Chapter 161
After hanging up the phone, Charlene dove back into her work with renewed vigor,
By nine in the evening, after absorbing a wealth of information, Charlene felt a lot better and much more refreshed. That’s when Stewart called.
“Feel like hanging out?”
Half an hour later, Charlene arrived at the bar.
Stewart was waiting for her at the entrance, asking, “Fancy a drink?”
Charlene paused for a moment before responding, “Sure, why not.”
Stewart leaned in closer, peering into her eyes, “Rough day?”
“Getting better now.”
tewart didn’t pry further, instead, he ordered her a light, blue cocktail.
Holding the glass, Charlene sipped her drink slowly while listening to Stewart chat with his friends. Unbeknownst to both of them, they were being watched from the upstairs lounge.
Kelvin muttered, “So, it’s her with Stewart.”
His companion glanced in Charlene’s direction, visibly taken aback.
Kelvin chuckled, “Caught your eye, huh?”
His friend didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “You know her?”
“Yeah,” he said, “She’s the girl Dalton was into before he suddenly lost interest, the one I mentioned a few days ago.”
His friend observed Charlene, noting how her serene and clean aura stood out amidst the chaotic blend of colorful lights and booming music, making her seem almost out of place, yet undeniably graceful.
Stewart asked Charlene, “Wanna dance?”
Charlene wasn’t much of a dancer, but she was willing to give it a try, “Sure.”
On the dance floor, led by Stewart, Charlene began to move with the music. Gradually, she found her rhythm, swaying gently, a bit tipsy, her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and her eyes sparkled more seductively than usual… Kelvin, watching them, cursed under his breath, “Ms. Ross might not stir the same conquest desire as Ms. Hawkins, but she’s undeniably fresh and tempting. A real beauty!”
His friend remained silent.
Just then, Charlene felt her phone vibrate.
Without stopping, she checked her phone and immediately froze upon seeing the caller ID.
Stewart noticed her change in demeanor and leaned in, only to go pale, “It’s our professor!” Quickly, they left the dance floor.
As they were leaving, Charlene inadvertently caught sight of Kelvin and the handsome young man beside him. Not knowing Kelvin very well, Charlene diverted her gaze and moved over to join Stewart at the entrance of the bar. She answered the call with a hint of apprehension in her voice, “Professor…” meet me up at noon tomorrow.”
After hanging up the phone, Charlene dove back into her work with renewed vigor.
By nine in the evening, after absorbing a wealth of information, Charlene felt a lot better and much more refreshed. That’s when Stewart called.
“Feel like hanging out?
Half an hour later, Charlene arrived at the bar.
Stewart was waiting for her at the entrance, asking, “Fancy a drink?”
Charlene paused for a moment before responding, “Sure, why not.”
Stewart leaned in closer, peering into her eyes, “Rough day?”
“Getting better now.”
Stewart didn’t pry further, instead, he ordered her a light, blue cocktail.
Holding the glass, Charlene sipped her drink slowly while listening to Stewart chat with his friends.
Unbeknownst to both of them, they were being watched from the upstairs lounge.
Kelvin muttered, “So, it’s her with Stewart.”
His companion glanced in Charlene’s direction, visibly taken aback.
Kelvin chuckled, “Caught your eye, huh?”
His friend didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “You know her?”
“Yeah,” he said, “She’s the girl Dalton was into before he suddenly lost interest, the one I mentioned a few days ago.”
His friend observed Charlene, noting how her serene and clean aura stood out amidst the chaotic blend of colorful lights and booming music, making her seem almost out of place, yet undeniably graceful.
Stewart asked Charlene, “Wanna dance?”
Charlene wasn’t much of a dancer, but she was willing to give it a try, “Sure.”
On the dance floor, led by Stewart, Charlene began to move with the music. Gradually, she found her rhythm, swaying gently, a bit tipsy, her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, and her eyes sparkled more seductively than usual… Kelvin, watching them, cursed under his breath, “Ms. Ross might not stir the same conquest desire as Ms. Hawkins, but she’s undeniably fresh and tempting. A real beauty!”
