m free over the next few days. Feel free to reach out anytime, Mr. Ramirez.”

Dalton nodded and, after stepping out of the elevator, went his separate way to head for his reserved private dining room.

When he got there, Stewart and Charlene were already ordering.

“Hey, Mr. Ramirez, done chatting?” Stewart greeted with a hint of sarcasm as Dalton took his seat, shifting slightly away from Charlene.

Ignoring Stewart’s tone, Dalton asked, “Is there some sort of beef between you and Mr. Henderson?”

Stewart smirked, “Not just beef, it’s a full-blown feud.”

Dalton was taken aback, “…”

If it were really that serious, Stewart wouldn’t talk about it so lightly.

Realizing Stewart wasn’t keen on elaborating, Dalton didn’t press further. As they huddled over the menu, he offered, “This meal’s on me. Order whatever you like.”

Without lifting his head, Stewart replied, “I know, we’re not planning on holding back.”

Dalton sighed internally.

Once Stewart and Charlene finished ordering, Dalton picked a couple of dishes at random and shifted the conversation to business. Soon, the waiter began bringing in the food.

When Stewart had said they weren’t holding back, Dalton thought he was joking.

But as the table filled up with dishes, and the waiter kept bringing more of the priciest items on the menu, Dalton felt a slight headache coming on.

Ignoring Dalton’s expression, Stewart continued to pile Charlene’s plate high. “Charlene, let’s take our time and enjoy the meal.”

Charlene nodded. “Yeah.”

Chapter 222

Dalton remained silent, lost in thought.

Stewart, on the other hand, seemed to make it his personal mission to put Dalton in an awkward spot.

Truthfully, the money didn’t matter much to either of them; it was just pocket change. As they ate, the talk gradually turned to more serious topics. Charlene sat quietly eating her Caesar salad, only chiming in when needed.

Dalton noticed this and was a bit surprised. Charlene’s comments were always insightful and added value to the discussion.

She seemed to have some real skills, he thought. Initially, Dalton assumed that Charlene was just trying to cozy up to Stewart, playing the subordinate role. But during this dinner, their dynamic seemed to be the opposite.

Perhaps, he mused, this was Charlene’s secret weapon in keeping Stewart so captivated. After all, if she wasn’t talented, how could she hold Stewart’s interest so tightly?

As the meal wound down, Charlene excused herself to the restroom. On her way back, she bumped into Thorne, who was just stepping out of the adjacent men’s room.

Thorne glanced at her but seemed unsure of what to say.

Charlene had no intention of making small talk either. She was about to walk past him when she remembered something. “When can we finally sort out the divorce papers?” she asked.

She knew he was eager to get it done, probably more so than she was. So she hadn’t bothered to ask before. But it had been a while now.

Thorne replied. “It’ll take a little more time.”

“No specific date?”

“I’ll let you know once it’s set.”

Charlene nodded, ready to leave when Thorne added, “My grandmother knows about the divorce now.”

Charlene shrugged. “That’s probably for the best.”

At least there’d be no more awkward matchmaking attempts. No more pretending for her.

“Yeah,” Thorne agreed.

They walked in silence for a bit, side by side. Suddenly, someone came barreling around the corner.

Charlene and Thorne quickly stepped aside to dodge a collision. Despite their efforts, Charlene was still bumped and ended up pressed against Thorne. He instinctively steadied her by wrapping his hand around her waist.

“Sorry!” the person called out, rushing into the restroom.

As soon as she realized what happened, Charlene tried to pull away from Thorne’s embrace, but just then, Dalton appeared from around the corner.

He stopped abruptly, taking in Charlene pressed against Thorne and Thorne’s arm around her. “You two-”

Thorne released Charlene immediately.

Charlene stepped aside, putting distance between herself and Thorne. Without meeting either man’s eyes, she turned and walked away.

Dalton watched her go and then turned his attention back to Thorne.

Thorne gave a casual smile. “Mr. Ramirez, just heading to the restroom?”

Dalton’s voice was cool. “…Yes.”

With a nod, Thorne walked away as well.

Dalton stood there, lips pressed into a thin line.

He never really thought about Charlene and Thorne in the same context. All he knew was they had crossed paths at Neural Nexus Tech, though they’d barely spoken, given Charlene’s relatively low rank at PrimeStar.

