Unknown Divorce: Revelation Beyond Time Novel by Miss Lyra (Chapters 461 to 470) 

Chapter 461

After her assistant left, Vesta felt a growing weight settle over her.

Technology was the lifeblood of the company.

With Axiom Flux Technologies blazing a trail ahead of them, if Neural Nexus Tech wanted even a foothold in the autonomous vehicle market, they’d have to achieve another technological breakthrough-something even more significant than before.

But breakthroughs like that were nearly impossible to force.

So far, she’d already poured six or seven hundred million dollars into Neural Nexus Tech.

But now, with Axiom Flux Technologies stirring up the waters, the future of Neural Nexus Tech looked more uncertain than ever. If she kept investing, and Neural Nexus Tech failed to deliver a breakthrough that truly made waves, it would be like tossing a billion-maybe even two billion-straight down the drain.

And yet, the idea of giving up here made her stomach twist with frustration.

Should she press forward, or cut her losses?

Her thoughts wandered to Thorne.

But even someone as brilliant as him couldn’t guarantee the company would achieve the kind of breakthrough they needed, could he? Even if she asked, he’d never be able to give her a truly definitive answer.

Vesta sat there for a long while, lost in thought, until her assistant knocked and entered again, snapping her back to reality. She realized it was already midday.

“Mr. Hawkins, shall I arrange lunch for you?” her assistant asked.

Vesta glanced at her phone, saying nothing.

She was sure Thorne understood the blow Axiom Flux Technologies had dealt to Neural Nexus Tech even more clearly than she did. Given how well she knew him, he’d probably already guessed how Mr. Black, Mr. Falconer, and the others were feeling about Neural Nexus Tech right now.

She needed him now more than ever.

Yet, since she’d had dinner with Mr. Black yesterday, Thorne hadn’t reached out to her once.

She remembered how, at the press conference yesterday, Thorne’s attention had been completely fixed on Charlene onstage as if he’d forgotten Vesta even existed. The memory twisted in her chest, sharp and uncomfortable.

Maybe, just like her, he still hadn’t recovered from the impact Charlene made at that press conference.

***

Charlene had been working nonstop all day. It was after five when her phone finally rang.

It was Jasmine Henderson calling.

She glanced at the screen, hesitated, and answered, “Hey, Minnie. What’s up?”

“Mom, school’s almost out for summer! There’s a parents’ meeting tomorrow. Will you come with me? Please?”

Charlene paused. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d dealt with something like this.

“Summer break already?” she asked.

“Yep!” Jasmine chirped.

Charlene gathered herself and asked, “Is your dad busy?”

After the Axiom Flux Technologies launch, Vesta was probably buried in work. Thorne probably didn’t have time for Jasmine’s parents’ meeting either.

“Dad’s free,” Jasmine said, pouting a little. “But I want you to come, Mom. Just this once? Please? Can you come by tomorrow morning?”

Charlene relented. “Alright. I’ll be there.”

Jasmine squealed in delight. “Yay!”

“I’ve got work to finish, honey. We’ll talk more tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay! See you tomorrow, Mom!”

***

The next morning.

Charlene drove over to Jasmine’s school. As soon as Jasmine

spotted her, she ran straight into her arms. “Mom!”

Charlene hugged her, ruffling her hair, then took her hand and walked with her into the building.

Sally’s mom and Ms. Payne, Jasmine’s teacher, both looked surprised to see Charlene there in person.

After the last family event, it had always been Thorne showing up for school activities-she’d barely been involved at all.

“Hello, Mrs. Henderson,” Ms. Payne greeted her warmly. “It’s been a while.”

“It has,” Charlene replied, exchanging pleasantries.

Ms. Payne gave her a rundown of how Jasmine had been doing at school lately. From their conversation, Charlene could tell Jasmine was genuinely happy at home and in class. Thorne really was paying close attention to her.

During the meeting, Jasmine tugged on Charlene’s hand and whispered, “Mom, we haven’t gone out for lunch together in ages. Can we go somewhere after this? Just the two of us?”

Charlene smiled. “Of course.”

But as they left the school together, hand in hand, Charlene spotted Thorne getting out of his car at the curb.

Jasmine lit up at the sight of him, not surprised at all. “Daddy, you came!”

Thorne met Charlene’s eyes before answering, his tone gentle. “Yeah, I’m here.”

Chapter 462

Jasmine held Charlene’s hand in one and tugged Thorne’s sleeve with the other. “Come on, let’s go eat!” she chirped.

Charlene hesitated, trying to slip her hand from Jasmine’s grasp. But Jasmine suddenly piped up, “You know, it’s been ages since I had dinner with both my mom and dad.”

