Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 371 to 380)

Chapter 371

Vesta had just returned from a business trip.

She was lost in thought when Gaylord interrupted, “Is there anything else you need?”

Vesta shook her head and asked, “You’ve been at PrimeStar for a while now. How are you settling in?”

“I’m doing well,” Gaylord replied. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head upstairs.”

With that, Gaylord turned and walked away, leaving Vesta watching his retreating figure with a slight frown.

He had been upset with her for revealing his whereabouts to his family, and despite several attempts to reach him by phone, he hadn’t picked up. Finally running into him today, she thought he might have cooled off, but his demeanor was still noticeably colder than before.

She forced a smile, hoping he just needed more time to get over it.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number. It was a lawyer from PrimeStar, representing Stewart, wanting to discuss contract termination.

Vesta’s expression turned serious. If Stewart had sent a lawyer, it meant the chances of resolving the issue amicably were slim.

With a heavy heart, she exited the lobby.

Shortly after Vesta left, Granger arrived at PrimeStar for a business meeting. Charlene, upon hearing of his arrival, left her office to meet him in the conference room.

Gaylord, on his way to see Charlene in her office, found out she was with a business partner in the conference room. He initially thought it was just any partner, but learning it was Granger made him pause. After a moment, he decided to head there.

Charlene and Granger were deep in conversation when a knock interrupted them. Expecting Chester, Charlene was surprised to see Gaylord. “Gaylord? What’s-“

“I wanted to discuss something with you,” Gaylord said, his eyes, however, were on Granger.

“I can’t step away right now. Later, perhaps,” Charlene replied, noticing the distance between her and Granger and the presence of others in the room. Gaylord nodded, “Alright.”

He then politely apologized to Granger, “Sorry for the interruption.”

Granger didn’t respond verbally, but he understood why Gaylord had shown up unexpectedly.

After Gaylord left, Charlene and Granger resumed their discussion. As Charlene delved into technical details with Lanny, Granger found his gaze lingering on her.

Yesterday’s incident at Neural Nexus Tech involved Charlene and Stewart seeking justice, and Granger didn’t see an issue with that. But overall, it seemed like a minor incident, certainly not one warranting a contract termination.

Yet Charlene and Stewart seemed adamant about heading straight for a breakup as if the more Vesta had to pay, the happier they’d be.

But why?

Was it because of Thorne? Did Charlene still hold a grudge against Vesta for taking Thorne away?

If so, did it mean she hadn’t moved on from Thorne?

Granger’s gaze lingered on Charlene long enough for her to notice. She turned to him, “Mr. Harden? Is there something bothering you?”

Chapter 372

Granger Harden snapped back to reality, offering a small smile and a shake of his head. “Oh, it’s nothing,” he assured her.

After wrapping up his conversation with Granger, Charlene Ross received a call from Stewart Ferguson later that afternoon.

“Just got word from our lawyer,” Stewart began. “Turns out Vesta Hawkins still won’t budge on breaking the contract. She’s willing to pay a hefty sum for reputational damages, but I didn’t accept it. Since we can’t come to terms, I’ve instructed the lawyer to proceed with legal action.”

Charlene nodded through the phone. “Alright, got it.”

With that settled, Stewart added, “Thorne Henderson is dropping by the office tomorrow for a meeting. Livingston can handle the first part of the negotiations, but there’s a document you’ll need to personally review.”

In other words, she would have to meet with Thorne in person the following day.

Charlene understood. “Okay, I’ll be ready.”

The next day, Thorne and Coy arrived at the company in the afternoon.

As Stewart had mentioned, Livingston was the one to initially welcome Thorne. Midway through, Charlene got a message and headed to the conference room.

Livingston must have already briefed Thorne about her standing in for Stewart to verify contract details and sign off.

So, when she entered, neither Thorne nor Coy seemed surprised.

She approached the meeting with a professional air, greeting, “Hello, Mr. Henderson.”

Thorne shook her hand and sat down, not bothering with small talk.

Charlene went through the document, confirming a few clauses with Thorne. Once everything checked out, she signed her name with a decisive “Looking forward to working together.”

Thorne echoed her sentiment. “Looking forward to it.”

With her part of the meeting complete, Charlene prepared to leave.

She turned to Livingston, “I have other matters to attend to, Laird. Could you take care of Mr. Henderson?”

