Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 291 to 300)  

Chapter 291

Charlene and Nadine had just finished setting off some fireworks with Helena and the others when they decided to head out.

Their destination was the Starfall Broadcast Tower.

The tower was renowned for offering a spectacular view of the entire Starfall cityscape at night.

On New Year’s Eve, it also hosted dazzling light shows and various performances

By the time they arrived at the tower, a crowd had already gathered, and the air was filled with laughter and chatter.

The light show hadn’t started yet.

Carl had planned to meet up with a few of his classmates at the tower to ring in the New Year together.

Shortly after they arrived, Carl’s friends joined them.

Seeing Charlene and Nadine, Carl’s friends respectfully greeted them and couldn’t help but whisper to Carl, “Your cousin’s really pretty! Super pretty!”

“Of course she is!” Carl replied with a grin.

The group of young people joked around, snapping selfies and recording videos on their phones.

Charlene and Nadine stayed on the sidelines, not wanting to interrupt their fun.

Just then, Charlene’s phone buzzed.

It was a message from Granger: “Are you at the tower for the light show tonight?”

Charlene wasn’t sure why he was asking, but she replied, “We’re already here. What’s up?”

Granger responded quickly: “Daisy and I are on our way there too.”

“Well, what a coincidence,” Charlene thought.

Granger didn’t send any more messages after that.

A little while later, the light show began.

Charlene watched with a smile, captivated by the spectacle, when suddenly she heard a familiar voice, “Ms.

Ross!”

Turning around, she saw Granger and Daisy.

Seeing Charlene look over, Daisy beamed and reached out excitedly.

Charlene took Nadine’s hand and maneuvered through the crowd towards them, pulling Daisy into a warm hug. Daisy wrapped her small arms around Charlene’s neck, eagerly watching the light show and squealing with delight, “Ms. Ross, look!”

Charlene chuckled, “Yes, I see it.”

The festive atmosphere was infectious, and Charlene’s smile never wavered.

Granger observed her, concerned she might tire from holding Daisy for too long, and gently took Daisy back into his arms. “Where’s Cloud?” he asked, referring to Carl by his nickname.

“He’s over there,” Charlene pointed to where Carl and his friends were standing, not far away.

As Charlene turned to look, her gaze landed on Henley, Maureen, and Jacques standing together.

Her smile froze and faded.

Henley lovingly tousled Jacques‘ hair as the three of them beamed with warmth and joy, epitomizing a happy family scene. The change in Charlene’s expression couldn’t have been more obvious.

Granger noticed immediately. Following Charlene’s line of sight, he too saw Henley and his family.

Before he could look away, Jacques spotted them.

Seeing familiar faces on a festive night like this, Jacques waved enthusiastically and called out, “Granger!”

Henley and Maureen turned at the sound of Jacques‘ voice.

Their faces lit up at the sight of Granger, only to falter slightly when they noticed Charlene.

Especially Maureen.

Her brows furrowed almost instantly at the sight of Charlene standing beside Granger.

Feeling it was only polite to say hello, Granger hesitated before telling Charlene, “I’m going over to say hi.”

Charlene, her voice cool, replied, “Go ahead.”

Granger, after casting another glance at Charlene’s face, walked away with Daisy.

Nadine had also noticed the shift in Charlene’s demeanor.

While Nadine vaguely knew that her aunt had some history with Henley, she didn’t have many memories of him. But seeing Charlene’s expression change so quickly, her intuition as a perceptive young woman told her all she needed to know about Henley and Maureen’s identities.

Her heart tightened, and she squeezed Charlene’s hand, saying, “Maybe we should head out?”

Charlene didn’t want to spoil Nadine and Carl’s New Year’s celebration. She shook her head, replying, “I’m fine.”

Her sour mood wasn’t because she still had feelings for Henley.

It was just that seeing Maureen and Henley brought back memories of her mother, especially on a night like this.

Why did they get to be a happy family of three, when her mother-

Oh wait, make that a family of four.

Vesta was likely off on a date with Thorne.

Yes, they were living their best lives, a picture of happiness.

It was laughable how they seemed to be thriving while they had made her mother’s life so miserable.

Nadine held Charlene’s hand tightly, saying nothing.

She had always known, even as a child, that their family was different from others.

For them, holidays were often the hardest times.

Visiting the nursing home to see her aunt brought pain, but not visiting was painful too.

