Chapter 281
Vesta watched the scene unfold, not really bothered by it.
Granger’s softened attitude towards Charlene was purely for the sake of maintaining good relations with PrimeStar.
Moran shared the same thoughts as Vesta.
This marked the third time Jacques had laid eyes on Charlene.
He casually remarked, “So, that lady is Granger’s girlfriend, huh?”
“Whoa,” Moran almost choked on his coffee. “What girlfriend? They’re not even a thing. Don’t jump to conclusions.”
Jacques had just arrived in Starfall and was clueless about the dynamics.
Moran and Vesta simply assumed Jacques thought Charlene, with her striking looks, made a good pair with Granger, hence his assumption.
“Alright then,” Jacques shrugged.
Earlier, Granger had seemed entirely engrossed in the lady after she appeared. Jacques figured they must be an item.
Yet, even if they weren’t an official couple, Granger clearly had an interest in her, right?
Granger, aware of Vesta and Moran’s glances, glanced at his watch. With the meeting time approaching, he bid Charlene a quick goodbye but remembered something. “You’re not going to the Neural Nexus Tech gala in a few days, right?”
Charlene confirmed, “Right.”
Having received her answer, Granger felt a slight pang in his chest. He nodded and turned away without further comment.
As Granger returned to Moran’s side, Thorne arrived.
His eyes briefly landed on Charlene, who was busy at work. But he quickly averted his gaze and said to Moran and Granger, “It’s about time. Let’s head upstairs for the meeting.”
Granger noticed Thorne’s indifference towards Charlene. He lowered his gaze.
Before heading upstairs, Thorne asked Jacques, “Been to my office yet?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ve got some snacks set up for you. If you get bored, feel free to drop by and grab a bite.”
Though only a few days had passed, Thorne and Jacques seemed to have struck a good rapport.
After the lunchtime meeting, the Neural Nexus Tech executives gathered for a meal. Vesta and Jacques, though not part of the executive team, rode with Thorne to the venue due to their close ties.
Granger, glancing up at the Neural Nexus Tech building, recalled Charlene’s presence and asked Moran, “When are Thorne and Charlene finalizing their divorce?”
Moran, assuming Granger was merely curious about Thorne and Vesta’s relationship, replied, “It could’ve been done earlier, but there were issues with a company share transfer under Thorne’s name. Once that’s sorted, it should be finalized soon.”
Granger nodded, “Got it.”
Later, Charlene had lunch with the Neural Nexus Tech staff in their cafeteria. After a brief break, she resumed. work. By mid–afternoon, she wrapped up at Neural Nexus Tech and headed back to PrimeStar.
On the day of The Harden Group gala, Charlene and Stewart finished up at work before driving over together.
When Granger heard they had arrived, he went out to greet them. However, the moment he laid eyes on Charlene, he stopped in his tracks. She wore a stunning blue–violet off–shoulder gown that accentuated her porcelain skin and graceful demeanor, making her look more captivating than ever.
Granger took it all in, thinking she looked more enchanting than he’d ever seen her before.
In just a couple of seconds, he masked his thoughts and approached them politely, “Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Ross.”
Charlene and Stewart responded, “Mr. Harden.”
After a brief exchange, Thorne and Vesta arrived.
Vesta was in a striking white gown, adorned with dazzling jewelry, clearly of high value.
Her appearance was impressive. However, upon seeing Charlene, she hesitated.
Charlene, undeniably, looked even more radiant than before.
Despite this, Vesta remained composed and confident.
Charlene’s beauty, though remarkable, was merely skin–deep.
Vesta knew she offered more than just appearances.
She shifted her gaze to Thorne beside her.
Noticing Thorne glance at Charlene only momentarily before looking away, Vesta smiled subtly.
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As Granger’s eyes landed on Charlene amidst the bustling party scene, he noticed her calm demeanor even as Thorne and Vesta approached. With a slight, knowing smile, he said, “I’ll be right back.”
Charlene and Stewart nodded in acknowledgment.
Granger exchanged a few words with Thorne and Vesta before Dalton arrived. Spotting Vesta, Dalton instinctively gravitated towards her.
“Ms. Hawkins,” he greeted her with a polite nod.
“Mr. Ramirez,” she replied, returning his smile.
Dalton had been swamped with work lately, and seeing Vesta after this hiatus brought a familiar admiration to his eyes. He subtly took in her presence before turning to greet Granger and Thorne.
PrimeStar was currently a vital partner for The Ramirez Group, and Dalton was well aware of the stakes. After a brief chat with Granger, he made his way over to Stewart, initiating a greeting.