As she stood to exit, Thorne glanced at his watch, then looked up. “How about dinner tonight?”

Before she could respond, Thorne added, “I’ll have someone bring Minnie along.”

Livingston initially assumed Thorne’s invitation was a courtesy, a gesture to celebrate their new partnership. But Thorne’s second remark caught him off guard. The familiarity in Thorne’s tone with Charlene suggested they knew each other well too well, perhaps.

And Minnie? Who was that?

Was Thorne trying to discuss something related to Vesta?

In the past, Charlene might have felt a pang of jealousy, but now her expression remained neutral. She replied coolly, “Sorry, I don’t have the time.”

With that, she turned and left without a backward glance.

Charlene’s demeanor was decidedly aloof.

Livingston watched her leave, sensing something was amiss. He turned to Thorne, about to speak, but Thorne only chuckled lightly at Charlene’s brusque refusal, seemingly unbothered by her borderline rude behavior.

Coy, aware of the situation with Neural Nexus Tech, also knew about Charlene’s rumored obsession with Thorne and her supposed vendetta against Vesta. Her apparent inability to separate personal feelings from business left him unimpressed.

From previous interactions, Livingston noticed that both Charlene and Stewart treated Thorne with an odd mix of familiarity and indifference.

It was almost too casual.

Yet Thorne appeared unfazed.

Unable to unravel the complexities of it all, Livingston escorted Thorne down the elevator.

Chapter 373

As soon as Charlene returned to her office, her phone began to buzz.

It was a call from Jasmine Henderson.

Remembering the lunch invitation from Thorne in the meeting room earlier, Charlene hesitated and decided not to answer Jasmine’s call. Jasmine was persistent, though, calling three times in a row. When Charlene didn’t pick up, Jasmine sent a text instead.

“Mom, I have a fencing competition next month. Can you come with me to my training tomorrow?”

Charlene stared at the message, her grip on the phone tightening for a moment.

Ever since Thorne took Jasmine to Goldland two years ago, Charlene had missed out on so many aspects of her daughter’s life.

She wasn’t even sure what courses or extracurricular activities Thorne had arranged for Jasmine. Before she considered divorcing Thorne, she’d tried asking Jasmine about these things, but Jasmine was always tight-lipped.

If Jasmine hadn’t mentioned it now, Charlene would never have known she was taking fencing lessons, let alone preparing for a competition.

Realizing how much she’d missed in Jasmine’s life, Charlene sat there, absorbing the weight of it all, her mind adrift.

Just then, a knock at the door brought her back to the present.

“Come in,” Charlene called out.

It was Gaylord Hearst, here to discuss work matters.

Gaylord was always serious about work, and with the weekend just a day away, they wrapped up their conversation quickly. But as their discussion ended, he lingered, remembering the missed opportunities to invite her out.

“I caught a play a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it,” he said casually. “There’s another performance this weekend. Would you like to join me?”

Charlene thought of Jasmine’s message and shook her head. “I have plans on Saturday, so I’ll have to pass.”

Gaylord looked a bit disappointed. “Oh, alright then…”

At the same moment, Jasmine, still waiting for a response, sent

another message.

“Mom, reply to me soon…”

Seeing the message, Charlene picked up her phone and typed back.

“Got it. I’ll come with you to your training tomorrow morning.”

Realizing she was busy, Gaylord excused himself and left.

Jasmine, thrilled to see the reply, called Charlene immediately.

“Mom, you finally have time tomorrow!” Jasmine exclaimed as soon as Charlene answered.

“Yeah,” Charlene replied.

Jasmine was bubbling with excitement. “When will you be home tonight?”

“Mom won’t be home tonight,” Charlene said, her eyes glued to her computer screen. “Send me the time and place for your training tomorrow. I’ll meet you there directly.”

Jasmine had just gotten home from school. Standing in the large foyer of her house, she looked around at the few bustling staff members, realizing she couldn’t even remember the last time she saw Charlene at home.

Hearing her mom’s words made her feel a bit down, but the thought of her mom being there for her training brightened her spirits. “Okay, I’ll get Dad to send you the details!”

Charlene paused before replying, “Alright, I’ll be waiting for it.”

She added, “You home now?”

“Just got in.”

“Good,” Charlene said. “I have some work to finish up. Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will, Mom. You take care too.”