His friend remained silent.
Just then, Charlene felt her phone vibrate.
Without stopping, she checked her phone and immediately froze upon seeing the caller ID.
Stewart noticed her change in demeanor and leaned in, only to go pale, “It’s our professor!”
Quickly, they left the dance floor.
As they were leaving, Charlene inadvertently caught sight of Kelvin and the handsome young man beside him.
Not knowing Kelvin very well, Charlene diverted her gaze and moved over to join Stewart at the entrance of the bar. She answered the call with a hint of apprehension in her voice, “Professor…”
“Come pick me up at noon tomorrow.”
Charlene blinked in confusion, “What?”
But the line had already gone dead.
Stewart eagerly asked, “What did the professor say?”
Charlene replied, “He wants me to pick him up at noon tomorrow.”
“Did he mention why? Or if I should come too?”
Charlene shook her head.
Stewart checked his phone, finding no messages from Kenton, and felt a sting of rejection, “The professor’s playing favorites.”
The lively atmosphere of the bar was indeed relaxing. Feeling much better, Charlene playfully pressed her hand against Stewart’s chest, “Feeling better now?”
“Not yet. You’re covering tonight’s tab, then I’ll feel better.”
“Got it,” she smiled.
Chapter 162
“Of course, that was a joke.”
How could Stewart ever let Charlene pick up the tab?
Besides, he was also worried that Kenton would find out he took Charlene for drinks at the pub. After settling the bill at the bar, Stewart and Charlene left together.
The next day, Charlene drove to Kenton’s fancy mansion to pick him up at noon.
After Kenton got in the car, she asked, “Professor, where are we headed?”
Kenton gave her an address.
Half an hour later, they arrived at a restaurant and were led to a private dining room.
As they pushed the door open, two distinguished–looking middle–aged men were already seated inside.
pon seeing them enter, the two men stood up. “Ah, here you are.”
“Abelard Ramirez, Hickey Watson,” Kenton introduced them with his usual cool demeanor, “my student,
Charlene.”
Charlene had seen them on the news before. One held a significant position in the military, and the other was a heavyweight in politics.
However, their demeanor softened upon seeing Charlene, and they shook hands with her saying, “We’ve heard a lot about you.”
Though slightly taken aback, Charlene managed to maintain her composure and replied respectfully, “The honor is mine, gentlemen.”
Abelard and Hickey smiled, motioning for her to sit.
After she sat down, Abelard said, “We’ve known about you for a few years now, always hoping Dr. Wagner would introduce us. But, everyone’s been so busy, we never found the time. Recently, our team has been looking into the system you developed, and as we all happened to have some free time these days, we thought it would be great to have a meal together and meet you in person.”
After some pleasantries, Charlene engaged in conversation with them.
They talked about systems, chips, energy…
Kenton remained silent on the side, focusing on his meal and tea, barely joining in the conversation.
An hour later, Abelard poured Charlene a cup of tea, which she gratefully accepted.
Putting down the teapot, Abelard, with his eyes full of wisdom yet looking at Charlene with gentleness, said, “If I’m not mistaken, you’re in your twenties, right?”
Charlene nodded, “Yes, twenty–five.”
“You’re very young,” Abelard remarked. Almost immediately, sensing the implication, Hickey jumped in with, “Got a boyfriend?”
Charlene paused, then said, “I’m married.”
She almost added that she was nearly divorced but decided against divulging too much about her personal life in front of Abelard and Hickey.
Both Abelard and Hickey seemed quite surprised.
But they were not ordinary men.
When Charlene mentioned she was married, a flicker of emotion passed through her eyes, clearly indicating some issues in her marriage.
Meaning, a divorce might be on the horizon.
Hmm, their sons might still have a chance.
Countless ladies from prestigious families dreamt of marrying into the Ramirez or the Watson families.
Typically, it was rare for daughters from affluent families to gain access to the Ramirez or Watson households, and a divorced woman would have even slimmer chances.
However, Charlene stood out from the crowd, Her exceptional talent set her apart.