Once done, Dalton turned to Charlene, addressing her with a measured, “Ms. Ross.”
Charlene responded with a silent smile.
The invitations for PrimeStar’s gala had been distributed, but The Ramirez Group had been noticeably excluded. Dalton only discovered this oversight earlier that evening.
It seemed likely that PrimeStar wouldn’t attend The Ramirez Group’s upcoming event either.
This realization brought a frown to Dalton’s face.
Charlene and Stewart seemed to have little interest in engaging with him further. Stewart remarked, “Mr. Ramirez, we’re off to catch up with some old friends. Feel free to mingle.”
Before Dalton could respond, they turned and left. He knew well enough that they weren’t keen on extending the conversation.
Despite his genuine desire to forge a better relationship with Stewart, it was apparent that Stewart had no intention of reciprocating. His dislike for Dalton was barely disguised.
Dalton pursed his lips, feeling a bit miffed but without grounds to press the matter, he watched them disappear into the crowd.
In recent months, PrimeStar had been all the rage. Many attendees flocked to greet Charlene and Stewart, including several business partners PrimeStar had been courting.
Since PrimeStar’s product launch, Charlene had been the driving force behind many negotiations, earning her a formidable reputation. So much so, that several partners had made discreet attempts to lure her away to their companies. But Charlene, steadfast in her loyalty, declined each offer with grace.
Those who had attempted to poach her bore no ill will, maintaining a cordial respect towards her. One such entrepreneur, Mr. Sanderson, couldn’t resist making another pitch, this time in Stewart’s presence. “Ms. Ross, our company is a well–regarded name, offering excellent benefits and a lot of freedom. Name your terms; we can negotiate.”
Stewart rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed.
Charlene, with a warm smile, gently declined, “I have no plans to leave PrimeStar at the moment, but thank you for the offer, Mr. Sanderson.”
Though rejected again, Mr. Sanderson sighed, undeterred.
Later, as he lamented his missed opportunity, a fellow guest inquired, “Sanderson, what’s with the long face? You look like you just missed out on a fortune.”
Mr. Sanderson chuckled ruefully, “Well, I might as well have
Seeing no competitive threat, he confided, “I found an extraordinary talent, but no matter how I try, she won’t budge,”
“And who might that be?” the guest asked, curious,
“PrimeStar’s Ms. Ross.”
“Really? She seems quite young. Is she really that impressive?
“She truly is.”
Even his top–tier technical team, all young prodigies in their field, sang Charlene’s praises after working with her, a testament to her exceptional skills.
Unaware of the accolades Charlene was receiving, Vesta was engaged in a conversation with Lanny.
Dalton, after briefly mingling, noticed Vesta standing alone and approached her.
“Mr. Ramirez,” Vesta greeted him with a soft smile.
Dalton nodded, turning to the gentleman beside her. “And you are?
Vesta introduced Lanny, explaining, “He’s my mentor. I’ve been learning a lot under his guidance.”
She had previously expressed her ambition to become Kenton’s student and had been working tirelessly towards that goal.
Seeing her dedication, Dalton took a step back and said, “TII leave you to it, then.”
Vesta nodded, her focus immediately returning to Lanny.
Captivated by her unwavering concentration, Dalton found it hard to tear his gaze away. Just then, someone came over to engage him in conversation, and Dalton excused himself.
A little later, as Dalton made his way to the restroom, he paused at the sight of Charlene and Thome. The memory of seeing them in a close embrace a couple of months ago resurfaced vividly in his mind.
Before he could fully process it, he saw Thorne hand Charlene a slice of cake. Dalton, lips pressed into a thin line, headed over to join them.
Charlene didn’t reach out to take it.
As Thorne approached, he spotted Dalton and turned around, saying, “Mr. Ramirez.”
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Dalton casually asked, “What are you guys chatting about?”
Thorne chuckled, “We haven’t even started yet.”
Dalton listened but didn’t say anything. Charlene didn’t bother to greet him and simply turned away, leaving the conversation hanging.
Noticing Thorne holding two glasses, Dalton asked, “What’s this?”
Thorne replied, “Some cocktails I had specially made. Care to try one, Mr. Ramirez?”
Dalton paused, “And the other one’s for Ms. Hawkins?”
“Exactly.”
Just as Dalton was about to speak, Thorne suddenly said, “Excuse me for a moment, Mr. Ramirez. Feel free to mingle.”