“Will do.”

Chapter 374

After chatting with Jasmine and hanging up the phone, it only took about ten minutes for Thorne to text Charlene the time and place for Jasmine’s training the next day.

But that was it-just the time and location. Nothing else, not even an extra word.

The next day, Charlene arrived at the fencing club a few minutes before Jasmine did.

Jasmine showed up in the car with just her driver. Thorne wasn’t there.

As soon as she got out of the car, Jasmine beamed and grabbed Charlene’s hand, leading her into the fencing club.

No sooner had they entered than Charlene’s phone buzzed with a call from Stewart.

“Sweetie, let me take this call,” Charlene told Jasmine.

“Okay, I’ll go find my coach,” Jasmine replied, nodding.

Charlene answered the call. Stewart just had a few questions, and after a short chat, they hung up.

Jasmine hadn’t gone far. Her coach spotted her and greeted her warmly, “Hey, Minnie! Here already?”

He glanced around, then asked, “Are Ms. Hawkins and Mr. Henderson not with you today?”

“Nope, today my mom came with me!” Jasmine chirped happily.

Charlene overheard the conversation as she stood by the door. After a moment, she stepped inside.

The coach noticed Charlene, his eyes lighting up with surprise. “Ah, miss, are you here to-?”

“Mom!” Jasmine interrupted, smiling brightly.

The coach paused, then chuckled, “So you’re Minnie’s mom?”

Charlene nodded and shook his hand.

For the past six months, Jasmine had been coming to the club with Thorne, Vesta, or both accompanying her.

The coach knew Vesta was Thorne’s girlfriend but hadn’t realized she wasn’t Jasmine’s mother.

It was always Thorne or his girlfriend bringing Jasmine to her fencing lessons, and her real mother had never been around, leading him to assume that Jasmine’s mom and Thorne were either divorced or that she had passed away.

With Charlene now here, it was clear Jasmine’s mother was alive, suggesting she and Thorne were simply divorced.

Why Thorne and Charlene divorced was none of his business. From what he’d seen, Thorne and Vesta seemed happy, and Jasmine got along well with her.

Whether Jasmine’s closeness to Vesta was with Charlene’s blessing was something he couldn’t guess, so he avoided the topic, opting instead to praise Jasmine to Charlene. “Minnie’s got a real knack for fencing. She’s got talent and enthusiasm, and she’s doing really well. I’d say she’s got a good shot at placing in the top three at next month’s competition.”

Charlene nodded. Before she could respond, Jasmine came over, taking her hand and asking, “Mom, will you come with me to change?”

Charlene nodded again.

Once Jasmine was suited up in her fencing gear, the training commenced.

Her coach was reputedly a former fencing champion, and his skills were evident. But it was clear that Jasmine had something special. Maybe it was a natural gift, or maybe it was her fearless approach-she moved with agility, attacked with boldness, defended swiftly, and her reflexes were sharp.

In the flurry of her movements, Charlene could almost glimpse the future- a vision of Jasmine, grown up, competing fiercely. It was bittersweet, knowing she might not always be there by her side.

After about half an hour of training, Jasmine ran over, eyes bright with anticipation, asking, “Mom, was I good?”

Charlene didn’t know much about fencing, but she’d done some research online the night before to get a basic understanding of the sport.

She took the small towel Jasmine handed her and wiped her daughter’s sweat, genuinely praising her, “You were fantastic.”

Then she turned to the approaching coach and added, “Thank you, I really appreciate your hard work.”

The coach smiled modestly. “Just doing my job. But honestly, Minnie’s progress isn’t all down to me. She came to us with a solid foundation.”

Thorne and Vesta were both skilled fencers, and it was clear Jasmine’s interest in the sport was sparked by them. For Jasmine, they were her first teachers in fencing.

Chapter 375

Although the coach hadn’t explicitly stated it, Charlene easily read between the lines.

Even if Jasmine’s coach hadn’t said anything, Charlene could have guessed that Jasmine took up fencing because of Thorne or Vesta’s influence.

Charlene didn’t dwell on it too much.

Despite having relinquished custody of Jasmine and knowing she might not be a big part of Jasmine’s future, Jasmine was still her flesh and blood. No matter how distant they might become, she wanted the best for her daughter.