With the technology PrimeStar currently held, its growth in the coming years was unstoppable. Not to mention, Kenton’s position might very well be succeeded by Charlene in the future.
Meaning, Charlene’s future prospects were limitless.
Moreover, at such a young age, Charlene had achieved so much yet remained composed and gentle, devoid of any arrogance. Such qualities were extremely rare among the youth.
The more they observed, the more they liked her.
Listening to their conversation, Kenton finally looked up, giving them a cold glance.
Chapter 163
After dinner, Charlene barely walked through the door when her phone buzzed with a call from Stewart.
Upon hearing what Kenton had wanted with her, he said, “Abelard and Hickey, huh? I’ve met them already”
Then he added, “Oh, and that Dalton guy is actually Abelard’s son. Geez, with a father like that, you’d wonder why the kid ended up blind at such a young age.”
Charlene was honestly surprised to find out Dalton was Abelard’s son.
But then again, it wasn’t really her concern.
On Tuesday, Neural Nexus Tech had its inaugural test run for its autonomous cars, and Charlene and Stewart were there bright and early.
By the time they arrived, Dalton and Kelvin were already there.
They gave them a glance and quickly looked away.
Stewart wasn’t in the mood to mingle either, pulling Charlene along to get started on the testing.
Noticing that everything was set up but the testing hadn’t begun, Stewart asked, “What’s the hold–up?”
Quincy replied, “Mr. Henderson wants to oversee the test himself. We’ll begin as soon as Mr. Henderson arrives.”
Stewart muttered, “…Oh.”
Something then clicked for Stewart, and he asked, “Hey, didn’t see Ms. Hawkins around today?”
Wasn’t Vesta supposed to be at Neural Nexus Tech to hone her skills? How come she’s already missing just a few days in?
Quincy chuckled and replied, “Oh, Ms. Hawkins wanted to advance her career, right? Mr. Henderson suggested the best way to do that was to lead a project team. So, last week, Mr. Henderson decided to restart a project that had been shelved and ordered it to be restructured. Over the past few days, Ms. Hawkins–now Director Hawkins–has been putting her team together and is currently in a meeting.”
Stewart glanced at Charlene, who was jotting down notes from earlier tests. She seemed unfazed by Quincy’s mention of Thorne setting up a team for Vesta.
He sighed and patted her head.
Charlene shrugged off his hand, “Cut it out.”
Stewart paused. Her tone was okay, seemed like she was no longer bothered by it. He felt relieved.
Just then, Thorne showed up, flanked by Granger and Moran. It was clear Granger and Moran hadn’t expected. Charlene to be there, their faces showing surprise at her presence.
Charlene, on the other hand, remained expressionless, giving them a brief look before turning away.
Thorne was polite, coming over to greet them, “Thanks for your hard work, everyone.”
Quincy jumped in, “Mr. Henderson, can we start now…?”
“Wait a bit, we’re expecting someone else,” Thorne checked his watch, “I’ll go upstairs to check on them. Please, bear with me for a moment.”
With that, he left.
Charlene didn’t mean to think much of it. But she knew the person Thorne was waiting for had to be Vesta.
Meaning, they couldn’t start the test until Vesta was done with her meeting.
Stewart seemed to have realized the same thing, nearly cursing under his breath.
Thorne and Vesta soon came downstairs, Leah in tow.
Leah wasn’t surprised to see Charlene.
Vesta had given her a heads–up.
Seeing Charlene, Thorne’s wife, waiting like any other subordinate for her sister to finish up was a sight that brought a smirk of irony and triumph to Leah’s face.
Charlene didn’t bother figuring out why Leah was there, dressed to the nines in her business suit at Neural Nexus Tech.
She simply averted her gaze.
Vesta, however, apologized politely, “Sorry for keeping everyone waiting.”
Her apology seemed genuine, but her eyes only met Dalton, Stewart, and their company.
Chapter 164
For Charlene, she might as well have been invisible.
It was clear that she wasn’t on the list of people receiving apologies.