Dalton frowned and glanced in the direction Thorne headed, spotting Vesta standing with Stewart. Charlene was making her way towards them.
Dalton was taken aback for a moment.
It seemed Thorne was rushing over to make sure Vesta wasn’t being hassled by Charlene and Stewart.
With that thought, Dalton furrowed his brow and decided to follow suit.
Vesta had just arrived herself and hadn’t even started a conversation with Stewart before Charlene returned.
Unperturbed, Vesta ignored Charlene’s presence, addressing Stewart, “Mr. Ferguson-”
“You’re back?” Stewart interrupted, ignoring Vesta and turning to Charlene, “Everything alright?”
He had seen Thorne heading towards Charlene earlier and planned to follow, but Vesta sidetracked him.
Charlene shook her head, “All good.”
As Thorne had mentioned earlier, there wasn’t much time for things to escalate as Dalton had joined them shortly after.
So naturally, nothing significant had transpired.
Thorne and Dalton approached just then.
Handing the other drink to Vesta, Thorne asked, “What are we discussing?”
When Vesta saw Thorne, her expression softened. She accepted the drink he offered and smiled, saying, “I was hoping to ask Mr. Ferguson some questions, but I haven’t had the chance yet.”
Thorne nodded and looked at Stewart, “Would Mr. Ferguson be available for dinner sometime?”
It was a subtle invitation for Stewart to chat with Vesta alone.
Charlene’s gaze turned icy at this.
Stewart let out a humorless laugh, replying coldly, “Sorry, I don’t have time.”
With that, he turned to Charlene, “Shall we go, Charlene?”
Charlene nodded and, without another glance at the group, turned to leave.
Dalton had been slightly worried about any possible entanglements between Thorne and Charlene. But seeing Thorne’s concern for Vesta and his attempt to arrange a meeting with Stewart put his mind at ease.
There wasn’t any real animosity between Stewart and Vesta.
Stewart was Charlene’s main support.
If Thorne could bridge the gap between Vesta and Stewart, Charlene would lose her leverage.
This would indeed be beneficial for Vesta.
As they walked away, Stewart clicked his tongue and asked Charlene, “You sure you’re okay?”
Charlene nodded, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Compared to things in the past, what Thorne did was hardly significant.
Stewart asked, “Heading home?”
They had planned to leave anyway.
They just hadn’t expected such an incident to occur before their departure.
Charlene agreed, “Sure.“”
Before leaving, they made sure to say goodbye to Granger.
Granger was surprised they were leaving so soon. But he could tell Charlene wasn’t one for socializing.
Knowing her preference, he didn’t press her, “Let me see you out.”
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Three days after The Harden Group’s gala, PrimeStar hosted their own soirée.
Granger showed up pretty early that evening.
Without the likes of Vesta, Thorne, or Dalton around, the PrimeStar event went off without a hitch.
The party was bustling with guests.
Charlene and Stewart were quite occupied, not having much time to pay special attention to Granger.
It wasn’t until halfway through the event that they spotted Granger deeply engaged in conversation with Vernon. That’s when it hit them: he hadn’t left early after all. This was particularly notable because the Hawkins family’s gala was also taking place that same night.
They assumed Granger had come early intending to leave midway to attend the Hawkins family event.
But surprisingly, he stuck around.
Stewart, visibly pleased, couldn’t help but remark, “Now that’s what I call valuing a partnership with PrimeStar. Look at Granger as an example. As for Dalton… well, he’s not even worth mentioning.”
Charlene was a bit taken aback as well.
Granger showing such respect meant Charlene and Stewart couldn’t just let him be.
They approached Granger, politely saying, “Mr. Harden, we apologize if the service has been less than perfect with so many guests tonight.”
Throughout the evening, Granger’s attention occasionally drifted to Charlene, though it went unnoticed by everyone else.
Granger clinked glasses with Stewart and Charlene, taking a sip of his wine before replying, “We’re all friends here, no need to be so formal.”
Despite the amiable working relationship they had developed, Stewart never really considered them friends.
He figured Granger’s words were just polite small talk, nothing more.
Nevertheless, Stewart appreciated Granger’s ability to put personal grievances aside for the sake of business.
Even though Granger was conversing with Stewart, his focus was actually on Charlene.
The evening was a big night for both Stewart and Charlene.
Despite Stewart’s protective presence, Charlene ended up drinking quite a bit.
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled, giving her a softer, almost endearing appearance that differed from her usual reserved demeanor.
Granger’s grip on his wine glass tightened as he averted his gaze.