Each visit dragged the past into sharp focus, making it impossible to escape the memories. Letting go was painful, but holding on was equally so.

The Ross family had been getting by, not great but not terrible either.

And then that woman’s daughter reappeared after years, stole her cousin–in–law, and now the whole family had moved to Starfall, adding insult to injury-

Noticing the tension in Charlene and Nadine’s expressions, Carl excused himself from his friends and returned to them.

He didn’t quite understand what was going on and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Charlene was about to speak, but Nadine glanced over to where Henley was standing and said, “The person talking with Granger over there belongs to the Hawkins family.”

Carl immediately caught on, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Granger and Henley had just about finished their polite small talk.

As Granger turned around, he noticed that the spot where Charlene and her friends had been standing was now empty.

Chapter 292

The Ross family didn’t have the tradition of staying up to welcome the New Year. By the time Charlene and Nadine got home, Helena and the others were already asleep.

Charlene headed upstairs to her room, and it was just striking midnight.

Her phone had been buzzing for a while.

Messages from Stewart, Granger, and a few folks from PrimeStar she was close with, like Abelard and Hickey, had all sent her New Year’s greetings.

Charlene responded to each of them, including Granger, and even took the initiative to send Kenton and Connie a New Year’s message.

Just then, Abelard sent her another message asking if she was free in the coming days. He mentioned he hadn’t had the chance to properly thank her for something due to his busy schedule and wanted to take her out for a meal.

After chatting with Abelard, Charlene put down her phone and headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

Though visiting Sybil Ross at the nursing home was always a painful ordeal for the Ross family, there was no way they wouldn’t see her on such an important day.

Every New Year’s Day morning, Charlene and Helena would prepare a lavish spread of food to take to the nursing home for Sybil.

This year was no different.

So, on New Year’s morning, Charlene got up early. When she went downstairs, Helena, Vernon, and Maisie were already up.

Seeing her come down, Helena and Maisie handed her a red envelope as a token of good luck.

Helena gently patted Charlene’s cheek, her eyes soft with affection. “May our Charlene have a smooth and blessed year.”

Charlene smiled, “Thanks, Grandma.”

After breakfast, Charlene and Maisie headed into the kitchen and started preparing the ingredients.

Both Helena and Vernon were great cooks, but when it came to cooking for Sybil, they could only assist. Sybil could always tell if they had cooked the meal, which might upset her.

Traditionally, Maisie was in charge on this day. However, once Charlene learned how to cook, they started sharing the responsibility.

Charlene had wanted to learn to cook from a young age for Sybil’s sake, but her grandmother had insisted she wait, not wanting to burden her with adult responsibilities too soon. She wanted Charlene’s childhood to be as carefree and joyful as possible, without being overshadowed by the past.

Two hours later, the table was laden with a feast.

Nadine and Carl helped pack everything up.

With the prepared gifts in hand, the Ross family of six headed to the nursing home.

They had also prepared New Year’s gifts and red envelopes for the doctors and nurses who took care of Sybil.

Sybil was still as frail as ever, her gaze vacant and distant.

Charlene and the others stood where Sybil couldn’t see them, watching her remain indifferent to the gifts the doctors passed along.

Helena’s envelope was placed in her hand by a nurse, but Sybil soon forgot what it was, glanced at it briefly, and tossed it aside.

She didn’t seem to have much appetite either. Despite the spread of food before her, she only ate a few bites when the nurse put it on her plate.

Before she could try everything, Sybil retreated into her own world once more.

The nurse had to clear the table.

Charlene’s eyes were already welling up with tears.

But she held them back, not wanting to affect everyone else’s mood.

In truth, Helena and the others felt the same way.

After spending about half an hour at the nursing home, they decided it was time to leave.

Chapter 293

It was nearing noon.

Going back home to cook was out of the question–none of them were really in the mood for it.

Honestly, lunch wasn’t exactly on anyone’s mind, but skipping a meal wasn’t an option either.

Charlene suggested, “Let’s just eat out.”

Helena nodded, “Sure, Charlene, you decide.”

They pulled up to the restaurant, parked the car, and as Charlene and Vernon stepped out, they immediately spotted the Hawkins and the Spencers. They were there for lunch too.

Just as they arrived, someone recognized Vesta and Henley and enthusiastically approached them, trying to invite them over for a meal together.

The Hawkins and Spencer families soon noticed Charlene and her group as well.