As long as fencing was beneficial for Jasmine, that was enough for her.

Who inspired Jasmine to learn wasn’t important to her.

Charlene didn’t hover over Jasmine during training sessions.

That morning, as Jasmine’s practice wrapped up, Charlene was engrossed in her phone, researching something, when she felt someone approach.

She looked up, and sure enough, Thorne’s deep-set eyes met hers.

Charlene looked away almost immediately after making eye contact.

“What kind of model data is that?” Thorne asked.

Charlene tucked her phone away without answering.

Thorne seemed ready to continue the conversation, but then Jasmine finished her session, removed her mask, and ran over. “Dad!”

Thorne chuckled, ruffling her hair. “All done training?”

“Yup!” Jasmine replied, then turned to Charlene, asking her to wipe her sweat. She looked up at both Thorne and Charlene. “I’m hungry. Can we go grab some lunch?”

“Sure,” Thorne agreed.

Jasmine looked at Charlene. “Mom, what do you feel like eating?”

As Charlene finished wiping Jasmine’s forehead, she said, “I have some things to take care of, so I won’t be joining you for lunch.” Jasmine paused, not entirely surprised.

This wasn’t the first time such a scenario had played out. Many times, when she and her dad wanted to have a meal with her mom, Charlene would plead busy.

Jasmine had hoped that since Charlene had spent the whole morning with her, maybe today would be different, and they could actually have lunch together.

But alas…

Jasmine’s disappointment was evident as she pouted, her gaze dropping to the floor.

Thorne spoke up, “Why don’t you join us? I promise I won’t bring up anything you don’t want to discuss.”

Charlene’s reluctance to join them wasn’t just about avoiding discussions about Neural Nexus Tech.

“No, you two go ahead,” she replied.

She didn’t mind dining with Jasmine but with both of them? There was no need.

Her tone was calm but firm.

Seeing her resolve, Thorne smiled slightly and didn’t press further. “Alright then.”

Jasmine’s disappointment was palpable as her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Charlene hesitated, then gently stroked Jasmine’s hair. “Next time, when I have some free time, we’ll go out for a meal together.”

Despite Charlene’s attempt to comfort her, Jasmine’s spirits didn’t lift much. But she wasn’t as despondent as before and nodded quietly.

Feeling she had said all she could, Charlene picked up her bag to leave. Jasmine, reluctant to let her go, clutched Charlene’s hand and looked up imploringly.

“Mom, can you come to my competition next month?”

Chapter 376

At Jasmine’s place, she, Thorne, and Charlene couldn’t exactly coexist peacefully. Jasmine had told Charlene, “Come with me to the event,” which was quite different from “You should come along too.” It was clear Jasmine understood the dynamics at play.

Jasmine had chosen Charlene for an important event, a decision that Charlene found herself less than thrilled about. The event was happening next weekend, and generally, Charlene’s weekends were pretty much open. After all, when kids have an important event, it’s a big deal for the family. Most parents tend to prioritize their kids’ needs.

In the past, Charlene would have done the same, making Jasmine’s needs her own priority, pushing aside all other distractions. But now… Things were different.

Charlene noticed the eager anticipation in Jasmine’s eyes. Still, she responded somewhat ambiguously, “I’ll see if I can make it. If nothing urgent comes up, I’ll be there with you.”

Over the past six months, Jasmine had become quite adept at deciphering Charlene’s words. She had noticed a pattern: whenever Charlene used phrases like “we’ll see” or “if,” it was almost certain that she wouldn’t be there.

Hearing this, Jasmine felt a familiar sting in her nose, her eyes beginning to well up. She let go of Charlene’s hand, sniffled a bit, and simply replied with an “Oh,” not pushing the matter further.

Charlene saw this and, though it was impossible to be completely unaffected, she stuck to her decision. She reached out, intending to ruffle Jasmine’s hair before leaving. However, when she did, Jasmine turned her head away, her lips pouting in defiance.

Charlene paused, withdrew her hand, and without attempting to console her, turned and walked away.

Thorne watched the scene unfold without attempting to stop Charlene or convince her otherwise. Jasmine, still facing away, listened keenly as the sound of high heels tapping on the wooden floor faded into the distance. Realizing Charlene had indeed left without a word of comfort, Jasmine could no longer hold back. She turned, clinging to Thorne’s leg, and burst into tears.

