Chapter 21
Charlene had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. Vesta met Thorne after Charlene and Thorne got hitched.
Vesta knew Charlene and Thorne’s relationship. Charlene couldn’t fathom that Henley, Vesta’s dad, was in the dark about Thorne being his other daughter’s hubby! There was no way he didn’t know.
Yet, there he was, shamelessly playing matchmaker between Vesta and Thorne. It was a clear sign of how little Henley cared about Charlene!
Thorne took it in stride.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Charlene watched Thorne wait for Henley to get in the car. After the car had driven off, she exited. Given Thome’s status, the only folks who could make him act out of character were a few of the elders from the Henderson family. But it was clear Thome held Henley in high regard, all because he was Vesta’s father.
Thinking about this, Charlene recalled the times Thorne met her grandma and her aunt and uncle. He had always been aloof and indifferent.
And in the past, no matter how carefully she brought it up, Thorne never seemed willing to lend a hand to her uncle. But his attitude toward those Vesta valued was entirely different.
How he treated her compared to Vesta was like night and day. That may be the difference between love and the lack thereof.
Before long, Thorne had left as well.
A good while later, Charlene finally turned and entered the Feast.
In the afternoon, after work, Charlene went home to pick up gifts she had prepared for Neal and Irma before driving to the Henderson Mansion.
Nestled near the outskirts of Starfall City, the Henderson Mansion, surrounded by picturesque landscapes, was perfect for the elders because of its tranquil environment. Its only flaw was its distance from the downtown area. It took Charlene an hour and a half by car to reach the Henderson Mansion.
Parking her car and still outside, she could hear her daughter Jasmine’s joyful laughter.
Facing the entrance, Irma noticed Charlene first, beaming with a smile. “Charlene, come. Come sit with me.”
But Irma was the only one smiling. Thorne’s mother, Charlene’s mother–in–law, Tiffany, and her son wore increasingly unwelcoming Expressions at the sight of her. Charlene noticed this but wasn’t as bothered as she might have been before.
Pretending not to see, she smiled and handed the gifts to the butler, who came to welcome her. Then, she approached Irma. “Irma, how are you doing?”
“Oh,” Irma’s face lit up, pulling Charlene to sit as she frowned. “You’ve lost so much weight. Has Thorne been giving you a hard time?” Charlene looked down, shaking her head. “No, I’ve just been too busy lately.”
Her words were a mix of truth and fibs.
Thorne hadn’t been mistreating her but had often affected her mood. Additionally, she’d dedicated her post-work hours to artificial intelligence research for the past fortnight, staying up until the wee hours. Her recent weight loss was partly due to this.
Before Irma could respond, Tiffany scoffed, “Listen to you, and anyone would think your job is oh–so–crucial, sounding like the entire Henderson Group can’t function without you.”
Thorne’s mother, Claudia Henderson, epitomized the grace of a lady of her standing. Sipping her coffee, she remarked coldly, “If you find your work at Henderson Group too demanding, you might as well resign. After all, no one begged you to work there.”
Tiffany chuckled. “Exactly! Though, some might find it hard to let go-”
Irma couldn’t stand others badmouthing Charlene and was about to interject, but Charlene said, “I’ve handed in my resignation. Once I’ve finished handing over my duties, I’ll leave the Henderson Group.”
Chapter 22
Claudia and Tiffany both froze to hear that.
Trima frowned, “Charlene-”
“Mommy’s here?” Jasmine had taken the elevator up to the second floor.
As she came downstairs and saw Charlene, Jasmine was genuinely happy. After all, it had been over a half–month since she last contacted Charlene.
She interrupted Irma’s words and flung herself into Charlene’s arms. “Mommy!”
Charlene paused, gave her a gentle hug, and hummed in response, but she didn’t say much.
Irma didn’t want Charlene to leave the Henderson Group. However, seeing Jasmine there, she didn’t continue the previous topic. Instead, she smiled at Charlene and said, “I haven’t had your coffee in a long time. How about making some for me?”