Charlene paused, glancing at the little girl’s beaming face as Jasmine clung to her and Thorne, surrounded by other children, happily flanked by their parents. Charlene’s heart twisted.

She’d kept Jasmine when the unexpected pregnancy happened, her decision alone. For years after, Thorne had barely been involved in Jasmine’s life.

Only in the last couple of years had Thorne started making an effort, but by then, she and Jasmine spent more time apart than together as a family.

The truth was, Jasmine had never really known what it was like to have both parents around, a normal family life.

In that, Charlene knew she’d let her daughter down.

She’d given birth to Jasmine, raised her, but had never really given her a typical childhood.

No matter what happened between her and Thorne, they would always be Jasmine’s parents.

Whatever the future held, even if they divorced, there would be times they’d have to sit down together to talk about Jasmine’s future.

A family meal like this, really, wasn’t so hard.

“Mom?” Jasmine shook her hand and looked up at her with bright eyes when she didn’t respond.

Snapping back to the moment, Charlene glanced at Thorne, silently asking his opinion.

He was already watching her, as if he could read her mind.

“What shall we eat?” he asked.

She looked away, her voice neutral. “You pick.”

Thorne nodded. “Alright.”

Soon, they each got into their cars and drove to the restaurant.

When they arrived, they were shown to a private booth. Jasmine slid into the middle seat, and Thorne handed Charlene the menu. Then he turned to her and asked, “Will you be coming by The Henderson Group this afternoon?”

“I’ve got other things to do, so I won’t make it.”

“Alright.”

He poured her some tea. Charlene nodded her thanks, then added, “Minnie’s birthday is coming up. How do you want to arrange it?” Charlene hadn’t celebrated Jasmine’s birthday in two years.

Last year, she had planned to fly over for Jasmine’s birthday, but Thorne never replied to her messages, and Jasmine seemed to be having such a good time that she clearly didn’t want her mother to come. So Charlene waited until Jasmine’s actual birthday to make the trip to Goldland.

She hadn’t expected things to go the way they did after she arrived. Remembering it now, Charlene’s voice was calm. “You can handle it.” By then, the divorce would be finalized, and Jasmine would be living with Thorne. He could celebrate however he wanted.

As for her, she might not even go.

While she was lost in thought, Jasmine spoke up. “Mom, will you come be with me on my birthday?”

Charlene managed a soft smile, not promising anything. “We’ll see. If I have time, I’ll come.”

Jasmine’s face fell. “Okay.”

Thorne got busy with phone calls after they ordered, taking call after call. Charlene barely spoke to him again for the rest of the meal.

When they’d finished eating, Charlene was ready to leave, but Jasmine grabbed her hand, begging her to stay a bit longer.

Charlene gave in.

Thorne seemed to have finished his business and didn’t rush off. Instead, he joined them as they headed to the arcade.

Charlene ignored him, and Thorne seemed to pick up on it. He didn’t press, just stood behind them watching Charlene teach Jasmine how to play the games.

After a while, Charlene kept quiet, but Jasmine worried Thorne might be bored. “Dad, do you want to play with us?”

Thorne glanced at Charlene, who didn’t look his way, and smiled. “No, that’s alright. I’m happy just watching you both have fun.”

“Okay then,” Jasmine said, content.

Chapter 463

Charlene and Jasmine kept playing their game, laughter echoing through the room.

Just then, Thorne’s phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he stepped away for some privacy before answering, “Hello?”

It was Vesta on the other end.

Ever since the Axiom Flux Technologies press conference-because of Charlene, and because she was genuinely concerned about Neural Nexus Tech’s future, Vesta’s nerves had been on edge. Thorne hadn’t reached out to her since yesterday afternoon, and now it was already past ten in the morning with still no word from him. Her anxiety only grew.

Trying to distract herself, she’d purposely left her phone behind during meetings and at lunch, hoping not to obsess over when he might finally contact her. But her resolve hadn’t lasted long. After lunch, she gave in and turned her phone back on, only to discover she’d missed a call from him around eleven. Back in her office, she found a new research report on the future market for autonomous vehicles on her desk.

Reading through the report, she realized just how little she’d understood about the scope of the self-driving car industry. The market was far larger than she’d ever imagined. Suddenly, the future for Neural Nexus Tech seemed full of promise.

Thorne had also included some pointers on technical development in his report. By the time she finished reading, the anxiety that had gnawed at her was replaced with a newfound confidence.

Composing herself, Vesta spoke, her voice tinged with relief and gratitude. “I was in a meeting this morning and left my phone behind. That’s why I missed your call.”