Dalton’s focus wasn’t on Charlene, so naturally, he missed these subtleties, saying, “It’s only a few minutes, no worries.”
“Mr. Ramirez is quite magnanimous.” Stewart stood up, his tone icy, “Since you’re here, let’s not waste any more of our time, shall we?”
Thorne, ever the diplomat, politely responded, “Our apologies, Mr. Ferguson.”
Stewart huffed, pulling Charlene along as they were the first to leave the conference room.
Thorne caught the cozy gesture between Stewart and Charlene but quickly averted his gaze, evidently unbothered.
Granger, however, lingered a bit longer on the two.
In the crowd, Thorne and Vesta were unmistakably the center of attention.
Upon reaching the test track, a staff member respectfully reported, “Mr. Henderson, Ms. Hawkins, everything is ready for you.”
This level of attention clearly positioned Vesta as a leading figure.
“Let’s get started,” Thorne said.
“Right away.”
The driving conditions were clearly visible on the monitors.
After a successful test round by the driver, the staff asked Thorne and Vesta if they’d like a turn.
Thorne agreed, and he shared a vehicle with Vesta. On the monitors, they appeared to be enjoying their conversation. When their eyes met, there was an unmistakable spark between them.
Charlene watched the monitor, her gaze steady, her expression unreadable. Stewart, on the other hand, looked visibly disgusted.
Moran also wanted to give it a try and was about to speak to Granger when Leah approached Granger, “Mr. Harden, we-”
Granger cut her off, “Go ahead, I’m not that interested.”
Leah was taken aback.
Meanwhile, Quincy approached Stewart and Charlene, “Mr. Ferguson, Ms. Ross, would you like to have a go.
They were more familiar with the car’s specs than many of the staff at Neural Nexus Tech. They were tempted, but at this point, they were too annoyed to bother.
Stewart snorted, “No, thanks.”
Charlene chuckled and whispered something about the engine specs in his ear, “Are you sure you don’t want to try?”
Stewart glared at her, then asked, “How do you know that?”
Charlene touched her nose, “Caught a glimpse of the data they were reviewing earlier.”
Having a good memory certainly has its advantages.
Stewart’s mood visibly improved. “Copy that for me later,” he said.
“Sure.”
Saying so, they took their turn with the car.
Half an hour later, Thorne suggested, “It’s been a long day, how about we all grab some dinner?”
Dalton responded enthusiastically, “Sounds good.”
Stewart grimaced, “Sorry, we’re a bit tied up. You guys enjoy, we have other plans.”
Thorne, accepting this, said, “Maybe next time, then.”
He turned to Quincy, “Would you mind escorting Mr. Ferguson and Ms. Ross out?”
“Of course,” Quincy promptly replied.
Ms. Ross…
Stewart smirked internally, leading Charlene out first.
Kelvin whispered to Dalton, “Is it just me, or does Stewart really have it in for Mr. Henderson and his crew?”
Dalton had noticed this tension during their last encounter here.
He had thought it was just him overthinking, assuming it was just Stewart’s personality.
Now, it seemed his observations were spot on.
Chapter 165
After leaving Neural Nexus Tech, Stewart was still fuming as he climbed into the car
It seemed like something suddenly struck him, and he asked Charlene, “Hey, who was that girl standing behind Vesta, the one in the business suit? She didn’t seem too fond of you. Do you know her?”
Charlene responded, “Vesta’s cousin.”
Stewart was momentarily speechless.
“So, Thorne brings Vesta Hawkins to Neural Nexus Tech, and now even her family’s getting in on the action? At this rate, it wouldn’t surprise me if Neural Nexus Tech ends up being renamed ‘The Hawkins Group‘ or something.”
Charlene felt the same way. “Yeah,” she agreed.
Given Thorne’s affection for Vesta, he might as well hand over Neural Nexus Tech to her, and it wouldn’t seem odd to Charlene.
What’s bringing the Spencer family over to work at Neural Nexus Tech in the grand scheme of things?
Stewart figured it was best to drop the subject; discussing it further would only get his blood boiling again.