Charlene wasn’t drunk, just slightly tipsy.
As the party wound down, Charlene escorted Granger to the door. In the biting cold, he noticed her slender legs peeking out from beneath her elegant gown. He said, “You don’t have to see me off any further.”
Charlene nodded, “Alright, take care.”
Granger looked at her, as if wanting to say something more, but he paused and decided against it, turning to leave instead.
When all the important guests had departed, Charlene finally got into Vernon’s car and left the hotel.
Granger hadn’t actually left yet.
Concerned that Charlene might have trouble after drinking, he waited to see her safely drive away in Vernon’s car before telling his own driver, “Alright, let’s go.”
The next morning, Charlene woke up and joined Maisie and Helena for breakfast as they discussed getting ready for New Year.
Tomorrow was New Year Eve.
The company was officially on holiday starting today.
Charlene chimed in, “I’ll come with you guys for the shopping.”
Helena smiled warmly, “Great, let’s all go together.”
Her smile faltered slightly as she added, “Charlene, is Minnie spending New Year with the Henderson family this year?”
At the mention of Jasmine, Charlene’s smile faded a bit. She replied, “I guess so.”
The last time she had seen Thorne, in the elevator during a meeting with Teague, he had subtly hinted at wanting her to look after Jasmine. But since that day, neither Thorne nor Jasmine had reached out to her.
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Given the current situation, it’s likely that Jasmine will be spending New Year with the Henderson family.
Helena felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of Jasmine being away and also felt sorry for Charlene.
Charlene, however, remained composed and reassured Helena, saying, “Grandma, I’m alright. As long as Minnie is happy, that’s what matters.”
Helena suspected Charlene was just putting on a brave face to keep her from worrying.
With a quiet sigh, Helena decided not to press the matter further
After breakfast, Charlene and Maisie headed out to do some last–minute New Year shopping.
The shopping district was decked out with festive lights, and familiar carols filled the air, creating a strong holiday spirit.
Maisie and the others had already done a round of shopping, so this trip was more about tying up loose ends.
Children on the street were already donning festive sweaters and holding adorable little Santa lanterns.
Charlene paused, watching a little girl skipping along the street. It reminded her of the New Year outfits she used to buy for Jasmine before she left with Thorne overseas.
Jasmine used to adore those outfits and the little lanterns.
Before, the lanterns were Jasmine’s favorite toys. She could spend hours playing with them, watching the candlelight dance inside.
But that was two years ago.
Since Jasmine left, she spent one New Year abroad with Thorne.
Last year, she returned home. But she no longer took joy in these festive traditions. She found them tacky and refused to wear the clothes.
Charlene didn’t force her. She tried picking out different things, but Jasmine wasn’t interested.
At first, Charlene thought it was a matter of taste, but eventually realized Jasmine simply didn’t want to wear anything she bought.
Charlene shook off the memories and caught up with Helena and Maisie.
When Carl and Nadine learned Charlene and Maisie were out shopping, they secretly messaged her, asking her to pick up some fireworks for New Year’s Eve so they could set them off in the garden.
Charlene read the message, smiled, and replied, “Sure.”
Throughout her marriage to Thorne, he was rarely at Starfall, even during holidays.
Still, after marrying him, she always went back to Henderson Mansion with Jasmine for New Year, even if Thorne wasn’t there.
Reflecting on it, she realized it had been seven years since she last celebrated New Year at the Ross family home.
As she put her phone away, ready to buy some fireworks, it suddenly rang.
It was Stewart calling.
He mentioned he’d purchased a lot of fancy fireworks and offered to send some her way.
Charlene didn’t stand on ceremony and said, “Thanks, Stewart.”
From the sounds of it, Stewart was planning to send plenty, so she decided not to buy any more.
After finishing their shopping and returning home, Charlene’s phone buzzed again.
This time, it was Granger calling.
Charlene paused and answered, “Mr. Harden.”
“I ordered a small batch of fireworks recently, and Daisy suggested I send some your way. Can you send me your address? I’ll have them delivered.”
Charlene hesitated, instinctively refusing, “Mr. Harden, that’s not necessary-”
“Well, then you can call Daisy and tell her that?”
She paused for a moment before saying, “Please thank Daisy for me.”
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Stewart had been to the Ross family’s place, and he personally delivered the fireworks right to their doorstep.
When it came to Granger, Charlene gave him the address near the Ross family’s villa to avoid any unnecessary complications.
It was just after two in the afternoon when Charlene drove over for the meet–up.