“Yeah, I heard,” Thorne replied. “Someone at your office told me.”

So he’d actually checked in with her colleagues when she didn’t answer, just to make sure she was alright? The thought made her smile.

“I read the report, too,” she continued. “I know what I need to do next.”

“Good,” Thorne said, his tone steady. “The market for autonomous vehicles is huge. If we can address some of our product’s weaknesses, Neural Nexus Tech still has a lot of potential.”

“Alright, I understand.” Vesta found herself softening, her voice gentle. “Did Minnie’s parent-teacher meeting go well? Have you eaten?”

“Yeah, the meeting’s over,” he replied.

Vesta wanted to keep talking, but another call came through. She made. quickly excused herself and hung up, already shifting back into work

Meanwhile, Charlene hadn’t paid much attention to Thorne’s call or who he might be speaking with. She glanced at the time; Jasmine’s afternoon classes would start soon. She wrapped up their game.

Jasmine clung to her, looking up with pleading eyes. “Mom, can you take me back to school?”

Thorne stayed silent, leaving the decision to Charlene.

Since the school wasn’t far, Charlene agreed.

This time, Thorne didn’t insist on coming along. He simply looked at Charlene and said, “Thank you.”

Driving Jasmine to school was hardly a burden, a far cry from the difficult times she’d left behind.

Charlene said nothing. She just ruffled Jasmine’s hair and said, “Let’s get going.”

Jasmine beamed. “Okay!”

Hand in hand, Jasmine waved goodbye to Thorne, then climbed into the car with Charlene. Thorne watched them drive away before heading to his own car and leaving as well.

Chapter 464

Later that afternoon, after Vesta wrapped up her work, she thought about inviting Thorne out for dinner. She called his phone several times, but each attempt went unanswered. Finally, she decided to ring Thorne’s assistant, Coy.

As soon as Coy picked up, Vesta asked, “I haven’t been able to reach Thorne. Is he still busy?”

Coy seemed surprised. “Didn’t you know? The boss flew overseas on business this afternoon.”

Vesta paused, caught off guard.

She honestly hadn’t known.

Thorne hadn’t mentioned a word to her.

“Was the trip a last-minute decision?” she pressed.

“Yes, it was.”

Even if the trip had come up suddenly, it wouldn’t have taken long for him to send her a text or give her a quick call.

But he hadn’t said anything at all…

The thought left her unsettled.

After a moment’s hesitation, Vesta grabbed her purse and left her home office, calling Jasmine as she walked.

Jasmine was sprawled out in the living room, piecing together a puzzle. Seeing Vesta’s name flash on her phone, she answered cheerfully, “Ms. Hawkins?”

“Hi, sweetheart, Vesta replied, her voice gentle. “Is Minnie home yet?”

“She’s home,” Jasmine confirmed.

Vesta smiled, “Did you have fun at the parent-teacher conference with your dad today?”

Jasmine giggled, “Ms. Hawkins, you got it mixed up! My mom came to the conference, not my dad.”

At the mention of Charlene, Vesta’s smile faded slightly, her tone softening. “Oh, I see…”

She paused, then continued, “I called your dad around lunch and asked if the conference was already finished. He said yes, so I just assumed he was the one who went.”

Having her mom there for the conference had left Jasmine in high spirits all day.

Now, hearing Vesta bring it up, Jasmine chirped, “Nope! But after it was over, Dad came to have lunch with Mom and me.”

Vesta’s finger lingered over the elevator button. “He had lunch with both of you? Was that your idea, Minnie?”

“No, it was Dad’s. He said he’d join us for lunch once he finished his work.”

He went out of his way to have lunch with Charlene?

Vesta’s smile faltered again. But then, considering that the cooling-off period for their divorce was almost over, maybe they still had important things to discuss, that’s probably why…

She tried to sound casual. “I see… Did your dad say anything to your mom during lunch?”

Jasmine, half-absorbed in her puzzle, had to think for a moment. “Not really… He kept trying to talk to Mom, but she didn’t seem very interested. It kind of looked like she didn’t really want to eat with him at all.”

Vesta lowered her gaze and murmured, almost to herself, “Is that SO?”

“Yeah.”

Vesta fell silent.

In truth, she knew that for the past two years-whether it was something big or small-Thorne and Charlene rarely spoke on the phone, relying almost entirely on text messages to handle things.

Even when it came to the divorce, Thorne could’ve sorted everything out with a message.

If anything, letting the lawyers handle it would’ve been even more straightforward.