Georgina sneered as she looked over.

Maureen just glanced briefly before looking away. Vesta did the same, acting as if the Rosses was invisible, not giving them a second thought.

At that moment, the restaurant manager hurried out and approached Vesta, saying, “Ms. Hawkins, Mr. Henderson’s usual private room is ready for you. Please, right this way.”

Vesta nodded and didn’t spare Charlene another glance. She turned to the eager Mr. Edgar and said, “Sorry, Mr. Edgar, but today is a family gathering. We’ll have to take a rain check on that meal.”

Mr. Edgar quickly replied, “Of course, Ms. Hawkins, I won’t intrude on your family time.”

Without acknowledging Mr. Edgar further, Vesta followed the manager into the restaurant.

Charlene hadn’t expected to run into them.

She linked arms with Helena, feeling a bit hesitant, but Helena gave her hand a reassuring pat and said, “Let’s go in.”

Charlene sighed, “Alright.”

As they stepped into the restaurant, a staff member approached them and said, “Sorry, folks, but all our private rooms have been reserved. We don’t have any available spots right now.”

Charlene had been to this restaurant before.

It was almost unheard of for them to be completely booked.

So…

Charlene quickly realized it was likely the Hawkins and Spencer families playing tricks.

She pressed her lips together tightly.

Vernon and Helena seemed to come to the same conclusion as well.

“Ms. Ross.” someone called her. Charlene turned to see York approaching.

She greeted him, “Mr. Watson.”

York eyed the anxious staff member before turning to Charlene and asking, “What’s the problem? Why aren’t you going in?”

Charlene replied calmly, “The staff said all their rooms are reserved, and they asked us to leave.”

York glanced towards the restaurant interior, “Oh? Is that so?”

The staff recognized York immediately.

Especially considering the Watson family, including Hickey, was currently dining there.

Sensing York might intervene on Charlene’s behalf, the restaurant manager panicked and hurried over to Charlene, saying, “We’ve just been informed a party had to cancel, so a private room has become available. Please, come in.”

Charlene didn’t move, instead looking at Helena.

Helena suggested, “Let’s just go somewhere else for lunch.”

Charlene agreed, “Alright.”

She turned back to York, “Thank you, Mr. Watson.”

York replied, “No problem.” He paused, then nodded a greeting to Helena and the others.

Charlene and her group left.

York headed into the restaurant, casting a sharp glance at the manager.

The manager, sweating profusely, forced a smile but dared not speak further.

Seeing the manager’s reluctance to reveal who was behind the trouble for Charlene, York realized the instigator was likely someone with significant influence.

Chapter 294

Charlene had just settled into a new restaurant and taken her first bite when her phone buzzed twice.

It was a message from Connie.

She casually opened it and found that Connie had sent her two photos. The people in the photos were Thorne and Vesta.

Charlene pursed her lips, avoided looking in detail, and closed the app.

No sooner had she closed it than Connie called.

Charlene hesitated but then stepped outside to answer, “Hey, Connie.”

“Charlene, did you see those pictures I sent you?!”

Charlene had only glanced at one and didn’t plan to look at the other.

Still, she said, “Yeah, I saw them.”

Connie continued, “The first one was from a friend of mine last night. She spotted them at a hotel. Seriously, New Year’s Eve, and they’re off booking a room?! Honestly, have they no shame?”

Charlene’s expression remained unchanged; she didn’t even raise an eyebrow. She simply replied with a nonchalant, “Mm–hmm.”

“The second one’s even worse. It’s a screenshot from Vesta’s social media. She posted the roses and New Year’s gift Thorne gave her, and she took the picture in the hotel room, too! It’s like she’s flaunting their little love fest–totally disgusting!”

Charlene replied, “Uh–huh.”

After acknowledging with a disinterested sound, she asked, “Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet. I went out with friends last night to celebrate New Year’s and drank too much. I just woke up and totally forgot to send you New Year’s greetings.”

“That’s okay,” Charlene said softly. “Happy New Year.”

“Yeah, Happy New Year to you too, Charlene.” After a pause, Connie seemed to consider whether to continue the topic of Thorne and Vesta but then stopped herself, asking, “What are you up to now?”

“Having dinner with my family.”

“Oh…” Connie scratched her head, saying, “Sorry, Charlene, I didn’t mean to ruin your meal. I wouldn’t have brought it up if I’d known.”