Growing up under Helena’s wing, Charlene was calm and collected from a young age. She was also gifted. Over those years, her coffee–making skills had become quite impressive.
“Of course, that’s no problem. It’s just that it’s almost dinner time.”
Tiffany preferred soda over coffee. She also didn’t enjoy watching Charlene show off her coffee–making skills, and she retorted, “Yeah, Tet’s wait for Thorne and Terence to come home, then we’ll have dinner.”
Right after she finished speaking, Thorne arrived. Upon entering, he first greeted Irma and Claudia.
Seeing Charlene, he glanced at her briefly before looking away and sitting on a distant armchair.
Seeing Thorne, Jasmine immediately left Charlene’s embrace and ran over. “Daddy!”
“Hmm.” Thorne hugged her, glanced around, and was about to speak when Terence Henderson returned.
Being much younger than Tiffany and Thorne and still a minor, Terence was cheerful and bright. Upon entering, he lightly jumped over the sofa armrest and sat smoothly.
Seeing so many people around, he joked, “Is everyone waiting for me?”
Tiffany gave him a light smack on the head. “Yeah, we’ve all been starving here waiting for you!”
Thorne was reserved and didn’t say much. Tiffany was hot-tempered, and Terence was the family’s ray of sunshine, closer to his parents in affection.
His return brightened Claudia’s somewhat cold demeanor, and Irma seemed happier, too. Seeing it was getting late and everyone was hungry, she ordered the meal to start.
There were nine of them, and they headed to the smaller dining room.
Irma, Thorne, Jasmine, and Charlene were the primary focus when they arranged seats.
Irma smiled and gestured to Jasmine, “Minnie, swap places with your dad. Let him sit beside your mom.”
Irma always made efforts to bring Charlene and Thorne together. Everyone else was used to it by then. They all felt Irma’s efforts were in vain, knowing no matter how much Irma tried, Thorne’s attitude toward Charlene hadn’t changed over the years.
Because they knew Irma’s attempts were futile, Tiffany sneered, not bothering to intervene this time, and casually took a seat.
Though Thorne wasn’t fond of Irma’s arrangement, he wouldn’t openly reject her wishes over minor issues. Thus, he remained silent, which was tantamount to a tacit agreement.
Charlene didn’t show the previous enthusiasm for Irma’s matchmaking.
Her expression was indifferent, but when she looked at Irma, her smile was tender as she said, “It’s fine, Irma. Let’s sit as we are.”
Chapter 23
Inna couldn’t help but feel frustrated. Charlene was too mild and indulgent toward Thorne, which she believed had led them to miss out, on numerous opportunities over the years, resulting in little progress in their relationship. But since Charlene had decided, Irma didn’t press the issue.
Once dinner officially started, everyone chatted and ate in a rather pleasant atmosphere.
Charlene, however, barely spoke, quietly keeping her head down and focusing on her meal.
From the moment Thome had arrived over ten minutes ago, the couple hadn’t exchanged a single word. There was no interaction between them throughout the evening, which was typical for their relationship. Everyone seemed used to it and found nothing unusual. *When Jasmine wanted something from the table, she once relied on Charlene but had been used to asking Thorne directly. However, when she wanted shrimp, her gaze shifted to Charlene. It was a tradition for Charlene to peel shrimp for her and Thorne.
“Mommy, I want some shrimp, Jasmine said.
Even though Charlene was considering divorce and didn’t want to fight over custody, Jasmine was still her daughter. She felt it was her duty and responsibility to take care of her and fulfill her needs as much as possible.
So, when Jasmine asked her to peel shrimp, Charlene responded, “Of course, sweetheart.”
Ama noticed something when Charlene put down her fork to peel the shrimp. “Charlene, where’s your ring?”
The question turned everyone’s attention, Thorne included, to Charlene’s hands.