And honestly, if Thorne wanted to do something, he didn’t need Charlene’s input.

Which meant, really, there was no reason for them to meet face-to-face.

Yet today, they had.

And from the sound of it, Thorne had made a point of seeing Charlene in person…

Chapter 465

The news about Axiom Flux Technologies had already reached the Ross family.

Charlene’s recent success made both Vernon and Helena genuinely happy for her.

To celebrate, the family decided to take her out for lunch that Saturday.

As Vernon’s car approached the restaurant and was about to enter the parking garage, another car nearly sideswiped them. The other driver had clearly misjudged their speed-it was obviously their fault-but Vernon, ever the gentleman who believed in keeping the peace, decided not to make a fuss.

Technically, Vernon had the right of way; his car was ahead, and he should have entered first. But the other driver tried to cut him off. Vernon frowned, rolled down his window, and prepared to reason with them.

It seemed the other party also wanted to make their case; their window came down at the same time.

But as soon as Vernon saw who was sitting inside, his expression turned icy.

Henley hadn’t expected to see Vernon and Helena either. Whatever words she’d had ready died in her throat.

Maureen, sitting in the passenger seat, and Katie Hawkins in the back, along with Georgina Spencer in the following car, all recognized Vernon as well.

None of them could quite believe the coincidence.

Vernon turned his gaze away and, before Henley could react, drove his car smoothly into the garage.

The outing had started off on a cheerful note, but Helena’s face hardened the moment she spotted Henley and the others.

Charlene slipped her arm through Helena’s, gently patting her hand in reassurance.

Thinking of her daughter’s recovery and Charlene’s own remarkable progress, Helena felt a wave of comfort. She realized it was time to look forward and not let the past dictate her mood. Gradually, her spirits lifted.

After parking, the Ross family-six in total-were the first to head into the restaurant.

Thanks to Helena’s new outlook, their group’s good mood went mostly undisturbed.

But the same couldn’t be said for the Hawkins and Spencer families.

As they watched the Ross family disappear inside, Katie, Georgina, Vesta, and the others couldn’t hide their sour expressions.

They, too, had heard all about Axiom Flux Technologies.

Even though Thorne’s support had given Neural Nexus Tech a new and promising direction, their recent investments had already gone up in smoke.

Worse, having a direction was one thing; the actual future of Neural Nexus was still a huge question mark.

On top of that, Georgina and Katie were both deeply unsettled.

At the Axiom Flux Technologies press conference, Charlene had publicly taken credit for the breakthrough, and Mr. Ashcroft himself had confirmed that all the technology developed in cooperation with PrimeStar was entirely Charlene’s achievement.

If that was true, then Charlene’s value had skyrocketed overnight-she could easily be worth billions.

But how was that possible?

Could Charlene really be so talented on her own?

Was it really true that Stewart hadn’t contributed? Was it not secretly his work after all?

Yet Charlene had publicly claimed all the credit…

With these thoughts swirling, the Hawkins and Spencer families couldn’t shake their mounting frustration.

Vesta felt it most keenly.

She balled her fists and said quietly, “Let’s just go inside.”

Snapped out of their thoughts, Katie and the others finally followed her into the restaurant.

Over an hour later, after their meal, as Vesta and her group were leaving, they overheard voices near the elevator:

“Our Stewart’s single now, you know. If you hear of any nice girls, do let us know.”

“Oh, don’t worry! After all these years, you don’t need to remind me-I’d never pass up a chance to introduce Stewart to a good match.”

Vesta looked up and realized it was Stewart’s mother speaking. But Darleen didn’t notice them as she stepped into the elevator. Maureen and Georgina recognized Darleen right away.

Georgina seemed to catch on to something and let out a knowing smile.

Vesta paused, and suddenly she understood what her grandmother found so amusing.

If all the technological breakthroughs announced at the Axiom Flux Technologies press conference were truly Charlene’s work, then yes, Charlene would indeed be worth billions.

More than that, if she were really that gifted, her future potential would be limitless.

She could very well develop even more groundbreaking technologies in the years to come.

In other words, if Charlene was as capable as she claimed, she was a walking gold mine.

With those credentials and that kind of talent, even the most selective families wouldn’t care that she’d been married before.

Given all this, why would Darleen pretend there was nothing between Charlene and Stewart, still pestering friends to find Stewart a new girlfriend?

It was obvious-Charlene’s so-called “breakthroughs” were far from the whole story.

Chapter 466

It wasn’t just Georgina and Vesta-everyone else was thinking the same thing.

Leah scoffed. “Didn’t I say from the start she’s not that capable? But none of you wanted to believe me.”