“No worries,” Charlene reassured her gently. “Get up and eat something, or your stomach’s gonna give you trouble again.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

They chatted a little longer before ending the call.

After dinner, with time to spare, Charlene went out for a stroll with Helena. They walked around the neighborhood, enjoying the crisp winter air, and by the time they returned home, Charlene felt a bit lighter. The Ross family didn’t have many relatives in Starfall, so for them, the New Year wasn’t particularly hectic.

By the second evening of the new year, Charlene found herself with some free time.

She turned on her laptop and continued reviewing the materials that Kenton had provided her.

Around ten, just as she was about to shower, her phone rang. Thorne’s name flashed on the screen. Charlene glanced at it but didn’t answer. Instead, she headed into the bathroom.

After her shower, she did some more research and was jotting down notes when she heard the rumbling of a car outside.

Charlene’s hand paused on the mouse.

Thorne’s earlier call popped into her mind. She frowned, set the mouse down, and walked to the window. There, she saw Jasmine leaping out of the car, calling, “Great–Grandma!”

Charlene pressed her lips together, turned back into the room, and checked her phone. Thorne had texted after she’d ignored his call.

“Heading out of the country tomorrow for a few days. Can you watch Minnie?”

Charlene glanced at the message and put her phone down.

Just then, Jasmine bounded up the stairs and burst into Charlene’s room. Seeing her, she squealed with delight and flung herself into Charlene’s arms. “Mom!”

Chapter 295

Charlene reached out to hold her steady, preventing her from tumbling over.

As soon as she got close, the familiar scent of Vesta’s perfume wafted into her nose again.

Charlene took Jasmine’s backpack and placed it gently on the sofa. Just as Jasmine dashed toward the bed, Charlene grabbed her by the arm and asked, “Have you taken a shower?”

“Yes, I have.” Jasmine said.

If she had showered and still carried Vesta’s scent, it suggested one of two possibilities: either Vesta was living with her and Thorne, or Thorne and Vesta had together dropped her off. Evidently, they had chosen not to come into the building with her.

Charlene said calmly, “You’re all sweaty. How about changing into some fresh clothes?”

Jasmine remembered she had been running around after her shower and might have sweated a bit. She nodded and obediently headed to the bathroom to change.

Meanwhile, Charlene continued sorting through her papers..

When Jasmine emerged, now in clean clothes, she rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a small bunny–shaped lantern. “Mom, look! A lantern!”

Charlene paused and looked at it. “This is-”

“Daddy bought it for me! Isn’t it cute and pretty?!”

Charlene replied, “…Yes.”

Jasmine then dashed over to turn off Charlene’s room lights, flicked on the lantern, and excitedly shared, “Doesn’t it look even prettier with the lights off?!”

Charlene agreed, “…Yes, it does look prettier.” After a moment, she asked, “Do you really like it?”

“Yeah, I love it so much!” Jasmine exclaimed. Then she produced another lantern. “Daddy got me two, and! saved this one for you. Will you take a walk downstairs with me, carrying our lanterns?”

Charlene sighed, “I’ve already had my shower, maybe tomorrow. You just changed too; you don’t want to get dirty again.”

Jasmine’s enthusiasm was slightly dampened by Charlene’s response. Her excitement and joy took a small hit. “Oh…”

But it had been a month since Jasmine last saw Charlene. Realizing Charlene wasn’t very interested in the lantern, she stopped trying to sell the idea and instead put the lantern down, running over to hug her. “Mom…”

Charlene set her papers aside. “Yes, what is it?”

Initially, Jasmine remained quiet, but then she slipped off her shoes and climbed into Charlene’s lap. “I missed you so much,” she murmured as she wrapped her arms around Charlene’s neck and delivered two swift kisses to her cheek. Breaking into a giggle, she added, “Mom, you smell so nice.”

Charlene’s arms tightened around her slightly. She paused, then gently stroked Jasmine’s cheek without saying a word. She could tell Jasmine’s face had matured a little, her features shifting slightly, looking a bit more like Thorne.

Lowering her gaze, she noticed Jasmine wasn’t wearing socks. She placed her on the bed and covered her feet with a blanket. “How long will you be staying here this time?”

Jasmine shrugged. “I don’t know. Daddy just told me to wait here for him to come back.”

Charlene murmured an acknowledgment and didn’t pursue it further.