Even though her marriage with Thorne was on thin ice, Charlene still wore the wedding band Irma had made for them. On the contrary, Thorne had never worn his, its whereabouts unknown.
Over the years, Charlene had never been without her ring, and everyone had grown accustomed to it. Tiffany had often mocked her for it. It was the first day she wasn’t wearing it, and nobody had noticed until Irma pointed it out.
Charlene’s hands hesitated while peeling the shrimp, but she quickly recovered and said casually, “I rushed out of the house this morning and left it behind.”
In reality, she had taken off the ring when preparing the divorce papers, placing it in an envelope along with them. But since she knew Irma would never approve of the divorce, and she and Thorne hadn’t officially separated, Charlene chose not to tell the whole truth.
Irma chuckled upon hearing the explanation. “Oh, is that so?”
Afterward, everyone resumed their dinner as if nothing had happened.
Post–dinner, the group moved to the living room for fruit and desserts, continuing their conversations. Ever the matchmaker, Irma tried to bring Charlene and Thorne closer by suggesting they sit together.
But Thorne didn’t even glance at Charlene, who reluctantly sat beside him, not wanting to refuse Irma’s requests again. That was the closest they had sat in months, and Charlene could distinctly smell Thorne’s familiar, subtle cologne.
But her heart remained calm, and she quietly enjoyed her fruit pudding, not attempting to start a conversation with Thorne.
Yet, Irma seemed pleased, looking at them and commenting, “You two make a lovely couple.”
Indeed, from the outside, they were a match. Thorne was a handsome and distinguished guy, while Charlene was quiet, gentle, and absolutely gorgeous.
Chapter 24
They looked good together, but that was about as far as it went in terms of compatibility. If you considered other aspects, Charlene was leagues behind.
Still, seeing Irma’s happy face, Tiffany and Claudia didn’t burst her bubble, even if they didn’t quite agree.
They all stayed at the Henderson Mansion that night, just as Irma wished.
Around eight o’clock. Thome and Irma ducked into the study to talk business, while Jasmine grabbed Charlene’s hand, eager to take a bath before heading to bed.
Charlene went upstairs with her to help her bathe.
Sitting in the little tub, Jasmine looked at Charlene and tentatively asked, “Mommy, are you busy tomorrow morning?”
She would compromise and have her mom accompany her to school in the morning. But deep down, she hoped Vesta could be the one to go with her. So, it would be great if Charlene was busy tomorrow morning.
Charlene shook her head. “Not busy. Why?”
Hearing that, Jasmine pursed her lips in disappointment. “Nothing.”
She didn’t elaborate, and Charlene didn’t pry.
After the bath, Charlene gently dried Jasmine’s hair.
As soon as her hair was dry, Jasmine said she wanted to go to bed.
Noticing Jasmine’s eyes glued to her smartphone, Charlene said, “You can “Okay, I know.”
Since Charlene was free the next day, she had to talk to Vesta about it.
You can use it, but then it’s bedtime. You can’t stay up too late, okay?”
Best way to break it to her without making her feel hurt.
Jasmine was fretting over how Vesta might take the news, thinking hard about the best sad or disappointed.
Feeling upset and even more so with Charlene’s nagging, Jasmine pushed her phone and went to sleep after 9:30.”
Jasmine was quite disciplined about this.
“Mommy, can you please go? I’ll close the door.
After saying goodnight, Charlene left the room. Jasmine immediately locked the door behind her.
While stepping away, Charlene heard the lock click. She knew Jasmine wasn’t guarding against anyone else but just her. She suspected Jasmine wanted to discuss something with Vesta. And indeed, that was the case.
Jasmine locked the door and ran back to her phone to message Vesta. [Ms. Hawkins…]
Charlene had no way of knowing what they talked about. She didn’t dwell on it much or care to probe deeper. She turned and returned to her room.