Rhoda chuckled. “Who could’ve guessed she’d have the nerve to fake things right in front of so many people? Isn’t that right, Vesta?”

Vesta didn’t reply, but a small, satisfied smile curled at her lips.

Leah, buoyed by the turn of events, said with delight, “Looks like that woman’s dream of marrying into the Ferguson family after the divorce isn’t going to be so easy now.”

Charlene’s so-called talents were clearly exaggerated, and the odds of her marrying into a wealthy family were slim to none. Which meant that neither Charlene nor the Ross family would be able to claw their way to the top anytime soon, if ever..

That thought alone put Georgina, Leah, and the others in high spirits.

As they got into the car, Georgina remarked with a grin, “Next Wednesday marks the end of the waiting period. Once Thorne gets back from overseas, they’ll basically be able to file the divorce papers right away.”

Leah’s eyes lit up. “Exactly! I can’t wait.”

She wasn’t even directly involved, but she still felt a rush of excitement. Even though she called Thorne “brother-in-law” every day, she knew that her sister’s relationship with Thorne had grown far beyond what a piece of paper could define. But the fact that, legally, Charlene and Thorne were still husband and wife had always bothered her on some level.

Georgina, Maureen, and the rest felt much the same. No matter how stable Thorne and Vesta’s relationship seemed, the knowledge that he was still, on paper, married to Charlene was a constant source of discomfort.

If it bothered them, it was no surprise that Vesta herself felt even worse about it.

Back when Thorne and Charlene’s relationship was rocky, Vesta had always believed she was the better woman in every respect, and she was certain Thorne could never have feelings for Charlene. So, at first, the legal bond between Thorne and Charlene hadn’t really bothered her.

But once Charlene began to prove herself at work-and the shift in Thorne’s attitude toward her became undeniable, Vesta couldn’t help but start feeling uneasy about their lingering marriage.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, Leah turned to her and asked, “By the way, sis, do you know when Thorne’s coming back from this business trip?”

When would Thorne be back? Honestly, Vesta wanted to know too.

Ever since she’d found out he was away, Thorne hadn’t contacted her-not once. And every time she called, he didn’t pick up.

That realization soured Vesta’s mood all over again.

But then she remembered: every year around this time, Thorne’s overseas business was always especially hectic. He was often so busy he barely had time to sleep, sometimes disappearing for days.

Maybe she was just overthinking things.

With that thought, Vesta managed to calm herself a little.

Still, when she got home, she tried calling Thorne again.

No answer.

It wasn’t until Tuesday that Thorne finally called her back.

When she saw his name on the screen, Vesta’s heart leapt. She answered right away. “Thorne, are you finally done with work?”

“Not yet,” Thorne replied. “It’s going to be busy for a while longer.”

Vesta’s smile faltered, but before she could say anything, Thorne continued, “Things are going to be hectic for the foreseeable future. I’ll get in touch when things settle down.”

Which meant he wouldn’t be able to make it back before the end of the waiting period.

And that meant the divorce from Charlene would have to be postponed.

Chapter 467

Monday morning, Charlene went to work as usual.

Her schedule was packed, shuttling between Axiom Flux Technologies and PrimeStar, barely getting a moment to catch her breath.

By Tuesday evening, as she stood in the elevator at the end of another exhausting day, Charlene glanced at the date on her phone and let her gaze drop, lost in thought.

Stewart, equally drained from his own workload, suddenly seemed to recall something. “Tomorrow’s the last day of the waiting period, isn’t it?” he asked, his voice low.

Charlene slipped her phone back into her bag. “That’s right,” she replied.

After so many years entangled with Thorne, it was all coming to an official end. Stewart found himself uncertain-should he be happy for her, or should he feel sorry? He’d never much liked Thorne, but knowing how deeply Charlene had loved him for years made this outcome bittersweet.

Still, even the hardest things eventually pass.

Once the divorce was finalized, Charlene could truly begin again.

With that in mind, Stewart just gave her shoulder a reassuring pat, choosing not to say much more.

The next morning, Charlene finished her run, had a quick breakfast, and returned to the office, ready to dive into work when her phone rang unexpectedly.

It was Thorne.

They’d agreed, during the paperwork, to meet on the very first day the waiting period was over and make the divorce official. Tomorrow was supposed to be that day; it made sense that Thorne would call.

She answered with a simple, “Hello.”

Before Thorne could say anything, Charlene cut in, “I’ll be there tomorrow morning at nine, sharp-“

Thorne interrupted, “I’m out of the country on business right now.”