Then there was that recent gala.

Thorne had approached Charlene at the gala just because of Vesta, right? They didn’t have any other connection, or so he thought. But the scene he just witnessed made him question everything.

Chapter 223

Charlene had been back in the private dining room for a while before Dalton finally returned.

They had just about finished their meal, so they left the restaurant.

Dalton headed back to the office to prepare some documents, while Charlene and Stewart returned to PrimeStar.

Around three in the afternoon, Granger arrived at PrimeStar almost simultaneously with Dalton.

They had shared a meal before during the Neural Nexus Tech’s driverless vehicle testing.

Upon seeing each other again, Dalton greeted him, “Mr. Harden, have you also decided to collaborate with PrimeStar?”

“Yes, indeed. So, I take it Mr. Ramirez is ready to sign as well?”

“Exactly.”

Granger was taken aback. After all, at the gala, Stewart had flat–out turned down Dalton. Yet here they were, going ahead with the partnership.

He couldn’t help but wonder…

At that moment, Charlene and Stewart entered the reception area. Although Stewart wasn’t particularly fond of either Granger or Dalton, it was clear that Granger had a much friendlier demeanor towards Charlene than

Dalton did.

So, when it came to negotiations, Stewart had Charlene talk with Granger. Meanwhile, he handled things with Dalton.

Dalton had no objections to this arrangement, but Granger…

Granger smiled warmly, “I’ll be in your capable hands, Ms. Ross.”

Charlene nodded, “No need for formalities, Mr. Harden. Please, this way.”

Once seated, Charlene engaged in a technical discussion with Granger’s team.

By the time they wrapped up, night had fallen.

As they exited the meeting room, Granger suggested, “Ms. Ross, care to join me for dinner?”

Charlene replied, “I have some things to attend to, but let me check with Stewart-”

Just then, Stewart appeared from another room and joined in, “Dinner? Sounds great.” He then turned to Charlene, “Go ahead and run your errands. I’ve got things covered here.”

Charlene nodded, exchanged a few friendly words with Granger, avoided Dalton’s look, and left.

Granger was momentarily taken aback.

Stewart turned to Dalton, “Mr. Harden is treating us to dinner. Care to join, Mr. Ramirez?”

Dalton shrugged, “Sure, why not.”

After leaving PrimeStar, Charlene headed back to the Ross family estate.
Her purpose for this visit was to discuss business matters with her uncle, Vernon.

PrimeStar was currently preparing two major projects, each segmented and outsourced in parts. She had Intentionally reserved one segment for Vernon’s company to handle.

Upon hearing her proposal, Vernon was intrigued.

“Are you sure Stewart won’t have any issues with this?”

“He’s fine with it; we’ve already discussed it.”

“Alright then.” Vernon nodded, though he added, “But my company is low on liquid assets. I’m afraid…”

“I’ve got over ten million on hand.” Charlene assured him, “If that’s not enough, we can always auction off those gifts Thorne gave Grandma for her birthday.”

During Helena’s birthday, the two projects they were working on were nearly finalized. Charlene had taken those gifts with a purpose in mind.

Since she and Thorne were on the brink of divorce, he didn’t mind her auctioning off his gifts.

Still…

“With Thorne’s extensive connections, if he finds out we’re auctioning off his gifts, won’t he…”

“He won’t mind.”

With her assurance, Vernon was at ease.

Charlene had over ten million, and the auction of those gifts could fetch around thirty million. With Vernon’s contributions, they could raise close to fifty million, which should suffice.

If not…Charlene glanced toward the villa across the street.

The next afternoon, Vernon made arrangements to send the items to the auction house.

Chapter 224

It wasn’t long before Thorne received a call from the auction house.

Upon receiving the news, he remained composed and said, “Alright, got it.”

On the other end, they asked, “Would you like us to hold onto these items for you?”

Thorne replied, “No need.”

They didn’t press further and quickly hung up the phone.

Sitting next to him, enjoying their meal, Vesta asked, “Something up at the office?”

Thorne slipped his phone back into his pocket and said, “No, just a call from the auction house.”