Irma liked her and often invited her over for meals. Over the years, she had left quite a few personal items there. She found some pajamas and went to take a shower.
After her shower, she sat on her usual side of the bed. Noticing it was still early, she picked up a book she had brought in her bag and read quietly.
Time passed without her noticing, and when her eyes began to hurt, she checked the time and was surprised to see it was already 11:30 at night. But Thorne still hadn’t returned.
Even though Thorne thought she had trapped him into marriage, their relationship had improved somewhat by the third year, though they were still not close.
But then Vesta appeared. He fell for Vesta and started keeping his distance from Charlene again. Since then, he hardly touched her. So, she wondered if Thorne was not planning to return to the room or if he was busy with something. While these thoughts ran through her mind, Charlene left the bedroom and headed downstairs.
Then, a voice came from not too far away.
“Everyone’s asleep, and you’re still not in your room this late. Is it Charlene who doesn’t want to return to her room?”
Chapter 25
It was Tiffany’s voice that broke the silence of the evening.
Charlene’s gaze shifted toward the source of the sound. There stood Tiffany and Thorne.
She paused mid-step.
A cigarette dangling from his lips, Thome offered no response.
With Thome standing against the light, the distance rendered Charlene unable to discern his expression.
Tiffany said, “I get it. I’ve met Vesta a few times. I heard she’s only 25 and already snagged a PhD from one of the top universities. Plus, she handles her family’s business well, is drop–dead gorgeous, and has a wild but unyielding spirit. Her brilliance and allure are indeed something most women lack, definitely the kind that would catch your eye. But her background isn’t stellar, Thorne. Have you thought this through? You-”
Thome cut her off. “I know what I want in a woman.”
“But-“Tiffany frowned. She wasn’t fond of Charlene but wasn’t keen on Vesta either. She wanted to add more, but catching the displeasure in Thome’s eyes, she dropped the subject, “So protective. I can’t even discuss it, huh? Fine, I won’t talk about it then.” Charlene listened with clenched fists, her cheeks reddened from the cold night air. She forced a strained smile, suddenly losing all interest in eavesdropping, and turned to walk away.
As she walked away, Tiffany remembered something. “Oh, speaking of Charlene, didn’t she say she submitted her resignation? Planning to leave the company?”
Thome replied, “The day before yesterday, Coy mentioned she messed up. Coy was pretty upset, so I told him to proceed with the termination as per company policy.”
Tiffany laughed mockingly. “I see. She made it sound like she was quitting on her terms when talking about it. Now, it makes sense. Seeing how she clings to you, I never thought she’d resign on her own. So, she got fired. Funny.”
Tiffany burst into laughter.
Thome remained silent, seemingly indifferent to the matter.
Upon reaching the second floor, Charlene was about to head back to her room when she nearly collided with Terence, who was coming downstairs.
He was startled.
Recovering first, Terence apologized and asked with concern, “Charlene, you okay?”
Terence was the only one in the Henderson family, aside from Irma, who treated her kindly.
Charlene shook her head, offering a smile. “I’m fine.”
When Charlene and Thorne married, Terence was still young and unaware of many things. Over the years, he thought of Charlene as beautiful and gentle, always making an effort to accommodate his brother.
He thought that if his future wife could be like her, he’d treat her like a queen. Even after growing up and understanding the story, he still liked Charlene.
Seeing her seemingly upset, likely due to something related to his brother, he scratched his head and sincerely said, “Charlene, you’re great. I’m sure Thorne will see that someday. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
Charlene paused, not wanting to delve into the details of her nearing divorce, and replied, “Thanks, Terence.”
“I’m off to grab a drink. It’s getting late. You should rest.”
Charlene responded with a smile, “Good night.”
Charlene turned off the lights and settled for the dim bedside lamp before lying in her room.
As she was about to drift off, she heard Thorne’s footsteps as he entered the bedroom.
Charlene opened her eyes. Thorne looked back at her, their eyes meeting.