Jasmine’s coach watched, a bit taken aback. Jasmine was much sharper than most kids her age, with a lively spirit and a strong sense of self. Over the past six months, many of her peers at the fencing club had shed tears for various reasons, but this was the first time he’d seen Jasmine cry.

That morning, Charlene had been attentive and caring towards Jasmine, agreeing to everything with warmth and patience. It was surprising to see her leave so resolutely, aware of Jasmine’s disappointment.

It seemed to the coach as if Charlene no longer wanted Jasmine as her daughter, a level of detachment that surprised him. Typically, a father might have been upset, perhaps even confronted the mother for such behavior, but Thorne’s expression revealed no such intention.

There were no accusations or arguments between Charlene and Thorne. He simply watched her leave, silently.

Thorne bent down, picked Jasmine up, and gently wiped her tears with his thumb. “Feeling that upset, huh?”

Jasmine clung to his neck, her sobs intensifying as she complained, “Mom doesn’t care that I’m sad… she just left…”

Thorne nodded, “Yeah, I saw that.”

Jasmine’s cries grew louder, more heartbroken, “Does that mean she doesn’t love me anymore?”

Thorne chuckled softly, “Not at all.”

Jasmine sniffled, looking at him with wide eyes, “Really?”

Thorne pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her nose, “I promise.”

Jasmine felt a bit better, but remembering how Charlene had left without comforting her, she started to tear up again, “Then why didn’t she try to make me feel better?”

Thorne pinched her rosy cheeks gently, smiling without saying more.

Jasmine, still upset, pointed at him accusingly, “I’m so sad and you’re just laughing…”

Thorne accepted Jasmine’s backpack from the coach, balancing it as he held her. “How about this: I take you out for lunch to make it up to you?”

Jasmine hesitated, “I don’t want that, I just want Mom.”

“That’s something I can’t promise, sweetheart. You’ve seen for yourself, with your mom, I don’t really have much say.”

Jasmine pouted, falling silent as they headed out.

Chapter 377

Stewart Ferguson’s attorney had a meeting with Neural Nexus Tech last week to discuss terminating a contract, but they couldn’t reach an agreement. By the end of the day, they had already filed a lawsuit in court.

While Charlene Ross and Vesta Hawkins were having a heated argument at Neural Nexus Tech last week, Stewart was away on a business trip in another state.

Perhaps since she hadn’t seen Stewart, Vesta wasn’t ready to give up. When Charlene arrived at work on Monday, she saw Vesta once more.

They exchanged glances but didn’t acknowledge each other.

When Charlene returned to the office, she found Stewart already there.

“You’re in early,” she remarked.

Stewart shrugged. “I wanted to avoid any confrontation, so I came in about half an hour early.”

Charlene laughed at his candidness.

Meanwhile, Dalton Ramirez was visiting PrimeStar Technologies to discuss some matters with Stewart. As he stepped out of the elevator, he immediately noticed Vesta.

He had heard about the incident between PrimeStar and Neural Nexus Tech from the previous week.

Seeing Vesta there wasn’t surprising, and he understood why she would show up so early.

Approaching her, he asked with concern, “How long have you been waiting? Haven’t seen Mr. Ferguson yet?”

“It’s been about half an hour. I don’t think Mr. Ferguson is in the office yet. So no, I haven’t seen him,” Vesta replied. Then she asked, “Are you here to discuss

business with Mr. Ferguson?”

Dalton nodded, “Yes.”

Uncertain whether Stewart was in yet, Dalton furrowed his brows. Just then, Stewart’s secretary, Chester, came out to greet him and his assistant. “Mr. Ramirez, please come in.”

Dalton paused, “Is Mr. Ferguson inside?”

Chester smiled, “Yes, he is.”

Dalton glanced over at Vesta.

Vesta walked up and said to Chester, “I’m Vesta Hawkins from Neural Nexus Tech.

I really need to speak with Mr. Ferguson. Could you please-“

“Sorry, Ms. Hawkins, but it seems we don’t have an appointment scheduled for you,” Chester interrupted and then turned back to Dalton, saying, “Mr. Ramirez, this way, please.”

Dalton pursed his lips in mild annoyance, about to speak, when Vesta interjected, “I really have something important to discuss with Mr. Ferguson. I can wait here. I promise not to take up much of his time, just ten minutes.”