Vesta was just about to chuckle and say something when Jasmine piped up, “What’s an auction house?”

Thorne, holding his knife and fork, cut into a piece of steak and said, “It’s where they auction off treasures.”

“Treasure? What kind of treasures? Is it fun?”

Vesta laughed, “Oh, it’s quite interesting. Haven’t you been to one, Minnie?”

Jasmine shook her head, “Nope.”

She asked again, “Are there lots of treasures there?”

Thorne nodded, “Yes.”

“Then I want to check out an auction house too!”

Vesta said, “But the things there might not be what you like.”

“Oh…”

Hearing this, Jasmine lost interest.

Thorne said, “You can still go and help with the bidding.”

“Bidding?”

“Yeah.”

Thorne set down his utensils and picked up her tablet to explain how auctions work. After watching for a bit, Jasmine found the idea of bidding fascinating and immediately got excited. She turned to her dad and said, “I want to try it, Dad. Will you take me?”

“Sure, next time we’ll go, and you can bid on anything you like.”

“Yay!”

Vesta smiled and let the conversation flow.

The next day, Dalton arrived early at Neural Nexus Tech.

When he got there, both Vesta and Thorne were already in.

Seeing Vesta, Dalton paused, “Ms. Hawkins, you’re here too?”

“Yes, I’m still handling the project I led before.”

Dalton smiled, “I see.”

He had thought that after her family took on the new project from The Henderson Group, she’d be back helping out with her family’s business.

Thorne chimed in, “Mr. Ramirez, please have a seat.”

Dalton glanced at Thorne and remembered seeing him with his arms around Charlene at the restaurant the other day. He paused briefly before taking a seat.

Putting personal matters aside, he focused on discussing work with Thorne.

Vesta listened for a while, but, as she had other things to attend to, she excused herself.

However, she returned over an hour later to take a break and enjoy some coffee brewed by Thorne’s secretary.

Thorne and Dalton were still deep in conversation when Thorne received another call.

Excusing himself with a nod to Dalton, Thorne left to take the call.

Watching him leave, Dalton glanced at Vesta and was reminded of the scene with Thorne and Charlene…

“Mr. Ramirez, do you have something to say to me?”

Dalton’s hesitation was evident.

He shook his head, “Just noticing how well Mr. Henderson treats you.”

He hadn’t fully grasped the situation from that day, and speaking out of turn seemed unwise.

Besides, whether it was Thorne reviving a stalled project at Neural Nexus Tech to help her grow, introducing her to valuable contacts, or even launching a new project at The Henderson Group for her…

Thorne’s kindness towards her was clear for all to see. Dalton recognized it well and wondered if he could ever be as generous and supportive if he were in Thorne’s position.

Chapter 225

Thorne’s feelings for her were something he never doubted. So, that scene was probably just a misunderstanding.

Friday morning, right after Charlene woke up, she received a call from Helena inviting her to join her at an art exhibition by Campbell Watson, York’s grandpa, on Sunday morning.

Helena is a devoted fan of Campbell, the renowned painter.

The last time Campbell held an exhibition was over a decade ago.

Such an opportunity was rare, so Charlene agreed, “Sure, I’ll go with you on Sunday.”

No sooner had she hung up than Jasmine called her.

This was the first time Jasmine had called since attending a parent-child activity at her school on Monday.

Charlene decided not to pick up.

On Saturday afternoon, she headed over to the Ross family for dinner. Sunday morning arrived, and she set out with Helena to the exhibition.

As they reached the venue and Charlene stepped out of the car, she noticed Stewart’s car pulling in as well.

Charlene was somewhat surprised, “Stewart?”

Stewart, equally taken aback, replied, “Charlene, Helena, you’re here too?”

“Yes.” Helena chuckled, “Are you interested in art too, Stewart?”

Stewart explained, “Not really, I’m here to deliver a gift from my family to Mr. Campbell…”

Campbell was a famous artist, and the Watson family was quite prominent. Whenever Campbell held an exhibition, everyone from their social circle came to show support, and even those unfamiliar with them tried to forge connections.

It was said that whenever Campbell held an exhibition, not only did the paintings sell, but the gifts he received were worth a fortune.

The Watson family certainly didn’t need the money.