Granger had mentioned over the phone that he would send someone to deliver the fireworks to her. But when she parked her car and got out, it was Granger himself she was greeted by.
“Hey, you made it?” Granger asked with a casual smile.
“Yeah…” Charlene replied, nodding slightly.
“Pop the trunk for me.” ”
Charlene did as he asked, and Granger transferred the fireworks and a few holiday gifts into her car.
Looking at the holiday gifts, Charlene couldn’t help but protest, “Oh, you didn’t have to bring these-”
“Daisy insisted I bring them over to you,” Granger interjected with a chuckle.
Charlene was momentarily at a loss for words. Then, she put a small token she’d prepared along with some gifts she’d picked up after lunch into Granger’s car. “These are for Daisy,” she said.
Granger glanced at the items and smiled warmly, “Sounds great.”
Among Charlene’s gifts, he noticed a cute and quirky stuffed rabbit and picked it up, intrigued. “What’s this?”
“It’s a bunny lantern,” Charlene explained. “I got two–one’s a snake baby, the other a bunny. I thought the kids would like them.”
Granger inspected the lanterns, both done up charmingly and festively, and nodded in agreement. “I’m sure Daisy will love them. Thanks.”
“Well, it’s just a little something in return,” Charlene said modestly.
Granger returned the bunny to its place and glanced at a nearby coffee shop. “Want to grab a coffee?”
Charlene shook her head, “Thanks, but I’ve got things to do. I need to head out again soon.”
Irma was due to be discharged from the hospital that evening, and she needed to accompany Helena there later.
“Alright then,” Granger said, a little disappointed.
Charlene didn’t linger, she got back in her car and drove off.
Once home, she and Helena gathered the gifts they had prepared for Irma and headed out.
Before going to the hospital, they had already informed Irma of their visit.
Whether by chance or design, when they arrived, only Irma and her caregiver, Abbey, were there.
Helena looked a bit disappointed not to see Jasmine but didn’t mention it.
Irma noticed Helena’s expression and felt a pang of guilt. She was aware of Charlene and Thorne’s impending divorce. Ever since her son Lloyd had returned home for a holiday and Charlene hadn’t shown up, Irma knew that Charlene was distancing herself from the Henderson family, even if the divorce wasn’t official yet.
Irma suspected that Charlene wouldn’t be spending the upcoming holidays with the Hendersons this year.
She had broached the subject of Jasmine’s custody with Thorne recently, but he refused to budge. As for where Jasmine would spend the holidays, Thorne had mentioned she could decide for herself. But
Jasmine had been traveling abroad and was only returning tonight, so Irma hadn’t had the chance to discuss 11.
Seeing her old friend Helena so downcast, Irma felt even more remorseful. But with Jasmine more attached to Thorne lately, she couldn’t make any promises to Helena or Charlene without Jasmine’s input.
Irma said nothing about it. But Charlene and Helena understood where she stood.
They didn’t bring up Jasmine and instead focused on light–hearted topics and Irma’s recovery.
Not long after, Irma was discharged, and Charlene and Helena didn’t stay much longer, leaving after about half an hour.
Irma had prepared some holiday gifts for them as well, which she had her caregiver bring down when they left.
Shortly after they departed, Thorne arrived at the hospital.
Irma knew he had deliberately stayed away to avoid Charlene. With their divorce almost finalized, Irma knew there was little she could do to stop it.
Watching Thorne sit by her side, peeling an apple with practiced ease, Irma sighed and spoke softly, “Thorne, Minnie is Charlene’s daughter too. Can’t you let her have custody?”
Thorne didn’t pause in his task, his voice calm. “Minnie is my daughter too.”
Irma huffed, “For years, you barely paid attention to Minnie, and now you want custody?”
Thorne chuckled softly, cutting the apple into slices and offering them to Irma. “I’ve changed.”
Irma turned her head away, refusing the offering and his explanation.
Thorne set the plate down gently. “Grandma, it’s between us. Please, don’t worry about it.”
After finalizing the discharge, Thorne took Irma back to the family estate and planned to head to the airport to pick up the returning Jasmine later that day.
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“Dad, Ms. Hawkins!”
As soon as they stepped out of the airport, Jasmine spotted Thorne and Vesta, She quickly let go of Latonia’s hand and dashed toward them, launching herself into their arms.
Inside the car, Jasmine rummaged through her backpack, pulling out quirky little trinkets she’d picked up during her travels to show Vesta and Thorne,
“Dad, Ms. Hawkins, I got you guys some gifts!”