That evening, as they worked to replicate a problem with a car engine, both Charlene and Stewart ended up getting home quite late.
On their way back, snow began to fall.
Upon arriving home, Charlene was just about to head into the shower when her phone rang. It was Thorne.
Charlene didn’t answer and proceeded to the bathroom with her clothes.
After she emerged and checked her phone, she found two missed calls from Thorne and a message indicating that Jasmine had a parent-teacher conference the next day.
Charlene replied with a few words: I won’t be able to make it.
Then, she put aside her phone and went on with her evening.
Meanwhile, Thorne was busy. Jasmine, playing with Thorne’s phone, saw Charlene’s reply and cheerfully said, “Dad, Mom said she’s busy tomorrow. Does that mean Ms. Hawkins can go to the school conference for me?”
Without looking up, Thorne murmured an agreement.
“Yes! Awesome!” Jasmine jumped off the sofa, beaming with joy.
Thorne added, “I’ll be there too, tomorrow.”
Jasmine replied, “I know, I know. With Ms. Hawkins there, how could you
The next day, while at PrimeStar, Charlene was discussing work with Patton when her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Jasmine’s teacher: “Lady, aren’t you coming to the conference today?”
Charlene saw the message and replied, “I’m tied up, and won’t be able to attend.”
A bit later, Jasmine’s teacher sent another message: “Today, Jasmine’s dad and another woman attended…”
She also sent a photo. In the picture, Thorne and Vesta are sitting together, and Jasmine is closely hugging Vesta’s arm.
Charlene wasn’t surprised to see Thorne and Vesta attending Jasmine’s school conference together.
After all, Jasmine preferred having her stay away and letting Vesta take her place.
And if Vesta was going, Thorne wouldn’t dream of letting her go alone.
While Jasmine’s teacher was worried on her behalf, Charlene replied, “I’m aware, it’s fine. Thanks, Ms. Payne.”
Putting down her phone, Charlene went back to work.
Time always flies when you’re busy.
Before she knew it, Friday rolled around.
In the morning, not long after Charlene had gotten up, Granger called again, saying Daisy wanted to go camping.
“A sleepover kind?” Charlene asked.
“Yeah,” Granger replied. “Don’t worry, I’ll ensure your safety. Sleeping bags, tents, heaters–I’ll have everything prepared. You just have to show up.”
After leaving Neural Nexus Tech, Stewart was still fuming as he climbed into the car
It seemed like something suddenly struck him, and he asked Charlene.
Chapter 166
“Sure thing.”
It was a brisk Saturday morning when Charlene returned to the Ross family home for a hearty breakfast, during which she inquired about Vernon’s latest venture.
Assured everything was on track, Charlene felt a wave of relief wash over her.
By the afternoon, a little past two, she was on the road, her car packed and ready for the weekend camping trip.
Upon her arrival, Granger and Daisy had just pulled in.
Granger’s crew was already busy setting up tents and getting the barbecue grill ready.
A recent snowfall had blanketed the mountains, turning the campsite into a winter wonderland.
Daisy, spotting Charlene, dragged her off excitedly to build a snowman, a pastime she used to enjoy with Jasmine.
Building a snowman was an easy task for Charlene.
Quickly, they crafted a petite snow figure.
Daisy, ever so thoughtful, had even brought a scarf for their frosty creation and dashed off to find a carrot for its nose.
Granger approached Charlene, his footsteps crunching in the snow.
Without preamble, he asked, “So, you’re working at PrimeStar now?”
Charlene, focused on adjusting the snowman’s scarf, simply nodded, “Yeah.”
Recalling their chilly encounter at Neural Nexus Tech, where her indifference towards Thorne and Vesta was palpable, he probed, “How long have you been there?”
“A while now,” she replied, her attention still on the snowman.
Granger, sensing her reluctance to divulge more, shifted gears, “Five times.”
Charlene paused, understanding he meant she would need to accompany Daisy five times in total.
“Got it,” she acknowledged.