In frustration, Campbell hadn’t held an exhibition for over a decade.

The Ferguson family didn’t need to curry favor with the Watsons.

Ever since Stewart’s father’s generation, the relationship between the Fergusons and the Watsons had been. somewhat distant, but the two family elders maintained a good friendship.

Now that Mr. Campbell was hosting an exhibition after many years, Stewart’s grandfather wasn’t keen on the commotion but wanted to show his support, so he sent Stewart with a gift. Stewart was surprised to find Charlene and Helena there too.

Back when Campbell held exhibitions, the halls were always packed. Now, with the Watson family still thriving and Campbell returning after so long, Stewart could only imagine how lively the exhibition would be.

This meant that people like Thorne, Vesta, and the Hawkins family might also show up.

Charlene was just a kid the last time Campbell held an exhibition. Over the years, she’d heard little about him and didn’t know much about such events.

Seeing Stewart’s slightly concerned demeanor, she asked, “What’s up?”

Stewart laughed it off, “Nothing. Wait for me, I’ll park the car, and we can go in together.”

“Alright.”

Once Stewart parked, the three of them–Charlene, Helena, and Stewart–entered the exhibition hall.

As Stewart expected, the massive three-story venue was already bustling with people.

They barely had time to admire the artwork or accompany Stewart in greeting the Watsons before they ran into the Hawkins and Spencer families.

Katie Hawkins and Georgina Spencer were there, their faces bright with smiles as they chatted with others.

Seeing Charlene and Helena, Katie and Georgina weren’t surprised.

After all, they knew Helena loved Campbell’s work, and with the rare chance of an exhibition, there was no way Helena would miss it.

Chapter 226

Charlene gripped Helena’s arm tightly.

Helena calmly patted the back of her hand and said, “It’s okay.”

If they could guess she would come, how could she not guess they would be here too?

Stewart suggested, “Helena, I’m going inside to find Campbell. Why don’t you and Charlene come with me?”

He was offering to introduce her to Campbell, giving her a chance to chat with her idol.

Helena shook her head and waved off the idea, saying, “Just being able to see all these paintings at once is a treat. I don’t want to trouble him.”

With Helena’s decision made, Stewart had to let it go. Still, with the Hawkins and Spencer families present, he felt a bit uneasy leaving them.

Charlene reassured him, “Go ahead. Don’t worry about us.”

The Hawkins and Spencer families were proud folks, and in such a setting, they wouldn’t dare cause trouble.

So Stewart left.

Charlene asked, “Grandma, which painting would you like to see first?”

Helena smiled, “Let’s start with the closest one.”

“Alright,” Charlene agreed.

Right as Charlene was getting ready to lead Helena away, Dalton and Kelvin showed up. They spotted Charlene right away.

Kelvin, with an unyielding interest in Charlene, considered approaching her for a chat. But Dalton furrowed his brows instinctively.

Charlene ignored them and turned to walk away.

Helena asked, “Do you know those two young men?”

“Just some business acquaintances,” Charlene replied, not offering more detail.

At that moment, Henley and Maureen Spencer arrived. Seeing Dalton, they were about to greet him when Dalton spoke first, “Mr. Hawkins, Mrs. Hawkins, you’re here too?”

“Yes,” Henley replied.

As Henley was about to say more, Katie and Georgina approached them. “Henley, Maureen, do you know these young gentlemen?”

They had noticed a familiarity between Charlene and Dalton.

Henley chuckled, “This is Mr. Ramirez, a friend of Vesta and Thorne.”

“Ah, I see.”

After exchanging greetings with the Hawkins and Spencer families, Dalton and Kelvin headed inside to present their gifts.

Upon entering, they noticed Stewart and weren’t surprised. “Mr. Ferguson, you’re here too?”

They had come under their elders‘ instructions, hence the formal address.

Stewart smirked, “Yeah.”

Then York appeared, handing a cup of coffee to Stewart, and glanced at Dalton. “You guys made it?”

“Yeah,” Dalton replied. “Where’s your grandpa?”

“He’s inside chatting with others. It’ll be a while before he’s done. Want to have a seat?”

Dalton took a seat. “Sure.”

But Stewart was anxious about Charlene and Helena, frequently checking the time.