In the past, she would have jumped out of bed to hang his suit and happily find his pajamas, then run a bath for him. But then, she made no move to get up. Instead, she slowly closed her eyes again.
Though Thorne had been neglectful and indifferent to her caring gestures in the past, the stark contrast in her behavior did not escape his notice.
Chapter 26
He was stunned but thought she was having a moment, so he did not pay much attention to her unusual behavior.
He didn’t even care to know why she was upset, dismissively saying, “Minnie’s enrollment is all set. You’ll drop her off at school tomorrow morning.”
Charlene replied, “Got it.”
Thome said nothing more, heading toward the walk-in closet to pick out clothes for a shower. That was his attitude toward her.
Watching his retreating figure, Charlene remembered their impending divorce and wanted to ask when they could go and get the divorce papers.
But Thorne was busy, and given his nature, he would contact her without needing any nudging if all the paperwork was ready. After all, he was the one more eager for the divorce. So, she had been quietly waiting for his update for the past two weeks, never once rushing him.
Then, Thorne’s phone rang.
Charlene watched him answer the call. His tone was instantly softer than when he spoke with her. It was a tender tone.
Almost immediately, Charlene guessed it was Vesta on the other line.
While she was thinking this, Thorne let go of the closet door, saying, “I’ll come right now.”
With that, he left the room without looking back. Charlene watched him go without calling out to him.
Soon after, she heard the sound of a car. Thorne had left the mansion.
Charlene closed her eyes, calmly turned off the light, and slept.
The following morning, since she had to take Jasmine to school, Charlene woke up around 6:30. She was alone in the room. Thorne hadn’t returned since he left the night before. Charlene didn’t mind anymore.
She checked the time, saw that Jasmine wasn’t up yet, and went to wake her. Since Jasmine still had her door locked, Charlene had to knock.
After a while, Jasmine finally got up to open the door.
Upon seeing Charlene, Jasmine pouted unhappily. “Mommy, why did you knock so hard? You gave me a headache.”
She talked to Vesta about it last night. Even though Vesta agreed it was best for her mom to take her to school, her voice was so sad. Jasmine felt guilty about it. She had several nightmares throughout the night. Being woken up by Charlene, she was in a terrible mood. Seeing Jasmine upset but not getting angry, Charlene calmly said, “It’s a long drive to school. We need to get going soon.”
Not being taken by Vesta made Jasmine not want to go to school at all. She grunted but didn’t reply. Stubborn as she was, she knew better than to be capricious about school matters.
She lay back down, sulking. “I know.”
After lying there for a bit without moving, she looked at Charlene. “Mommy, can you squeeze the toothpaste for me?”
Charlene nodded. “Sure.”
After Charlene went into the bathroom, Jasmine grabbed her phone to send a good morning text to Vesta, then followed into the bathroom to brush her teeth with the toothpaste Charlene had squeezed for her.
As Jasmine finished up, Charlene warmed up a towel, wrung it out, and handed it over for her to wipe her face.
Charlene opened the wardrobe, asking, “Which outfit do you want to wear?”
Jasmine replied, “Mommy, I can dress myself. You can go out.”
Charlene closed the wardrobe. “Okay.”
After Charlene left, Jasmine picked out the outfit she had brought from home the day before. Vesta had chosen this super cool camo outfit for her. She was going to wear it to cheer Vesta on!
Chapter 27
Thinking of the drag race and the cool Vesta, Jasmine couldn’t help feeling excited again.
After changing her clothes, she checked her phone and immediately frowned.
Usually, Vesta replied to her messages promptly, but today, after she had finished getting ready, there was still no response.
Is Ms. Hawkins upset with me?‘ Worried, Jasmine quickly sent a message to Vesta.
[Ms. Hawkins, what’s wrong? Are you mad at me?]
[Ms. Hawkins, I hate it when my mom drives me to school. I prefer to go with you. Please, don’t be mad, okay?]