With two scarves in tow, Daisy declared their next project would be a larger snowman, to pair with the smaller one, just like her and Charlene. She enlisted Granger’s help with a bossy charm only a child could muster.
Granger complied without a word.
After they finished the larger snowman, Daisy insisted on a photo op with Charlene.
Granger, with his cell phone in hand, caught Charlene’s radiant smile through his lens, taking several quick snapshots.
Time flew by in their snowy playground, and as dusk approached, the scent of barbecue wafted through the air, and lights began to twinkle inside the tents.
Granger offered, “Seafood sound good?”
Charlene nodded in agreement. He handed her a few skewers.
The campsite buzzed with activity, not crowded but certainly lively, with plans for a bonfire party later in the evening.
Want to join in?” Granger asked.
“I’m up for anything.”
Just as Granger was about to respond, his phone rang. It was Moran calling.
Stepping away, Granger answered.
“Drinks later?” Moran suggested.
“Not tonight, you guys go ahead.”
“What are you up to?”
Just then, Daisy came bounding over, a skewer of grilled chicken in hand, “Uncle, try this.”
Granger bent down to accept it.
Hearing the exchange, Moran asked, “You’re having a barbecue?”
“Yeah.”
“Where at?”
“Outdoors,” Granger replied tersely, “Went camping.”
“Dude! With all the snow, it’s perfect for a snowball fight and a bonfire. How come I didn’t think of that!”
Then it dawned on him, “Wait, you went camping and didn’t invite us?! Was that woman with Daisy there?”
Granger cut him off, “Next time, for sure.”
“Wait, I can call Thorne and the others, we could come-”
Granger interjected, “Got to go.”
He hung up before Moran could respond, turning his attention back to the festivities at hand.
Chapter 167
The night had fully descended, bringing with it a drop in the temperature among the hills.
After putting away his phone, Granger turned back to see Charlene and Daisy huddled together, sharing a meal and chatting away. He retreated to the tent to get two coats one large and one small.
He handed the bigger one to Charlene.
“I’m not cold,” she protested.
“Just wear it,” he insisted, draping the coat over her shoulders before helping Daisy into the smaller one.
Though Charlene insisted she wasn’t cold, the coat effectively blocked out most of the chilly breeze, making her feel noticeably warmer. So she chose not to argue further.
After they finished their barbecue, the bonfire party was about to start, and they made their way over.
As soon as they arrived, someone couldn’t help but remark, “Wow, what a picture–perfect family.”
Charlene paused before clarifying, “We’re not a family.”
The group laughed off her correction, suggesting that even if they weren’t a family now, who knows what the future might hold.
Soon after, Daisy wandered off to play with kids her age.
Most people at the campsite were there with close friends or family, huddling in groups to chat, play cards, or engage in snowball fights, creating a lively atmosphere.
With Daisy gone, Charlene and Granger found themselves in an awkward silence, having barely known each other.
Chapter 168
In the passenger seat of someone else’s car, Charlene managed to snatch a few moments of sleep, though it was far from restful.
Upon waking and noticing Granger pulling his hand back, she didn’t give it much thought and simply asked, “Are we there yet?”
“Almost.”
Two minutes later, the car pulled up at the hospital entrance. Granger, with Daisy in his arms, turned to Charlene and offered, “Want one of my guys to drive you back?”
Charlene shook her head, “No need, I’ll drive myself home.”
Granger didn’t press further.
As she was about to reach home, her phone buzzed with a text from Thorne: Grandma’s heading over to see Your grandma. Let’s all drop by the Ross residence together.
This was a text she couldn’t ignore.
Picking up her phone, she called Thorne back.
He picked up quickly, “Hello?”
Charlene said, “I’ll swing by to pick up Minnie on my way there.”
By saying this, she implicitly indicated she didn’t expect Thorne to accompany her to the Ross residence. After all, every time she had suggested he come with her in the past, he had always found some excuse to avoid it.
And it wasn’t like her family was eager to see him either.
There was a brief silence on Thorne’s end before he finally said, “Okay.”
After hanging up, Charlene turned the car around and headed towards Thorne’s mansion.