York noticed and asked, “Mr. Ferguson, are you in a hurry?”

Stewart hesitated, “Not really, just have something on my mind.”

It seemed impolite to leave without seeing Campbell first. Yet, his concern got the better of him. “Sorry, Mr. Watson, I need to step out for a bit.”

York nodded, “No problem.”

Stewart promptly left.

Watching him go, Dalton quickly guessed he was probably off to find Charlene.

York suggested, “My grandpa will take some time with his conversation. Why don’t you both get some fresh air outside?”

Chapter 227

Dalton remembered that Henley had mentioned Vesta and Thorne would be coming too.

He stood up and said, “Alright, once your grandpa finishes up, shoot me a text, will you?”

“Sure thing,” Kelvin replied.

With that, Dalton and Kelvin headed out first.

Just as they reached outside, Granger and Moran arrived.

The Hawkins and Spencer families immediately went to greet them.

Granger shook hands with Henley.

Moran looked around. “Where are Thorne and Vesta? Haven’t they-”

Before she could finish, she spotted Charlene.

“Damn!”

She actually showed up too.

Granger, puzzled by Moran’s reaction, followed her gaze and also saw Charlene. His eyes darkened a bit.

Just as Stewart was heading towards Charlene and Helena, Granger turned to Moran and Henley and said, ‘I’m going to go say hi over there.” And with that, he walked away.

“Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Ross,” Stewart and Charlene turned around at the sound of his voice.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Harden,” Stewart said with a nod.

Hearing the name Harden, Helena recalled something Carl and Vernon had mentioned before, and she gave Granger a curious glance.

Noticing the closeness between Charlene and Helena, Granger quickly guessed Helena’s identity. He greeted her respectfully, “You must be Helena. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hello, Mr. Harden,” Helena replied with a warm smile.

The Hawkins and Spencer families had assumed Granger was off to greet someone of great importance.

To their surprise, it turned out to be just Stewart and Charlene.

While they could understand Stewart’s presence, Charlene and Helena were a different story.

Seeing Granger treating Charlene and Helena with such respect, Georgina’s eyes flickered as she glanced at Moran and asked, “Mr. Albright, over there…”

Moran explained, “Granger’s involved in some significant business dealings with Stewart. Charlene has quite a bit of influence at PrimeStar now. Previously, Stewart had considered canceling the collaboration with Granger because of Charlene. For the sake of business, Granger had to set aside personal grievances and maintain a cordial relationship with Charlene for the time being.”

Katie and Georgina nodded, finally understanding. They were well aware of PrimeStar’s significance.

After all, the Hawkins family once sought collaboration with PrimeStar.

However, Charlene had been the reason it fell through, leaving them with a bit of resentment towards her.

This explained why they didn’t suspect anything more about Granger’s polite demeanor toward Charlene and Helena.

Rhoda, holding Georgina’s hand, whispered, “Who would have thought Mr. Ferguson is quite taken with Charlene.”

She wasn’t too thrilled seeing Charlene being so favored by Stewart.

Georgina, on the other hand, remained composed. “No rush.”

Charlene and Stewart’s situation was still budding.

Once Thorne actually went through with the divorce, Charlene would be a divorced woman. The Ferguson family would hardly welcome a woman who’d been married and had kids.

These good days for Charlene wouldn’t last long.

Just then, Leah showed up. She hadn’t planned on coming since she wasn’t really interested in the art exhibit. But, it had been a while since she last saw Granger.

After hearing from Vesta that Granger would be attending, she dressed up and decided to make an appearance.

Upon arrival, she exchanged pleasantries with her family and Moran. Just as she was about to ask Moran if Granger had shown up, she turned slightly and spotted Granger chatting with Charlene not too far away.

Chapter 228

When Leah saw Granger actually talking to Charlene, her eyes widened with surprise. She couldn’t help but ask Moran, “Why on earth is Granger talking to her?”

Before Moran could respond, Leah was already making her way over.

Maureen gently held her back and said, “They’re discussing business.”

“Business?”

“Yeah.”

Leah pursed her lips and huffed, trying to suppress her curiosity, though her eyes stayed glued to Charlene and Granger’s conversation.