Vesta accepted them, gently ruffling Jasmine’s hair with a smile. “Thank you, Minnie
Today was the day Irma was discharged from the hospital, so Thorne and Jasmine were headed back to the family home for dinner.
After leaving the airport and dropping Vesta off at her place, Thorne instructed the driver to turn the car towards the family estate.
In the car, Thorne was busy with work.
Jasmine didn’t bother him, keeping herself entertained with her own thoughts.
Once they reached the family estate, Jasmine jumped out of the car, her backpack bouncing as she ran towards the house, calling out, “Mom, Mom!”
Thorne packed up his laptop and got out of the car, responding leisurely, “Your mom’s not here.”
Jasmine stopped in her tracks, turning back to him with a puzzled expression. “Huh? Mom’s not here?”
“That’s right.”
“Is she still busy with work?”
Thorne gently tousled her hair. “Maybe you could give her a call and find out.”
“Oh…”
Lately, every time Jasmine tried calling her mom, she got no answer.
It wasn’t as tough when she was at home, but being abroad felt different. Even though her dad and Ms. Hawkins called and video–chatted with her daily, she still felt a pang of loneliness and homesickness without them nearby.
During those first days in a foreign country, she missed her mom the most. She called her every day. But her mom never picked up.
Eventually, she got used to it, figuring her mom was probably too busy to answer. So she stopped calling.
Before coming back, she secretly hoped her mom would be at the airport to greet her.
But when Dad and Ms. Hawkins said they would pick her up, she didn’t call her mom.
She assumed her mom would definitely be at the family home.
But now…
Thinking about it made Jasmine not want to call her mom anymore. She felt that even if she did, her mom probably wouldn’t have time to answer.
When she got to the estate and realized Charlene wasn’t there, the excitement of coming home quickly faded.
Thorne crouched down, gently pinching her cheek, raising an eyebrow. “Are you crying?”
Jasmine pouted and turned her head away. “No, I’m not!”
Thorne said, “Have you given up? Don’t want to call your mom anymore?”
Jasmine didn’t reply immediately. After a moment, she mumbled softly, “N–no, I still want to call her.”
Thorne chuckled, not pushing further, and lifted her up into his arms. “Let’s head inside.”
Jasmine wrapped her arms around Thorne’s neck, snuggling into his warm, comforting embrace, her mood improving a bit.
The whole Henderson family was waiting for them to start dinner.
When they walked in, everyone turned to look.
Especially Irma, who beamed at the sight of Jasmine. “Minnie, you’re back! Come over here, let me have a good look at you.”
Jasmine hopped out of Thorne’s arms, running over to her great–grandmother. “Great–grandma!”
Then she greeted the others, “Grandma, Aunt Claudia, Uncle Terence.”
Claudia and Tiffany both acknowledged her, though their responses were quite reserved.
Terence, on the other hand, was delighted. He stood up, picked her up, and began to playfully tease her.
Jasmine giggled happily at his antics.
Suddenly, Terence turned his head and asked, “Hey bro, where’s Charlene?”
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Claudia and the others arrived home, expecting to find Charlene, but she was nowhere in sight. They assumed she must have gone to the airport with Thorne to pick someone up.
Now, with Thorne and Jasmine back, Charlene’s absence struck them as odd. Still, none of them were too concerned to ask about her whereabouts.
Thorne simply mentioned, “She’s got something going on.”
Terence didn’t think much of it and continued playing with Jasmine.
Irma seemed to have an inkling but chose to stay silent.
After dinner, Jasmine played by herself for a while. Feeling a bit bored, she decided to give Charlene a call, even though she wasn’t expecting much.
Charlene wasn’t one to let herself take it easy, even during a holiday. When Jasmine called, Charlene was absorbed in going through the materials Kenton had provided. When she saw Jasmine’s name flash on her phone, she realized it had been almost a month since their last conversation. She quickly picked up and answered, “Hello?”
Jasmine was surprised, as Charlene hadn’t picked up her calls in ages. “Mom!”
Charlene kept her focus on her computer and responded nonchalantly, “Yeah.”
Jasmine didn’t notice her distracted tone, too thrilled to care. “Mom, I’m back from Europe!”
Charlene had no idea Jasmine had even left the country. “Okay,” she replied, acknowledging the news.
Once Charlene answered, Jasmine couldn’t contain her excitement. She bounced on the bed, brimming with joy. “Mom, when will you be done with your work? Will you come home tonight? I want you to cuddle me to sleep, and I have so many fun stories to tell you. Plus, I’d love to have your breakfast tomorrow morning. When are you coming back?”