Time passed, but Vesta didn’t reply.
Having packed everything, Charlene came looking for her. “Minnie? Are you ready? It’s time for breakfast.”
Anxious about not receiving Vesta’s reply and annoying.”
With Charlene’s reminder, Jasmine snapped, “Yes, Mom, can you stop nagging? It’s
Huffing, she grabbed her backpack and stormed downstairs…
Noticing Jasmine’s unusual outfit, Charlene followed silently. She realized Jasmine’s taste in clothes had changed since she started hanging out with Thorne and went to Goldland.
It seemed following Vesta around, learning rock climbing and skateboarding, had influenced her. Vesta was a star both in the classroom and in sports, excelling at things like skateboarding, rock climbing, and paragliding. Her skills made her an incredibly cool and charismatic modern woman.
Saddened by Jasmine’s closeness to Vesta, Charlene bought clothes for Jasmine based on her new interests.
Jasmine admired her to the point of changing her preferences. Although initially never objected, understanding it was Jasmine’s choice. These years, she However, Jasmine barely glanced at them, preferring only the outfits Vesta picked for her.
Seeing Jasmine’s outfit, Charlene guessed the situation but chose not to question it. Pretending not to notice, she continued downstairs as if nothing was amiss.
Tiffany and the others were still asleep when they reached the kitchen, but Irma was awake.
“Charlene and Minnie are up early today,” Irma greeted.
“Charlene responded with a smile, “Good morning, Irma.”
Still, in a sour mood, Jasmine mumbled, “Morning, Great–Grandma.”
Irma spotted that Jasmine was off and asked, “Minnie, are you okay? What’s wrong?” Jasmine stayed quiet, not feeling like talking. Overhearing Charlene waking Jasmine earlier, the housekeeper suggested, “Maybe she’s grumpy because she got woken up early.” Hearing this, Irma smiled and asked, “And Thorne? Hasn’t he woken up yet?”
Charlene’s expression remained unchanged as she replied, “Thorne had to go out last night for something.”
Irma’s face fell, guessing what might have happened, but she refrained from commenting before the children.
After breakfast, as they were about to leave, Jasmine realized she had forgotten something and ran upstairs. Charlene waited for her downstairs.
Just then, Jasmine’s phone screen lit up with a new message.
Charlene saw the message with the nickname “Dearest Ms. Hawkins.”
Charlene paused.
Chapter 28
Since Jasmine got a phone, Charlene had made it a point to respect her privacy and never sneaked a peek at her messages. But when she glimpsed a message from Vesta, curiosity got the better of her, and she took a closer look.
And that was when she finally understood why Jasmine had been so irritable.
Charlene quickly scrolled through their chat history and saw that Jasmine had been sending Vesta good morning texts. They chatted every day, and their conversations went on for hours.
Hearing the elevator ding, Charlene acted like she hadn’t seen anything and placed the phone back where it belonged.
Picking up her phone, Jasmine saw a message from Vesta apologizing, saying she couldn’t bear to be mad at her and that she hadn’t replied earlier because she was still half asleep.
Reading Vesta’s message brought an immediate smile to Jasmine’s face.
Walking ahead, Charlene glanced back and instantly knew the reason behind Jasmine’s sudden happiness, though Jasmine was too absorbed in her joy to notice.
Once in the car, Jasmine sat in the back, happily texting Vesta. She occasionally peeked to see if Charlene was watching, but noticing her mom was busy driving, she relaxed.
However, since the school was quite far away, their conversation ended after half an hour.
By then, Jasmine was in a much better mood and started chatting with Charlene.
“Mom, are you free this afternoon?” Jasmine inquired.
Without turning around, Charlene responded, “What’s up?”
Jasmine playfully prodded, “Just asking.”
“I’ve been busy recently. Why do you ask?”
Still beaming, Jasmine said, “Oh, nothing much.”