Upon her arrival, Jasmine was already waiting, backpack slung over her shoulder.
Seeing Charlene, she nestled closer to Thorne and averted her gaze, still miffed about being left out of last week’s skiing trip.
Thorne looked up at Charlene and paused, “Didn’t sleep well last night?”
Charlene hadn’t expected him to ask. Perhaps her lack of makeup and tousled hair made her sleepless night too apparent.
She just gave a noncommittal “Hmm,” not really wanting to get into details. Picking up on this, the butler chimed in helpfully, “Having trouble sleeping? We’ve got some great aromatherapy oils that could help. I’ll put some in your room later if you like-”
That’s when Charlene explained, “I usually sleep fine. It was just the camping last night. I’m not used to sleeping outdoors.”
The butler frowned, “Camping in this cold weather? Hope you didn’t catch a cold. That doesn’t sound fun at all.” Charlene chuckled, “Actually, winter camping is great. You can have snowball fights, build snowmen, and play hide and seek by the bonfire… The atmosphere is amazing.”
She had envied the fun the other campers seemed to be having last night.
Thorne, overhearing the conversation, set down his newspaper and gave her a thoughtful look. Jasmine, on the other hand, felt a pang of jealousy. Not only had her mom not coddled her when she was upset before, but she had also missed out on a fun camping trip!
Dragging her backpack, Jasmine hopped off the couch and stormed upstairs with a huff, bypassing Charlene without a word.
Charlene watched her, a frown forming, but before she could speak, Thorne set aside his newspaper and calmly said, “Minnie, come back.”
His tone was devoid of any anger, yet Jasmine halted in her tracks immediately.
She bit her lip and turned around, standing in place without moving closer.
Thorne glanced over at her.
Jasmine lowered her head and sulkily walked back, dragging her backpack behind her. Yet, she didn’t go over to Charlene. Instead, she clung to Thorne’s hand and pleaded, “Daddy, can you come with us, please?”
Chapter 169
Thorne didn’t look at Charlene as he gently tapped Jasmine on the nose, “Daddy’s got to work, pumpkin. Be good and listen to your mom, okay?”
“Okay,” Jasmine mumbled reluctantly. She glanced at Charlene, then slowly reached out her hand as she approached her, a quiet offer of peace.
Charlene took her hand and after nodding to the housekeeper, they left the house.
By the time they reached the Ross household, Irma had already been there for a bit.
Upon seeing only Charlene and Jasmine without Thorne, Irma’s face fell. “Where’s Thorne? Busy again?”
Charlene simply nodded.
Irma, visibly annoyed, reached for her phone to call Thorne. However, Helena, already aware of Charlene and Thorne’s impending divorce, felt it was unnecessary for Thorne to show up.
She stopped Irma, saying, “He’s swamped with work, I totally get it. Let’s not pressure him.”
Inside, Jasmine ran upstairs to play video games with Carl.
Charlene stayed downstairs, keeping the two old ladies company.
Irma was overjoyed when she saw Helena’s new paintings, especially learning they were crafted with the art supplies Charlene had gifted her for her birthday. She showed great interest in the set.
When the conversation shifted back to Thorne, Irma asked, “Thorne didn’t forget to prepare something, did he?” “He did prepare something,” Helena said, her tone dipping slightly. “The emerald jewelry set he chose is exquisite, and the embroidered piece he sent over is lovely.”
Irma chuckled, “Well, that’s more like it. Seems he took my words to heart.”
Charlene stayed silent, listening in.
After spending some time in the study, they moved to the garden for tea.
Helena, looking at the house across the street, remarked, “It’s strange, that house was under renovation day and night as if the owners couldn’t wait to move in. But then, all of a sudden, the work just stopped.”
“Maybe they ran into some issues,” Irma speculated.
“Could be.”
Charlene had been thinking of selling that house but hesitated, fearing it might end up in the hands of the Hawkins or Spencer families.
So, she had left it untouched and hadn’t even gone inside since it had connections to the Spencer family.
While lost in thought, Charlene sneezed suddenly, feeling a chill run down her spine.