Charlene paused, caught off guard. Before she could reply, Thorne continued, “I probably won’t be back for a few days. We’ll have to reschedule the appointment.”

She frowned, silent for a moment.

Sensing her frustration, Thorne apologized, “I’m sorry. This one’s on me.”

Charlene drew a slow breath and, after a brief pause, said quietly, “Understood.”

She hung up before he could say anything else.

Rubbing her temples, trying to compose herself, she barely had a moment before her phone buzzed again.

This time, it wasn’t Thorne…

It was York Watson.

Charlene’s frown deepened. She knew she’d be seeing York more often at the company’s headquarters in the future. They weren’t exactly working side by side, but their paths would inevitably cross. She liked York well enough, but right now, she simply wasn’t in the mood for anything more.

If she answered, she’d risk giving him hope. If she didn’t, it would seem rude.

After a moment’s hesitation, she took the call. “Hello?”

York’s voice was warm and pleasant. “Busy?”

“Sort of,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral.

He must have picked up on her unease because he chuckled gently. “I’m not on leave yet-just happened to have a break today, thought I’d give you a call. Even if my calls annoy you, I’m afraid I can’t promise to stop.”

Charlene said nothing, but York went on, “How have you been? Still swamped at work?”

“Yeah. It’s been busy.”

He hesitated, then asked, “And the divorce? Sorry if it’s not my place, but… You and Thorne were going to finalize it tomorrow, right?”

York didn’t know much about Charlene’s marriage, except that it seemed Thorne had pushed for the divorce and Charlene had simply gone along with it. He’d assumed everything was set in stone.

Before Charlene could respond, he continued, “I’m tied up for a few more days, but when I’m finally free-“

Charlene cut him off, her tone candid. “That was the plan, but it’s been delayed.”

York’s smile faltered for a split second. After a pause, he asked, “Can

I ask why? Was it you, or-?”

“He’s overseas for work. He can’t make it back in time.”

“So, once he returns, you’ll go through with it right away?”

“… Yeah.”

That was a relief. York couldn’t help but hope that by the time he was on break, Charlene’s divorce would be finalized. He kept the thought to himself.

Just then, Charlene spoke up, “Mr. Watson, the reason I took your call was actually to say-“

He interrupted, “You want to tell me you answered out of courtesy, not because you have any special feelings for me. You just didn’t want to be rude, and maybe to set things straight again. I get it.”

Charlene started to protest, “You-“

“I know,” York said, a smile in his voice. He found her

straightforwardness oddly endearing. “But my position stands.” He added, “I don’t have much time right now. Once I’m free, I’ll ask you out for dinner. We’ll talk then.”

With that, before she could reply, he ended the call.

Chapter 468

The days ticked by, and it wasn’t just Stewart and York waiting for Charlene’s divorce Granger was counting down, too.

Granger, in fact, knew the exact date: Thursday. That was when Charlene and Thorne were supposed to sign their divorce papers.

He’d been traveling for work a lot lately, hardly ever in town. But this week, he made a point of catching the red-eye back, arriving home in the early hours of Thursday morning. After a few hours’ rest, sometime after ten, he tried to distract himself with work. But eventually, impatience got the better of him, and he dialed Moran Albright’s number.

“It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with you and Thorne,” Granger said, aiming for casual. “How about lunch today? Let’s invite Thorne too.”

Moran replied, “I’m free, but Thorne can’t make it. He’s overseas on business, left a few days ago, and still hasn’t come back.”

A knot formed in Granger’s chest. “Thorne’s… out of the country?” So, they hadn’t gone through with the divorce today after all?

Granger had kept his distance from Thorne and the rest lately. He’d called Moran partly to fish for news about the divorce. If it was finalized, maybe today would be his chance-

But things hadn’t gone as he’d hoped.

“So, any idea when Thorne’s coming back?” he pressed.

Moran, who was no longer as invested in the whole divorce saga as he’d been at the start, just shrugged it off. “No clue. You know how hectic he gets around this time every year-no telling how long he’ll be gone.”

Granger stared down at his phone, suddenly silent.

After hanging up, he looked at Charlene’s number in his contacts. He’d thought today might finally be the day he could call her. But now, it seemed he’d have to wait a little longer.

Busy days always seemed to pass in a blur.

Friday afternoon, Charlene was at work when Jasmine called. School

had just let out for summer break, and with Thorne out of town, Jasmine wanted to come stay with her.

Charlene turned her down.

From what Thorne had said on the phone a few days ago, he’d already been away on business for several days. She’d assumed he’d be back soon, but another week had slipped by, and still, there was no sign of him.