Chester nodded with a smile and then looked towards Dalton.

Finding himself in a tough spot, Dalton gave Vesta a nod and followed Chester into PrimeStar.

Chester led them directly to Stewart’s office.

Once inside, Chester didn’t mention Vesta to Stewart at all.

Dalton noticed this and frowned.

As they began discussing business, Stewart greeted Dalton with a certain politeness.

“Mr. Ramirez, good to see you, please have a seat.”

Dalton sat down, and as Stewart instructed Chester to bring them coffee, Dalton said, “Ms. Hawkins from Neural Nexus Tech has been waiting for you for quite a while. Mr. Ferguson, perhaps you could invite her in for a moment?”

Stewart chuckled, “Oh, is that so? But I have my reasons for handling it this way, Mr. Ramirez. Let’s focus on our matters first, shall we?”

Dalton realized Stewart was well aware of Vesta’s presence but had no intention of meeting her.

Dalton frowned. “Mr. Ferguson, I’ve heard about what happened. Sure, Neural Nexus Tech made a mistake, but does it really warrant terminating the contract? Why make things difficult for Ms. Hawkins over personal grievances?”

Stewart laughed, though his tone was icy. “Whether it’s grounds for termination is for me to decide. If I believe it’s necessary, then I have my reasons, Mr. Ramirez. I think this is a matter concerning my company, not yours.”

Dalton had suspected Charlene’s influence over Stewart was leading him to act against Vesta. In the past, Stewart had made decisions that seemed out of character, clearly swayed by Charlene.

Despite Stewart’s arrogance, Dalton always thought he was a decent guy.

Dalton assumed that after the first incident, Stewart would realize it was wrong to let personal biases affect business decisions.

Yet, here they were again, with Stewart showing no signs of backing down.

Dalton’s expression hardened, and he couldn’t help but say, “Mr. Ferguson, aren’t you worried that Mr. Wagner might be disappointed if he finds out about this?” Stewart raised an eyebrow, chuckling, “Mr. Ramirez, are you threatening me?”

Dalton replied coolly, “I’m not threatening you, just stating facts. I doubt Mr. Wagner would be pleased to see his most valued student behave in such a -“

Chapter 378

Stewart sat with his legs crossed, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Turned into what, exactly? Smitten by charm, or blind to right and wrong?”

Both, if you ask me.

Of course, Dalton didn’t say that out loud.

Stewart seemed to read his thoughts. “Funny,” he chuckled. “I have a feeling that the one who’s blind and smitten isn’t me, but someone else entirely.”

Before Dalton could respond, Stewart continued, “And as for who my mentor values the most, well, it’s not me. You flatter me too much, Mr. Ramirez.”

Dalton was taken aback. Even bringing up Kenton Wagner hadn’t fazed Stewart. For Stewart wasn’t about to let Dalton off easy. “If you feel the need to stand up, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Ramirez, you’re welcome to terminate our contract. Of course, you’d have to compensate PrimeStar for any losses.”

Dalton thought he was speaking reasonably. But Stewart was clearly hostile, even suggesting ending their business relationship.

It was absurd.

Dalton pressed his lips together, trying to maintain his composure. “Mr. Ferguson, there’s no need to act on impulse-“

Stewart met his gaze steadily. “I’m not acting on impulse. I’m quite serious.”

Dalton was momentarily stunned.

Stewart’s eyes were cold and detached, but his expression was serious. In that moment, Dalton realized Stewart meant every word.

Was it really necessary to go this far just because he spoke on Vesta’s behalf?

The more serious Stewart seemed, the more Dalton felt he was being unreasonable.

Dalton tightened his lips, searching for words, but Stewart had already lost interest in the conversation.

Standing up, Stewart said coolly, “Since you’re not here to discuss business, Mr. Ramirez, I won’t keep you. Chester, show him out.”

Dalton’s face darkened. “Mr. Ferguson!”

Stewart’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “You’re awfully invested in someone. else’s girlfriend, Mr. Ramirez. I wonder if Mr. Henderson is aware of your concern for Mr. Hawkins?”

Dalton paused, lowering his gaze, his tone softening. “Mr. Hawkins and I have a business relationship. She seemed genuinely eager to resolve things with you, so I thought I’d try to mediate.”