Jasmine, however, remembered something else and jumped off the bed to find her backpack. “Mom, I got you a

little gift when I went overseas.”

She retrieved a snow globe she had bought for Charlene and handed it over, her eyes full of hope.

Ever since Jasmine had grown close to Vesta, it had been a long time since she thought of giving Charlene any gifts.

Charlene accepted it, feeling a calm gratitude, and said, “Thank you, sweetie. I love it.”

Chapter 296

The next morning.

After finishing her breakfast, Charlene went upstairs to find Jasmine on a video call with Thorne.

Spotting her mom, Jasmine looked up and shouted, “Mom!”

“Hey,” Charlene replied, turning on her computer.

On the other end of the call, Thorne asked, “What’s the plan for today?”

Jasmine, sprawled out on the bed, beamed with excitement. “I want to watch a movie! Mom’s taking me to see a movie at noon!”

Charlene was engrossed in reviewing the notes she’d organized the day before.

A moment later, Jasmine came over with the phone. “Mom, Dad wants to talk to you.”

Charlene paused, took the phone, and glanced at Thorne’s face on the screen. She wasn’t interested in a video chat, so she placed the phone face up on the desk, pointing the camera toward the ceiling. “What’s up?”

Thorne said, “I appreciate you taking care of Minnie for a while.”

Charlene didn’t reply, her eyes still fixed on her computer. She typed away, filling in the gaps from yesterday’s brainstorming session, and asked, “Anything else?”

“No,” Thorne replied, then added, “Happy New Year.”

Charlene mumbled an acknowledgment and ended the call, handing the phone back to Jasmine.

As it neared noon and Charlene was about to take Jasmine out, her phone rang. It was Stewart.

She chuckled and answered, only to hear Stewart’s hushed voice, “Guess who I just ran into again?”

Charlene paused, immediately knowing who he was referring to.

Before she could respond, Stewart saw Thorne and Vesta approaching and looking in his direction.

Stewart sighed, “Well, they’re coming over. Gotta go.”

“Alright,” Charlene replied calmly.

Barely had she hung up when Thorne and Vesta reached Stewart.

“Mr. Ferguson, off somewhere?” Thorne inquired.

Stewart didn’t reply directly, instead offering a thin smile. “Mr. Henderson, Ms. Hawkins, we’re not that close. Next time you see me, feel free to pretend you didn’t.”

Vesta chuckled, “Mr. Ferguson, you really are amusing.”

Stewart was about to retort when Vesta noticed his suitcase. “Heading abroad for a vacation, Mr. Ferguson?”

Stewart gave a dry laugh. “Sorry, none of your business.”

With that, he didn’t wait for another word, rolling his suitcase out of the VIP lounge at the airport.

Once he’d put some distance between them, Stewart called Charlene again. “What’re you up to?”

Charlene had just changed her clothes and replied, “Getting ready to head out for a movie.”

“Sounds like a good plan. Going by yourself?” he asked.

“With Minnie.”

Stewart paused, “I thought she was spending the holiday with the Hendersons? How come she’s with you now?”

Charlene applied the finishing touches to her makeup, replying coolly, “They dropped her off last night.”

Stewart hadn’t expected that, and he laughed in disbelief. “So Thorne’s off on a little getaway with Vesta, huh? And they didn’t want their daughter tagging along, so they just sent her your way? Unbelievable.”

Charlene listened without much reaction.

Just then, Jasmine came over, tugging at Charlene’s hand excitedly, “Mom, I’m ready. Let’s go!”

“Okay,” Charlene said, then added to Stewart, “Don’t worry about them. Just enjoy yourself.”

“Yeah, yeah, I will,” Stewart muttered, then assured her, “I’ll be back soon, I won’t leave the company all on your shoulders.”

Charlene smiled, “Sounds good.”

Chapter 297

After grabbing a bite to eat and catching a movie, Jasmine and Charlene found themselves wandering past an arcade. Jasmine, feeling nostalgic about the times they used to play games together, eagerly tugged Charlene inside.

For Jasmine, hitting the shops, grabbing some food, and watching a movie followed by some games at the arcade was pretty routine. But it had been ages since she’d done any of that with Charlene, so even the ordinary felt extraordinary.

Charlene had plans with Abelard for dinner that evening.

As they left the arcade, Charlene thought about dropping Jasmine off at the Ross family’s place before heading out to meet Abelard.