Jasmine spent a few days alone at home after school let out, but quickly grew restless. By Wednesday, she called Charlene again: “Mom, Dad’s been gone for ages. I don’t like being home by myself. Can I come stay with you?”

The loneliness in her daughter’s voice made Charlene’s grip on the phone tighten. After a pause, she replied, “I’ll come home right after work. For now, go stay with your grandma, okay?”

Hearing her mother finally agree, Jasmine cheered up and hurried to pack her things for the Ross family’s house.

Of course, Thorne’s unexpected business trip-and the resulting delay in finalizing the divorce-hadn’t gone unnoticed by the Ross family.

That evening, over dinner, the old matriarch couldn’t help but ask Jasmine, “Minnie, do you have any idea when your father’s coming home?”

Jasmine, oblivious to the undercurrents among the adults, answered between bites, “Dad said he’s not sure. When I called him yesterday, he said he probably wouldn’t make it back in time for my birthday.”

Helena frowned at that.

The mandatory waiting period was nearly over, and still there was no word on Thorne’s return. Would he really not be back until after the deadline?

If so, would they have to wait through another cooling-off period before they could finally get divorced?

Charlene caught the implication, and her brow furrowed as well.

Chapter 469

Monday morning, Charlene had just reached the lobby of her office building when she nearly bumped into Gaylord, who was arriving for work as well.

Gaylord greeted her with a smile. “Morning.”

“Morning,” Charlene replied.

No sooner had she spoken than she spotted York across the lobby.

Seeing him, Charlene slowed her steps for a moment.

Gaylord noticed York, too, and a frown creased his face.

York, seemingly unconcerned with Gaylord, walked directly toward Charlene. “I got back early yesterday morning. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, so I wanted to stop by and say hello.”

He really did just want to see her-nothing more.

Sensing her distance and not wanting to make things awkward or have her grow annoyed with him, York added quickly, “You look busy. Don’t mind me. I’ll be on my way in a minute.”

Charlene had said everything there was to say to York. Now that he’d shown up out of the blue, she honestly didn’t know what to say anymore.

So when he gave her an out, she took it. She nodded briefly, then turned and headed for the stairs.

Gaylord shot York a glance, then hurried to catch up with Charlene.

York watched her retreating figure for a long moment before turning and heading back to his car.

Inside his car sat a bouquet of flowers. He’d intended to give them to Charlene, but seeing how things were, he realized that if he actually handed them over, she’d probably start avoiding him altogether.

The thought drew a self-deprecating smile from York’s lips.

Upstairs, Gaylord pressed the elevator button, joining Charlene inside.

Noticing him watching her in silence, Charlene looked up. “What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing,” Gaylord replied, shaking his head.

But after a pause, he couldn’t help himself. “Does Mr. Watson ask to meet you often?”

“No,” Charlene said simply.

York’s job was unusual-he didn’t get many days off, so even if he wanted to see her, he rarely had the time.

Charlene’s attitude toward York had been clear enough just now; Gaylord actually felt relieved. Still, he couldn’t help worrying-if York ever grew more persistent, would Charlene eventually give in?

That thought led him to remember Granger.

As far as he knew, Granger liked Charlene, too. But Granger hadn’t shown up for quite some time, and, like Gaylord, he’d never really made a move.

Why was that?

Had he given up?

Lost in thought, Gaylord glanced at Charlene, hesitated, and finally asked, “I’m just a little curious…”

“Hm?” Charlene prompted.

“York’s got a lot going for him, but you don’t seem interested. Why is that?”

Gaylord wanted to know if there was something about York that put her off or if there was some red flag about relationships or marriage he should be aware of. If so, he’d want to be careful not to make the same mistake himself.

Charlene had never thought of Gaylord as someone who pried into other people’s business. It was the first time he’d ever asked something so personal, but she didn’t mind. “I’m not officially

divorced yet. How could I consider anyone else? Besides, I’m just not interested in Mr. Watson.”

Gaylord blinked, taken aback. All this time, he’d assumed Charlene was already divorced. “You… you’re not?”

She shook her head. “Not yet.”

Just as she finished speaking, the elevator doors slid open.

Charlene stepped out and headed back to her office, ready to get to work.

Gaylord stared after her, his mind blank for a moment.

As he watched her go, a new thought struck him: Maybe Granger hadn’t pursued Charlene because he knew she wasn’t officially divorced, not because he’d given up.

Or… maybe Granger knew Charlene’s husband?

Chapter 470

The next couple of days passed in a blur of busyness for Charlene, just like always.