Charlene hadn’t mentioned that she wouldn’t be returning to the Henderson house anymore. “Mom’s busy these days. How about next month? I’ll take you out somewhere fun.”
It had been ages since Charlene took her out, so the prospect of an outing delighted Jasmine.
But…
“Next month?” Even though it was just a few days away, it seemed like forever to Jasmine. But she didn’t complain. Instead, she asked, “When next month?”
Even through the phone, Charlene could feel Jasmine’s longing and eagerness to see her. Charlene’s grip on her mouse tightened before she replied, “We’ll see. I’ll let you know once I’ve decided, okay?”
“Alright…”
Charlene asked, “Have you taken a shower?”
“Not yet, but I will soon.”
“Okay, go ahead and shower. Mom has work to do, so I’m going to hang up now.”
“But we just started talking, and you’re already leaving?” Jasmine was reluctant to end the call. She checked the call duration, then pleaded, “Mom, we’ve only talked for two minutes. Can we chat a bit longer?”
Charlene assured her, “Next time I have some free time, if you want to chat, I’ll talk to you longer.”
Hearing this, Jasmine reluctantly agreed, “Okay… you have to promise, Mom.”
Charlene replied, “I promise.”
With that, Jasmine said, “Alright… bye, Mom.”
“Bye,” Charlene said, then ended the call.
Jasmine suddenly remembered she hadn’t told her mom about the gift she bought for her. Just as she was about to say something, she realized Charlene had already hung up, leaving her feeling a bit dejected.
She put down her phone and headed to the study to find Thorne,
Thorne was in the middle of a video conference. When Jasmine entered, he turned off the camera and muted the microphone. “What’s up? Couldn’t get through?”
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Jasmine shook her head and said, “I got through.”
Thorne held her close, gently rubbing her temple with his thumb, noticing how her eyebrows and eyes looked so much like his. “Got through, but you’re not happy?”
Jasmine furrowed her little brows. “I am happy, but…”
It had been so long since she’d called her mom, and after finally talking to her, she really was happy. But still…
Thorne prompted, “But what?”
Jasmine mumbled, “But I also feel a bit sad.”
“Sounds a bit deep, doesn’t it? But…” Thorne propped his chin on his hand and chuckled, “Maybe it’s because you miss her too much after not seeing her for so long. Once your mom’s less busy, she’ll spend more time with you.”
Jasmine nodded, though still looking a bit down. “But Mom said she’s really busy and can only come next
month…”
“Then next month it is. Dad will wait with you.”
“Okay.”
Feeling tired, Jasmine chatted a little more, yawned, and then slipped out of his embrace to head back to her room for some rest.
The next day was New Year’s Eve.
All morning, Claudia and Terence hadn’t seen any sign of Charlene.
When her husband returned for the holidays, Charlene hadn’t shown up at all. Claudia thought something big must have happened with the Ross family.
Charlene was absent even when the family matriarch was discharged from the hospital yesterday. Thorne had said she was busy, and knowing how much Charlene cared for her son, Claudia didn’t think Charlene would ever consider divorce, so she didn’t dwell on it.
But it was New Year’s Eve.
Charlene wasn’t in a profession like her husband’s where she couldn’t afford to take two days off to come by.
So…
Around eleven, when Thorne came downstairs, Claudia couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Are you and Charlene divorced already?”
Terence was right there, too.
With Charlene not around these past two days, he hadn’t given it much thought.
Upon hearing the question, he was utterly stunned.
Thorne took a sip of his coffee and replied calmly, “Not yet, but we’re in the process.”
Terence’s eyes widened.
So, they really were getting a divorce?
He had always known Thorne didn’t care much for Charlene, but…
They’d been together for so many years, he thought they’d just continue like this indefinitely.
But now…
Now, it seemed they were definitely splitting up.
Claudia looked at Thorne.
If there was no love, then a separation was for the best.
But for Vesta…
She was about to speak, but Thorne seemed to guess her thoughts. He stood up and said, “Got a meeting upstairs.”
With that, he left.
Claudia frowned, “You-”
Meanwhile, at the Ross family home.
After a day of hustle and bustle and a hearty dinner, night had fully set in.
Charlene and Carl were getting ready to light some fireworks when Granger video–called her.
Charlene paused.
Granger calling her via video was unusual.
So…
Charlene picked up, and sure enough, Daisy’s little face popped up on the screen.
“Ms. Ross!”
“Hey there.” Charlene smiled. “Happy New Year, Daisy.”