Jasmine, however, wasn’t ready to part ways with Charlene. She held Charlene’s hand tightly, pouting a little, “Can’t I just come with you?”

Charlene paused for a moment.

Abelard had only invited her for a casual dinner, nothing special.

Bringing Jasmine along shouldn’t be a problem.

With that in mind, Charlene called Abelard to see if he would mind her bringing someone along.

Abelard chuckled, “Charlene, bring her along. I don’t mind at all.” Then, after a brief pause, he asked, “Is she your kid?”

Charlene simply replied, “Yeah.”

Abelard was a bit taken aback.

The last time they met, he recalled Charlene mentioning she was married, but it was surprising to see someone who looked so youthful already having a child.

Half an hour later.

Charlene entered the dining room hand in hand with Jasmine, finding Abelard already there.

Upon seeing Jasmine, Abelard grinned, “Charlene, is this your daughter? She really looks like you.”

Charlene smiled, “Yes.”

“What’s her name?”

“Jasmine.”

“Is her last name… Ross?”

Abelard paused.

The moment he saw Jasmine, he had a flicker of recognition, but couldn’t quite place it.

Then, the realization hit him. He remembered running into the Henderson family around New Year’s, and the little girl holding Thorne’s hand was unmistakably-

He looked at Charlene, a bit stunned, “Is Thorne your husband?”

Charlene nodded, “Yes.”

Abelard was momentarily silent.

When Charlene mentioned she was married before, he couldn’t help but wonder why someone so exceptional would settle down so young. After all, for someone as outstanding as Charlene, suitable matches were rare.

But if that someone was Thorne, well, honestly, in their social circle, Thorne was indeed the only one who could be a match for Charlene.

However, recalling the distant look Charlene had when she first mentioned her marriage, and remembering how he hadn’t seen her with the Henderson family at New Year’s, Abelard realized that there were issues in Charlene and Thorne’s relationship, perhaps more significant than he had assumed,

He gestured for them to sit and then pulled out two small gifts, handing one each to Charlene and Jasmine.

Charlene hesitated, but Abelard gently insisted, “As your uncle, it’s only natural to give a little something for the new year. It’s a tradition, no big deal, just take it.”

Charlene accepted it graciously, “Thank you, Mr. Ramirez.”

She then turned to Jasmine and said, “Jasmine, say thank you to Mr. Ramirez.”

Chapter 298

Jasmine, ever the polite and unflustered young lady, said, “Thank you, Mr. Ramirez.”

“Don’t mention it,” Abelard replied, glancing at Jasmine a bit more thoughtfully. With a smile, he added, “She’s more like Thorne, isn’t she?”

Charlene nodded, “That’s right.”

Abelard chuckled, “Whether she takes after Thorne or you, she’s going to be just fine.”

Charlene listened, her eyes lowering in a gentle smile, choosing not to reply.

Abelard continued, “So, has my troublesome son made peace with you yet?”

Charlene shook her head with a slight grin, “If anything, the tension’s gotten worse.”

Abelard laughed, “Well, that’s just dandy.”

He seemed entirely unfazed, saying, “He’s had it too easy for too long. A little lesson won’t hurt him; in fact, I’m looking forward to it.”

After that, Abelard and Charlene chatted about other topics.

Once dinner was over, Charlene and Abelard spent another hour or so in conversation before parting ways.

After taking Jasmine to see a movie and meeting up with Abelard, Charlene spent most of the following days at home, diving into the materials Kenton had given her.

While Charlene was engrossed in her research, Jasmine behaved well, only occasionally stepping out with Carl and his friends, but mostly keeping herself occupied in her room.

However, Jasmine made sure to video call Thorne every day.

Whenever Jasmine called Thorne, Vesta was often present.

It wasn’t that Charlene was intentionally eavesdropping on their conversations; it was more that Jasmine, aware of Charlene’s dislike for Vesta, would take her tablet outside to chat, rather than staying in her room.

After a few intense days of focused work, Charlene finally had a breakthrough.

It was the first time since receiving Kenton’s materials that she felt her ideas were so clear.

That day, she worked tirelessly from morning until night, so absorbed that she didn’t even respond when her family called her for lunch.

Seeing how busy she was, Maisie brought her meals upstairs.

Noticing the food getting cold and Charlene still not having eaten, Jasmine urged her, “Mom, you should eat.”