Because she’d been leaving early and coming back late, even though Jasmine had moved in with the Ross family, mother and daughter barely saw each other. Thorne was just as busy with work, but Charlene heard he called Jasmine almost every day. She was never around when those calls happened, though, and had no idea what they talked about.

Jasmine’s birthday fell on a Friday.

Maybe it was because Thorne had always given her plenty of attention and love, but when it became clear he wouldn’t be able to make it home for her birthday, Jasmine didn’t seem all that upset. She just hugged Charlene’s arm and said, “It’s okay, Mom. As long as you’re with me on my birthday, that’s enough.”

Charlene had warned her she’d be working late that day too maybe only enough time to cook her a bowl of birthday noodles and give her a small present. Jasmine tried to take it in stride, but Charlene could see the disappointment flicker in her eyes.

It had been ages since Jasmine tasted one of her mother’s homemade cakes. She missed them-missed that warm, sweet ritual. She’d thought, at the very least, Charlene would find time to bake her a cake.

But living with the Ross family, Jasmine had seen for herself just how swamped her mother was. Even if she was disappointed, she didn’t throw a tantrum or make demands. She just sighed and said, “Okay, I understand…”

Charlene was truly overwhelmed these days. PrimeStar, The Henderson Group, Axiom Flux Technologies-every company seemed to have a mountain of issues waiting for her input. She was working late into the night, barely managing to keep her head above water.

It was Jasmine’s birthday, after all. She’d brought this child into the world. No matter what, she owed her a certain responsibility. Even if she and Thorne weren’t officially divorced yet, Charlene knew she’d already let Jasmine down by not being there for her.

Thinking about this, Charlene said, “If I get off work early tomorrow, I’ll bake you a cake.”

Jasmine brightened instantly. “Really? Thanks, Mom!”

But Thursday turned out to be absolute chaos. By the time Charlene finished her work, it was already three or four in the morning. She barely had time to go home, shower, and collapse into bed-it was five a.m. by then. With a meeting at Axiom Flux

Technologies scheduled for nine, there was no way she could make a cake.

All she managed was to cook a simple bowl of birthday noodles and hand Jasmine her gift before rushing out the door.

By the time she finally returned home that night, it was after nine.

She glanced at her phone, thinking about the present she’d left that morning and how she hadn’t even had a minute to wish Jasmine happy birthday in person. Her heart twisted with guilt.

Stewart noticed her troubled expression. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Jasmine’s birthday today,” Charlene replied quietly.

Stewart could understand the complicated feelings Charlene had toward her daughter. He knew that, no matter what, she still cared deeply.

He glanced at the clock. “It’s not too late. Go home-you can still spend some time with her.”

Charlene nodded.

She left the office and drove straight home.

When she walked in, Helena was still awake. The elderly woman greeted her in a gentle voice, “You’ve been gone all day. Thorne didn’t call, either. Minnie hasn’t been herself today.”

Charlene paused. She hadn’t expected Thorne to go a whole day without calling.

Helena sighed, patting her hand. “She’s not asleep yet. Go upstairs and be with her.”

Charlene nodded and headed upstairs.

Jasmine was sprawled across her bed, reading a comic. When Charlene opened the door, Jasmine looked up and managed a small, polite smile. “You’re back, Mom?”

“Yeah.” Charlene set down her purse, hesitating a moment before walking over. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy at work…”

“I get it,” Jasmine said, glancing up. “Mom, I really do.”

Jasmine seemed so mature, but Charlene could see she wasn’t truly happy. When Jasmine was happy, she loved to snuggle up and be a little clingy. In the past, Charlene always had ways to coax her daughter into a better mood. Now, standing there, she suddenly had no idea what to say or do.

It hit her then, on the surface, nothing had changed between them. But deep down, there was a distance that hadn’t been there before.

Just then, Jasmine’s phone buzzed.

She glanced down at the screen. When she saw the caller ID-“Dad”-her face didn’t light up, but she answered quickly, her tone a little flat. “Hello?”

Thorne’s cheerful voice came through the line. “Happy birthday, Minnie.”

Jasmine kept flipping through her comic, face blank. “Thanks.”

Thorne seemed to notice her mood, but wasn’t surprised. “Are you mad at me?”

Jasmine pressed her lips together and stayed silent.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I was on a plane all day and couldn’t call you…”

Still, Jasmine didn’t say a word.

Thorne chuckled. “Well, guess what? I’m right outside your grandmother’s building. Minnie, come down-“

Jasmine shot upright in bed. “Dad, you’re back? You’re not messing with me, are you?!”

Thorne’s voice was warm and smiling. “I came all this way just to spend your birthday with you. It’s only a little after ten-I made it in time.”

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