Realizing her mom couldn’t pick her up after school meant she could meet Vesta without worrying about her mom finding out. Perfect! Upon arriving at school, Charlene talked briefly with Jasmine’s teacher before heading to Jasmine’s classroom.
As they approached the classroom, a sweet, childlike voice called, “Charlene!”
Startled, Charlene watched as a little figure crashed into her arms. Instinctively, she hugged the child tightly to prevent a fall. Recognizing the child, she exclaimed, “Sally?” It was the neighbor’s daughter, whom Charlene had saved from a dog attack.
“Yep!” With her cute pigtails and angelic smile, Sally looked incredibly adorable. Charlene couldn’t help but soften her tone. “Oh, Sally, you study here, too.”
Before she could finish, Jasmine pushed Sally away with force.
Charlene quickly caught Sally, asking, “Sally, are you okay?”
Sally nodded, her eyes welling up with tears, not understanding why Jasmine had pushed her. “Why… why would you push me?”
Initially unaware of Sally’s familiarity with Charlene, Jasmine frowned upon seeing their closeness. She scoffed at Sally’s tearful reaction, “So fragile and delicate! It’s pathetic and gross!”
Chapter 29
Sweet–faced and adorable, Sally’s looks made everyone want to hug and kiss her on sight. She was far from unattractive or repulsive. Growing up, she always gained compliments.
So, when she heard someone say something so hurtful for the first time, Sally burst into tears, clinging tighter to Charlene.
Caught in a comforting embrace, Charlene reassured her, “Oh, Sally, you’re not disgusting. You’re beautiful and charming. Don’t you see that yourself?”
Upon hearing that, Sally’s mood lifted. She hadn’t responded when Jasmine felt her eyes well up with tears after noticing Charlene still holding Sally and praising her. “You…I, I don’t like you anymore. I don’t want you to be my mom!”
With that, Jasmine attempted to run away, but Charlene quickly pulled her back.
Charlene was caught off guard by the harsh words. Although she was upset, she didn’t want to scold Jasmine in public and embarrass her.
Holding her close, Charlene kissed her and said softly, “Let’s not be angry now…”
Jasmine was fuming, but feeling Charlene’s kiss, she felt anger halved and her heart filled with more grievance. She suddenly cried, “Then… you can’t hug her anymore or say she’s cute!”
Charlene realized Jasmine was jealous. It was funny to her. Jasmine acted like she didn’t want Charlene as her mom, but seeing someone else getting her affection was unbearable.
Charlene didn’t promise anything but kissed Jasmine again to soothe her, distancing both children from the crowd.
Seizing the moment, Jasmine pushed Sally out of Charlene’s embrace.
Sally was good-natured. Though she was fond of Charlene, she didn’t have the same possessiveness over her. And Jasmine seemed quite intimidating, making Sally afraid.
Holding Jasmine, Charlene spoke gently, “Minnie, I know you think you’re cool, and that’s wonderful. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some might love a fierce, tomboyish charm, while others prefer sweetness and gentleness. You can’t insult others because their taste differs from yours. We should respect everyone’s preferences and aesthetics, okay?”
Charlene knew her daughter was exceptionally bright. What might confuse other children was easy for Jasmine.
Jasmine understood. She knew her behavior was wrong but couldn’t bear to see Charlene being affectionate with other kids.
lently pouting, Charlene tenderly wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Making mistakes is okay as long as we learn from them. But we can’t talk to people like that again, okay?”
Feeling Charlene’s kindness, Jasmine’s mood lifted, and she nodded and sniffled, “I see.”
Charlene smiled, kissed her cheek, and addressed Sally, “Sally, this is Minnie, my daughter. She realizes she was wrong. Can you forgive her?”
Though Sally was initially wary of Jasmine, Charlene’s gentleness won her over, and she nodded obediently, “Sure, I can forgive her.” “Thank you, Sally,” Charlene said with a smile, then turned to her daughter, “Minnie, what should you say?”