Charlene was wearing a chic winter dress that day. Even without any special effort, she stood out effortlessly. Standing next to Granger, they looked surprisingly well–matched.

Leah knew there was nothing between them, but it still made her uneasy.

She tugged on Moran’s sleeve, unable to resist asking, “Moran, what are they talking about? Why’s it taking so long?”

Leah’s feelings for Granger were pretty much an open secret.

Moran, who had known Granger for years, knew all too well that Granger wasn’t a fan of her slightly spoiled, high–maintenance personality. Plus, Granger had rejected her quite clearly.

He chuckled, “It’s just small talk, you know how these things go.”

“Can’t they discuss business during the workweek?”

Moran wasn’t eager to continue the conversation. He was hoping to head inside and grab a cup of coffee, but Granger wasn’t back yet.

Just then, Thorne and Vesta finally arrived.

Moran waved them over, “Over here!”

Seeing them, Henley and his crew broke into welcoming smiles.

“Thorne, Vesta, you made it!”

Thorne nodded in augment but then noticed Charlene and Granger across the room.

As the Hawkins and Spencer families observed him, curious about his reaction, Thorne simply looked away and said, “I should go say hello.”

Georgina and Maureen exchanged a glance.

Thorne walked off.

Vesta, still smiling, remarked, “Irma has good relations with them. Even if they’re divorced, it’s not like they’re going to make a scene.”

When they ran into each other outside, a polite greeting was expected. Anything more than that was off the table.

Georgina and the others relaxed at this.

They had been worried…

Vesta glanced over at them and then nonchalantly turned her attention back.

Charlene, facing Henley and the others, noticed when Thorne and Vesta arrived.

She hadn’t expected Thorne to head her way.

She furrowed her brow slightly.

“Mrs. Ross.” Thorne first greeted Helena.

Helena, who had been all smiles earlier, Immediately wore a more serious expression when he approached. “Mr. Henderson.”

Thorne wasn’t bothered by the chilly reception. He nodded at Charlene. Charlene turned away, ignoring him.

As Vesta had mentioned, Thorne just wanted to say hello. After that, he was ready to leave.

Before departing, he glanced at Granger, silently asking if he wanted to come along.

Granger told Helena and Stewart, “I’ve got to go, but let’s catch up next time.”

Stewart waved him off with a hint of annoyance.

Helena, however, nodded politely, “Sure, let’s chat again soon.”

With that, Granger and Thorne turned and headed back to the Hawkins and Spencer families.

Chapter 229

“Granger,” Leah called out sweetly as soon as she saw Granger return.

Granger nodded coolly in response.

Seeing Thorne looking around, Maureen mentioned, “Vesta just got a call and stepped outside to take it.”

“Alright, got it,” Thorne replied.

Just then, a stir broke out among the nearby crowd.

It seemed Campbell had emerged from the room, accompanied by members of the Watson family, including Hickey, York, and others.

The place was packed, and once everyone settled down, Campbell began speaking, expressing his gratitude to everyone who had come.

Charlene and Stewart stood further back in the crowd, but Hickey noticed them nonetheless.

Stewart was there to present a gift on behalf of the Ferguson family patriarch, which York had already informed them about. However, Hickey hadn’t expected Charlene to be there as well.

Seeing Charlene, Hickey nodded and smiled at her.

Charlene, unaware of the connection between Hickey and Campbell, returned the smile politely.

Although the folks from the Hawkins and Spencer families saw Hickey greeting someone, they couldn’t quite tell who it was.

Once Campbell finished his speech, the room erupted in applause. Soon, guests started approaching Campbell to discuss his artwork, while others greeted Hickey and his group.

With so many attendees, it took a while before Granger and Thorne made their way over to speak with Campbell.

Accepting their gift, Campbell said, “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

His gaze shifted among Thorne, Granger, and Dalton, and he chuckled, “It’s been a few years, but you young folks are looking sharper than ever. Well done.”

As Campbell chatted with Thorne and his friends, Hickey worked his way through the crowd, greeting other guests and gradually making his way toward Charlene and Stewart.

Upon reaching them, Stewart was the first to greet him.

After exchanging pleasantries with Stewart, Hickey turned to Charlene and said, “Charlene, we meet again.”

“Hello, Hickey,” Charlene replied with a smile.