Charlene murmured an absent–minded “Mmm,” her eyes glued to the computer screen, seemingly unaware of her own response.

Jasmine pursed her lips, calling out to Charlene a few more times before she finally got her to eat.

Dinner was much the same.

Charlene was so engrossed she didn’t even have time for meals. Jasmine had initially wanted Charlene to help her with her bath, but after calling out several times with no success, she went downstairs and asked Nadine for help.

After her bath, she returned to find Charlene still at her computer, so Jasmine climbed into bed by herself.

She drifted off, waking up to the morning light filtering through. Groggy, she wandered over to Charlene with her stuffed animal in tow, “Mom, did you not sleep at all?”

Charlene replied absent-mindedly, “No, you go back to sleep. Don’t worry about me.”

Jasmine paused, clearly awake now. “Mom, aren’t you tired from not sleeping?”

Charlene simply replied, “No.”

Seeing Charlene frown as if annoyed by the interruption, Jasmine thought about asking if she was hungry but decided against it. She quietly went to brush her teeth instead.

Chapter 299

After more than a day and night of non–stop work, Charlene finally finished recording everything she needed to and sent it off to Stewart. Only then did she head downstairs to grab some breakfast.

Once Stewart went through the materials she sent, he was so thrilled his hands were shaking. “This is it, this is brilliant, absolutely brilliant!”

Charlene rubbed her aching temples and said, “I need to catch some sleep. We can talk later.”

“Alright,” Stewart replied.

Charlene slept like a log until well past five in the afternoon.

When she woke up, she found Jasmine sitting on the carpet, engrossed in a Sudoku puzzle.

As soon as Jasmine noticed she was awake, she got up and said, “Mom, you’re awake?”

Charlene replied with a simple, “Yeah.”

“Are you thirsty? Want some water?” Jasmine asked.

Charlene paused for a moment, then said, “Thanks.”

After Jasmine got her a glass of water, she went back to her puzzle.

As Charlene watched her daughter, a wave of guilt washed over her. She knew she’d been buried in work and hadn’t spent much time with her recently.

Unfortunately, today marked the end of their holiday. Tomorrow, she’d be back at PrimeStar and wouldn’t have much time for Jasmine.

With that thought, she called out, “Minnie.”

Jasmine turned around, asking, “What’s up, Mom?”

“When’s your dad coming back?”

“Dad said not anytime soon,” Jasmine replied, then asked, “Do you need to talk to him?”

Charlene shook her head, replying, “No, it’s nothing. Go on and play.”

“Okay.”

Charlene finished her water and texted Thorne.

“When are you coming back? I’m back to work tomorrow and can’t look after Jasmine. You need to come and get her.”

It took Thorne over half an hour to reply. “I’ll be back in two days.”

Seeing the message, Charlene didn’t bother to respond.

After dinner, Jasmine went for a walk with Helena, and as soon as Charlene headed upstairs, Stewart called.

They were brainstorming together, so Charlene had him on speakerphone.

When Jasmine returned from her walk and heard her mom chatting with someone whose voice she didn’t recognize, she felt a bit left out and asked, “Mom, who are you talking to?”

Charlene replied, “A friend of mine.”

“Oh…” Jasmine said, still a bit curious.

Stewart heard Jasmine’s voice but didn’t say anything, not mentioning he’d met her when she was just a little thing–even held her.

Charlene and Stewart talked until well past ten that night before finally hanging up.

The next day, Charlene officially returned to work at PrimeStar.

Ever since the company began developing the two projects she’d worked on last year, they’d been understaffed. They’d planned to expand the team at the end of the year, but she and Stewart had been too busy to get around to it.

Hiring more people was now urgent, so on her first day back, Charlene set the ball rolling.

Thorne had promised to be back in two days.

But three, four days passed, and there was still no sign of him.

It wasn’t until the fifth day, while Charlene was still at work, that she got a call from Jasmine. “Mom, Dad’s back! He sent someone to pick me up.”

“Okay, got it,” Charlene said. “Make sure you pack everything, don’t forget anything.”

Jasmine chirped happily, “I know!”

Then she asked, “Mom, can you come home and see me off?”

Charlene had a mountain of work to do.

She thought about saying no.

But she hadn’t been around much lately, and after this, Jasmine might not see her for a while. So she agreed, saying, “Okay, I’ll head home now.”

Jasmine’s voice was bright with excitement, “Yay!”