“Happy New Year!”
Daisy, possibly in the garden, handed the phone to Granger and lifted the little rabbit–shaped lantern glowing with a warm orange light for Charlene to see. “Isn’t my lantern pretty? I love it, thanks, Ms. Ross!”
“I’m glad you like it, Daisy. You’re welcome.”
Daisy beamed. “Ms. Ross, Uncle and I are going to set off fireworks soon; do you want to join us?”
Charlene assumed by fireworks, Daisy meant visiting the Harden family.
She replied, “Not tonight, I’ve got other plans. Maybe next time.”
“Oh… alright.”
After chatting a bit more, Daisy got distracted by something else and wandered off.
Granger took the phone back and said, “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year,” Charlene replied.
With Daisy gone, the video call felt a bit awkward for Charlene.
Granger asked, “Any plans for later? Fireworks too? Or heading out for the countdown?”
Charlene shook her head. “Probably going to.”
Carl and Nadine wanted to go, so she’d likely join them for a stroll.
She thought Granger was asking casually, so she didn’t give it much thought.
She still felt there wasn’t much to say between her and Granger.
She said, “I’ve got to go now, okay?” Granger replied, “Alright.” Charlene nodded, gave Granger a quick glance, and then ended the video call.
Chapter 290
Granger had just hung up the phone when Daisy came running over, clutching a small lantern. “Uncle, I want to video call Minnie!”
Granger hesitated for a moment before agreeing, “Alright.”
The video call connected quickly, and Jasmine appeared on the other end.
As soon as Jasmine answered, Daisy excitedly exclaimed, “Minnie, look! My lantern!”
Concerned that Jasmine might not get a good view over the video, Daisy asked Granger to hold the phone while she stepped back a bit further to show off the entire lantern.
They were in a small garden, and the dim lighting made the glowing lantern look even more magical.
Jasmine watched, a familiar feeling tugging at her memory. Daisy returned, her eyes shining. “This was a Halloween gift from my aunt. Isn’t it pretty and cute?”
Jasmine couldn’t remember much from a few years back, but seeing Daisy with the lantern brought back some vague memories. “It is really pretty and cute,” she agreed, pausing before adding, “I think I might have played with something like that once.”
“Really? Don’t you have one now?” Daisy asked.
Jasmine shook her head, “No, I don’t.”
The idea of running around the garden at night with a lantern seemed like so much fun. She couldn’t resist saying, “I’ll go ask Dad to get me one! Don’t hang up; we’ll chat again soon.”
Before Daisy could respond, Jasmine was already dashing upstairs, phone in hand.
On New Year’s Eve, the Henderson family would have a few extended relatives over to celebrate.
Thorne was mingling when Jasmine came running up to him. Excusing himself from the conversation, he picked her up and moved to a quieter spot. “What’s up, sweetheart?”
“Aunt Daisy gave Daisy a lantern, and I want one too.”
“A lantern?” Thorne asked, puzzled.
“Not the ones we hang on the porch for Halloween,” Jasmine clarified, showing Daisy on the phone again. “Daisy, show my dad the lantern.”
“Okay,” Daisy replied, stepping back to reveal the whole lantern.
Thorne looked at it and said to Daisy through the video, “Got it, thanks, Daisy.”
“You’re welcome,” Daisy chirped.
Turning to Granger, who was holding the phone, Thorne asked, “Got any plans for later?”
Granger paused before replying, “I might head out for New Year’s Eve celebrations. How about you?”
“I’ll be heading out later too,” Thorne replied.
Granger had a hunch. Given the special day, Thorne would likely be seeking out Vesta.
Granger didn’t pry further and instead shifted the conversation, “Were you busy earlier?”
“Yeah, we still have guests at the house,” Thorne said.
Being the head of the Henderson family meant Thorne had to play host, even during the holidays. Granger understood.
“Alright, I’ll let you get back to it,” Granger said.
Before handing the phone back to Jasmine, Thorne paused and smiled, “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year,” Jasmine echoed.
Thorne returned the phone to Jasmine, promising, “You two go ahead and chat. I’ll have someone get you a lantern.”
“Awesome!” Jasmine beamed.
With that, Thorne walked away, and Granger handed the phone back to Daisy so she could continue her chat with Jasmine.
When discussing plans earlier, Granger hadn’t asked Thorne where he was heading, just as Thorne hadn’t invited him to join for the New Year’s countdown. The lack of an invite suggested that Thorne intended to spend the evening without any interruptions.
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