“Is that so?”

Stewart wasn’t interested in probing Dalton’s feelings for Vesta further. “I’m not in the mood for business discussions right now, Mr. Ramirez. Please, leave.”

“Mr. Ferguson!”

“Chester, show him out.”

Stewart’s firm stance left Dalton with no choice. After a lingering glance, he turned and left.

Outside PrimeStar, Dalton found Vesta still waiting, and he stopped.

Vesta looked up and asked, “Done already, Mr. Ramirez?”

Dalton hesitated before replying, “Yes.”

Then he added, “I spoke with Mr. Ferguson. He knows you’re waiting, but he doesn’t seem inclined to meet with you. It might be best if you head home and rest, Mr. Hawkins.”

Vesta shook her head. “This is really important to me. I still want to see Mr. Ferguson. You go ahead if you have other matters, Mr. Ramirez.”

Seeing the worry etched on Vesta’s face, Dalton felt a pang of sympathy.

But he’d done all he could to help her.

Just then, a thought struck him-Kenton.

If Kenton knew what Stewart was up to, he might just rein him in a bit.

He and Vesta were merely business partners, and no matter how much he sympathized with her, he had no grounds to intervene further.

Before leaving, he simply said, “Well, I’ll be off then. Until next time.”

Vesta smiled and nodded.

Dalton turned and walked away.

Once in his car, he hesitated for a few minutes before calling Abelard Ramirez. It was hours later when Abelard returned his call, asking, “What’s up?”

Dalton hesitated before speaking. “It’s not a big deal, really. It’s just… Stewart’s success has made him a bit reckless and thoughtless in his actions lately-“

Chapter 379

Before Dalton could even finish his sentence, Abelard cut him off, “Are you trying to say that Stewart sided with Charlene again and gave Ms. Hawkins a hard time?”

Dalton was genuinely taken aback by Abelard’s spot-on guess. “How did you know, old man? Do you already know what went down?”

Abelard chuckled, “I didn’t know. Just a lucky guess.”

The thing was, if Charlene and Stewart had initially agreed to work with his somewhat clueless son because of him, they wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for him at work without reason. His son wasn’t the type to stir up trouble either, which meant that any conflict probably wasn’t directly between Dalton and them.

It seemed more likely that someone Dalton cared about had run into issues with Charlene and Stewart. And that someone was probably Vesta.

Earlier that year, when he met up with Geoffrey, Charlene, and the gang for dinner, they happened to bump into Ms. Hawkins at the restaurant entrance. Abelard had noticed how attentive Dalton was to her, and given her poise and charm, he had approved.

That was until Hickey Watson informed him that Ms. Hawkins was actually Thorne Henderson’s girlfriend. Abelard wasn’t privy to the intricacies of Charlene and Thorne’s relationship, but he did notice the odd expressions Charlene and Stewart had when they saw Vesta and her father. Clearly, there was no love lost there.

Charlene didn’t seem like the type to pick fights easily, so if there was tension with his son, it likely had something to do with Vesta.

With that hunch, Abelard had called Dalton to confirm. And sure enough, it was all because of Vesta that there was any discord.

Dalton believed that Charlene was intimidated by Vesta’s talent, fearing Stewart might develop feelings for her, so she deliberately targeted Vesta. Stewart, according to Dalton, was just blindly supporting Charlene, which nearly made Abelard laugh out of disbelief.

“So, what’s your plan?” Abelard questioned with a bemused grin. “You want me to call Kenton and fill him in so he can rein Stewart in?”

“Exactly,” Dalton replied. “Stewart’s behavior this time is just too out of line. If this keeps up-

Abelard interrupted him. He had no intention of revealing the truth. “I can’t do that for you. If you want to help Ms. Hawkins, you’ll have to get in touch with Kenton yourself.”

Dalton frowned, “It’s not just about helping her, I actually like Stewart. I don’t want him going down this path-“

So, Dalton thought the root of the problem was Charlene?

Abelard’s patience was thinning. “Stewart’s being reckless? I don’t know about that. Maybe you’re the one who’s biased because you’re fond of Vesta-“

“Old man, you don’t know anything about it. How can you say I’m the one who’s biased?” Dalton shot back.

Abelard sighed. “Alright, then tell me what happened.”

Dalton gave him a rundown of the situation.