Both Irma and Helena immediately showed concern, “Are you alright? Did you catch a cold?”
Charlene grabbed a tissue, “Maybe. I did feel a bit under the weather last night, just not as much as Daisy.”
Helena and Irma had been friends for years, yet Helena hadn’t mentioned anything about the incidents at her birthday party or about Thorne and Vesta’s situation.
Their conversation remained light and cheerful.
After a while, Connie called Charlene, ranting about running into Thorne with the Hawkins family at a restaurant again.
Connie exclaimed, “Why does this keep happening to me? I don’t want to see this stuff!“.
Then, asking where Charlene was, she informed her, “I’m at my grandma’s.”
“Afe you heading back alone?”
“No. Minnie and Irma are here too.”
Connie quickly connected the dots, “So, Thorne didn’t accompany you back to your house but went to be with the Hawkins lot near Vesta’s?”
Chapter 170
Charlene remained silent.
After hanging up the phone, Charlene sneezed again. Her aunt Maisie was worried she might have caught a cold and made her some hot tea. After drinking it, Charlene felt her head getting heavier and soon fell asleep.
When she woke up, she realized she had developed a fever–a high one at that, which made her head spin.
Jasmine came over, looking somewhat concerned, “Mom, are you sick?”
Charlene simply responded, “Yeah.”
Irma was also worried and suggested taking her back to the Henderson family so their trusted family doctor could take a look at her, claiming the old doctor had a knack for quick recoveries.
Helena thought her illness had come on too strong to delay any treatment and also advised her to return with Irma to the Henderson Mansion for the family doctor’s examination.
back at the mansion, the family doctor came over, prescribed some medicine, and after taking a bowl of it, Charlene went upstairs to sleep again.
When she next woke up, she felt much lighter in both body and mind. Opening her eyes, she saw a small lamp on, and turning her head, she spotted Thorne reading a book.
She paused for a moment.
Only then did she remember that she was in the old house, in Thorne’s room–the place where he had grown up.
Perhaps hearing her stir, Thorne looked over, “Awake?”
Charlene felt her throat was sore and wasn’t in the mood to talk, so she remained silent.
She grabbed a jacket lying nearby, attempting to get out of bed, but Thorne brought her a glass of water, handing it to her.
Charlene hesitated for a moment before taking it, not bothering to say thanks.
Thorne didn’t mind; he tried to check her forehead with his hand, but Charlene, despite feeling groggy, dodged.)
Thorne paused, then withdrew his hand, standing up to say, “Dr. Ableson is still downstairs. I’ll get him to come up and check on you.”
Without waiting for her response, he left the room.
Minutes later, Dr. Ableson, Irma, Thorne, and Jasmine all entered the room.
Dr. Ableson checked Charlene and noted she was much better but stressed the importance of continuing the medication. He mentioned her weak constitution and emotional blockages made her prone to illness upangi. catching a cold, advising her to nourish her body well.
Charlene nodded in agreement.
Irma then asked, “Charlene, are you hungry?”
Charlene had barely eaten at lunch due to feeling unwell and had slept through the afternoon. By evening, she was indeed hungry but had no appetite.
However, Irma insisted she eat something, then asked Thorne to bring up the meal prepared for Charlene from the kitchen.
Thorne complied and soon returned with the food.
Dr. Ableson left, but Thorne stayed, sitting beside her as she ate, engrossed in a book.
Glancing over, Charlene realized it was the same book she had been reading at the Sapphire Springs Resort.
She hadn’t noticed before, but now she saw he hadn’t returned it to her.
Frowning, she began, “You……”
Thorne smiled and said, “I spent about half an hour on it the other day and found some of your ideas really interesting. It sparked some new thoughts for me, so I’ve been picking it up every now and then.”
Charlene pursed her lips, ignoring him. She hardly had an appetite to begin with, and now it had completely vanished.
Thorne watched her with a propped chin, saying, “After all these years, still not even able to have a proper argument?”
Charlene turned away.
Thorne sighed, “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Go ahead and eat.”
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