Stewart had returned from his business trip by then.

Charlene was exhausted from work, and if she wanted to leave early to get some rest, Stewart didn’t mind.

But still….

He snorted, “Thorne dumps Jasmine on you to go gallivanting on a delayed honeymoon, feeling no guilt. Yet here you are, the mom without custody, feeling bad about a little neglect. Thorne’s got you pegged. He knows you’re too soft-hearted, and that’s why he thinks he can make promises he doesn’t keep and leave you holding the bag.”

Chapter 300

Jasmine had just hung up with Charlene when the car Thorne sent for her arrived.

In the end, Jasmine didn’t wait for Charlene to come back and got into the car.

When she reached the private room, she rushed into Thorne and Vesta’s arms. “Dad, Ms. Hawkins!”

Thorne chuckled, ruffling her hair, while Vesta helped her put her backpack aside.

Inside the room, Granger, Moran, and Leah were already there.

Seeing how much Jasmine missed Thorne and Vesta, Moran teased, “Thorne, I told you guys should have taken Minnie with you on your trip abroad. Look how much she missed you in just a few days. If you had stayed away any longer, she might have started crying.”

Moran’s comment made it sound like Jasmine had been neglected while staying with Charlene.

Before Thorne or Vesta could respond, Granger changed the topic, asking, “Did you have fun while we were away, Minnie?”

Jasmine sat down and replied, “Yeah, Mom took me to see a movie, play some VR games, and we had dinner.”

Moran quipped, “That’s all?”

“Yup,” Jasmine shrugged, unconcerned. “Mom’s been really busy, so she didn’t have much time to spend with me.”

Moran assumed Jasmine meant Charlene was busy dealing with the holiday season’s social obligations.

After all, he and Granger had been through that themselves. They’d been swamped since the end of last year, juggling family gatherings and work, and only now managed to find a moment to relax and catch up with Thorne and Granger.

Vesta was engrossed in her book.

Jasmine took a sip of her drink and, out of boredom, glanced at the cover of Vesta’s book. It seemed familiar, and she couldn’t help but take a closer look.

Granger noticed her interest. “Minnie, are you into these kinds of books?”

Jasmine shook her head. “Not really, I just noticed that my mom has a copy of this book too.”

Hearing this, Vesta paused for a moment and smirked.

This book had both a beginner and an advanced edition with the same cover.

Vesta’s was the advanced edition, with content so deep that even during her PhD, it was rare to delve into.

Leah, who frequently visited the Hawkins family, knew about the different editions. Hearing Jasmine, she instinctively assumed Charlene had the beginner edition.

She almost laughed but held back because Thorne and Granger were present.

Granger caught on.

He smiled down at his drink, saying nothing.

Just then, Moran seemed to remember something, raising an eyebrow at Granger with a grin. “Granger, I heard your mom’s been setting you up on dates lately. Any promising matches?”

This question immediately caught everyone’s attention.

Leah had heard about this too, which only made her more anxious.

She looked at Granger with bated breath.

Granger, ignoring Leah’s presence, shot Moran a look. “Can’t you last a day without gossiping?”

Moran grinned. “Hey, I’m just curious.”

Granger remained silent.

Everyone could tell Granger wasn’t thrilled about the whole dating setup.

His silence spoke volumes, and the group understood.

Moran pressed on, “Speaking of which, how’s it going with that woman? If you’re really into her, why not just tell your mom? Or is it because she’s so different from your family, and you’re worried your mom won’t approve, so…”

Before Moran could finish, Granger cut him off, “With all this food, I’m surprised your mouth isn’t full.”

The more Granger deflected, the more curious Moran became.

He said, “If you’re worried about your mom not approving, you could always introduce her to us first, right, Thorne?”

Thorne chuckled, glancing at Granger before replying, “When the time’s right, Granger will bring her around without us having to nag him.”

Moran sighed.

Everyone knew that already.

He was just curious!

Leah tugged on Vesta’s sleeve. “Vesta…”

Moran had previously told her that Granger already had someone he liked, as a way to deter her.

Back then, she didn’t believe it.

Now, it seemed it might just be true.

Vesta simply smiled softly, remaining relaxed and silent.

Granger said he had a woman he was into who they hadn’t met yet. But…

Did Granger truly care about that woman? Or perhaps that woman was just a decoy, a convenient excuse Granger used to prevent anyone from discovering who he really cared for.

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