After listening, Abelard said, “This whole mess was Ms. Hawkins’ fault to begin with. As the company head, she should have sorted things out promptly. Instead, she sided with her staff and family against PrimeStar’s employees. If I were Stewart, I’d be upset too.”

“Besides, this shows that Ms. Hawkins and her family have poor judgment and don’t respect their business partners. If they weren’t worried about the financial hit from ending the contract with PrimeStar, I doubt they’d even apologize. From Stewart’s perspective, it’s reasonable not to want to continue working with them.” Dalton quickly defended Vesta, “No, they apologized to PrimeStar’s employees right away. And she even called Stewart personally to apologize, showing a lot of sincerity.”

Dalton believed that if it weren’t for the bad blood between Charlene and Vesta, Stewart wouldn’t even consider terminating the contract with Neural Nexus Tech over something so minor.

“Those are just surface gestures,” Abelard said curtly. “Ms. Hawkins is already in a relationship. When I brought this up before, you said you understood. Initially, I thought she was impressive, but her handling of this makes me question her character. Honestly, son, you and Thorne both have questionable taste.”

Dalton hadn’t expected Abelard to say that. He wanted to argue Vesta’s case, to show Abelard just how remarkable she was, but Abelard cut him off again. “Look, if you want to help her, I won’t stop you. But don’t expect me to get involved.”

With that, Abelard ended the call.

Chapter 380

Abelard was being stubborn, refusing to help out, which left Dalton considering reaching out to Kenton himself.

There was just one snag….

He didn’t have Kenton’s contact information.

Dalton shot Abelard a message asking for Kenton’s number, but Abelard promptly replied with just two words: “Not happening.”

Before Dalton could even process that, another message popped up from Abelard: “I’ve already talked to Hickey too. Don’t waste your time.”

Dalton was really starting to get annoyed.

He tried calling Abelard again, but now Abelard wasn’t picking up.

Since Abelard and Hickey were a no-go…

Dalton thought of York Watson.

He remembered York mentioning that he’d crossed paths with Kenton in a work context. Plus, they’d even shared a meal once.

With this in mind, Dalton reached out to York.

York called back later that evening, and when Dalton asked for Kenton’s contact info, York replied, “I don’t have Mr. Wagner’s contact details.”

“No way. Didn’t you have dinner with him and my old man? Didn’t you guys exchange numbers?”

York insisted, “No, we didn’t.”

Dalton wasn’t buying it and pressed, “Really, or did my old man tell you not to share it?”

“Really,” York replied, seemingly puzzled. “We had dinner, sure, but we’re not close. I think, to Mr. Wagner, I’m pretty much a stranger. He’s not the kind of guy who goes out of his way to look after the younger folks. He’s pretty aloof.”

Hearing this, Dalton believed York didn’t have Kenton’s contact info.

York then asked, “Why do you need Mr. Wagner’s contact anyway?”

“Just need to discuss something with him.”

From Dalton’s earlier hints, it seemed he had already asked Abelard for Kenton’s number and got turned down. Heck, Abelard even made sure no one else would give it to him.

Putting two and two together, York asked, “Is there some drama going on between Ms. Hawkins and Stewart?”

Dalton paused. “Is it that obvious?”

York stayed silent.

Dalton had once mentioned that Charlene and Stewart seemed to be a thing. Charlene supposedly had issues with Vesta because she was worried that Vesta might steal Stewart away, given how impressive Vesta was.

Dalton had also mentioned that Vesta had met Kenton and wanted to become his student, but Kenton didn’t take her on because she wasn’t up to his standards.

Charlene, on the other hand, was already Kenton’s student, and her achievements in the Al field were well-known. Professionally speaking, Charlene clearly outshone Vesta.

Of course, you can’t always predict whether one woman will be jealous of another based solely on their professional accomplishments, but from what York knew of Charlene, she wasn’t the petty type.

He recalled a Christmas party last year where Charlene and Vesta had run into each other. Their frosty exchange made it clear they didn’t get along.

York wasn’t sure what had caused the rift between them, but he suspected Stewart wasn’t the root of it…

In fact, Stewart’s attitude towards Vesta seemed off.

Even if Charlene was his old school buddy, if it were just a minor squabble between her and Vesta, he wouldn’t be backing Charlene unconditionally, especially when it came to business…

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