Hickey broke into a grin and, once he learned who Helena was, he greeted her politely.

Hearing Charlene mention Helena’s admiration for his father’s paintings, Hickey said, “If you don’t mind, Mrs. Ross, I’d love for you to come inside and take a closer look. Despite the crowd, true appreciators of my father’s art are rare, so knowing there’s someone like you who truly understands would surely make him very happy.”

Though Hickey had deliberately come over to speak with Charlene, to others, it appeared as though he was simply making the rounds and happened to reach Stewart.

Everyone assumed Hickey was showing respect to the Ferguson family by speaking with Charlene.

Meanwhile, as Thorne was chatting with Mr. Campbell, his phone rang. Apologizing, he stepped away to take the call.

After some time, Vesta returned from her call. With her striking appearance and demeanor, she stood out as she joined Dalton and Granger. Campbell noticed her at once.

Thinking she might be Granger or Dalton’s girlfriend, Campbell was just about to ask when Dalton, noticing Granger hadn’t made the introductions, stepped in and said, “Campbell, this is Vesta. She’s Mr. Henderson’s girlfriend.”

“So, you’re Thorne’s girlfriend,” Campbell chuckled, “A fine match, indeed.”

Chapter 230

“Thank you,” Vesta said politely, a smile playing on her lips.

Campbell glanced at Granger, Dalton, and York, chuckling, “You guys better step up your game too.”

Just then, Hickey arrived with Charlene and Stewart in tow.

Turning to Campbell, he said, “Father, this is the youngest of the Ferguson family. His company, PrimeStar, has been doing exceptionally well lately and is one of the key enterprises our country plans to support in the coming years.”

He gestured towards Charlene, adding, “And this is Charlene, the core tech developer at PrimeStar. She’s a rare talent in the tech field, and PrimeStar’s success is closely tied to her contributions.”

The older generation, always invested in the nation’s future, seemed genuinely pleased. Campbell’s smile softened as he remarked, “It’s wonderful to see such outstanding talent in our country. The future certainly looks promising.”

Hickey went on to introduce Helena, and soon Campbell and Helena were deep in conversation about art.

Helena, coming from a family steeped in the arts, often spent her time at home painting. While she might not be on par with renowned artists like Campbell, she had a solid understanding and genuine passion for it, and their talk was lively and engaging.

Meanwhile, Vesta picked up on how Hickey’s introduction of Charlene echoed the way Stewart had introduced her at an earlier event. She figured Hickey must have been taken with Stewart’s commendations and was now singing Charlene’s praises in the same way.

Georgina and the Hawkins family weren’t present at the last event and were unaware of Stewart’s earlier commendations for Charlene. Now, hearing Hickey’s lavish praise, Rhoda nudged Vesta and whispered, “Is Charlene really that impressive?”

Vesta chuckled dismissively, “Not quite.”

Recalling Stewart’s words from the last event, she explained, “Charlene only joined PrimeStar a few months ago. How much could she have contributed to its current success? Stewart’s fondness for her is genuine, though. He’s willing to share his achievements with her.”

“Ah, I see. I thought she was truly remarkable,” Rhoda mused.

Vesta shrugged lightly, “She’s just an undergraduate.”

“Exactly. Whether it’s her school or qualifications, she’s far behind you. The way Mr. Watson praised her, you’d think she was more accomplished than Stewart,” Rhoda said with a hint of disbelief.

Maureen, overhearing Vesta, resumed her previously cool demeanor.

A short while later, Thorne returned. Seeing Charlene and Helena at the forefront, he glanced at them briefly before shifting his gaze away.

Vesta greeted him with a smile, “Finished your call?”

“Probably more to come later,” Thorne replied.

“Business overseas?” she inquired.

“Yeah,” he nodded.

While chatting, Granger shifted his focus to Charlene, noticing she was completely disinterested in Thorne and Vesta. It appeared she really wasn’t concerned about Thorne anymore.

The Spencer family seemed relieved, smiles breaking on their faces. Despite Charlene and Helena’s current favor with Campbell, it didn’t improve the Ross family’s situation. After all, it wasn’t like the Watson family would orchestrate a match between Charlene and York. That was clearly out of the question.

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