Jasmine looked up from Charlene’s embrace, “I’m sorry.”
Blushing, Sally replied shyly, “It’s… it’s okay.”
With the issue resolved, Charlene sighed with relief as she led the two children to the classroom.
The teacher took Sally away, and Charlene knelt to her daughter, speaking gently, “All is well now. Shall we go into the classroom?”
Unfazed by the earlier commotion or that she had been the center of attention for all the wrong reasons, Jasmine wasn’t embarrassed or too shy to enter the classroom.
Chapter 30
She would never shy away from a challenge or care much about what the other kids thought of her.
Suddenly, she found it hard to let go of Charlene, clinging to her without wanting to release her grip. “Mommy…”
“Yeah?” Charlene embraced her back. “What’s up?”
“I was thinking…”
It had been a while since she last enjoyed a meal cooked by Charlene, and she missed it. Just as she was about to express her thoughts, she remembered her plans to attend Vesta’s game that evening.
Her eyes flickered with hesitation before she let go of Charlene. “It’s nothing.”
A meal prepared by her mom could wait. There would always be another time. However, Vesta’s games were not as frequent. Without much hesitation, she chose to go to Vesta’s game.
“Okay, then you better head in. Don’t keep your teacher waiting.”
“Okay.” Jasmine finally let go, but before she entered the classroom, she couldn’t help but look back. “Call me during lunch, okay, mom?”
Charlene promised, “Of course.”
Feeling reassured, Jasmine confidently walked into her classroom.
Charlene watched Jasmine confidently introduce herself on stage and take her seat before waving goodbye and heading off to work at the Henderson Group.
Upon arrival, she didn’t see Thorne but saw Josh, who had brought someone to her desk.
Josh announced, “This is Sunny Fields. She’ll take over your position.”
Sunny was beautiful, dressed in designer brands from head to toe.
After giving Charlene a once–over and sensing her clean and pretty aura, Sunny’s gaze held a hint of scrutiny, though she didn’t show it. Instead, she extended a warm hand and introduced, “Hi there, I’m Sunny. I’ll be shadowing you for the next few days. Please, I could use all the help.”
Charlene shook her hand. “No worries at all.”
graduated from Starlight University this June. I just finished my master’s. And you? Where did you graduate from? You-” Charlene thought, ‘She just graduated this year? So, Sunny probably doesn’t have much work experience to take over my role.’ However, that was just a general assumption.
Perhaps Sunny had her unique skills. After all, many in the office don’t have a master’s degree, but Charlene became their team leader.
Keeping this in mind, Charlene softly interrupted Sunny, “Ms. Fields, we have a meeting coming up soon. Let’s stick to work-related topics for now.”
With a flirtatious “Oops,” Sunny replied, “Look at me. I almost forgot about the real deal. Let’s talk business first.”
On their way to the meeting, Sunny couldn’t help but ask in a lowered voice, “Is it true that Mr. Henderson is super handsome?”
Charlene confirmed, “Yeah.”
Sunny seemed thrilled. “Hearing you say that makes me even more excited to meet him. Too bad Josh mentioned he won’t be in the office today.”
Charlene wasn’t aware Thorne wouldn’t be in. Given Thorne’s extensive personal ventures, it was a fact that he didn’t come to the Henderson Group daily.
By lunchtime, Sunny had dragged Charlene to the cafeteria. After getting their meals, Charlene took out her phone to call Jasmine:
Sunny teased, “Calling your boyfriend?”
“No, calling my daughter.”
“Your daughter? You’re married?”
“Yeah.”
On the other end, Jasmine was video chatting with Vesta, and Thorne was there too.
Jasmine pouted, “You guys are mean, having lunch together without me.”
Well, Minnie, you had school, right? How about this? I’ll pick you up after school, and we’ll all have dinner together. Deal?”
“That’s more like it,” Jasmine responded, then glanced at Thorne.
After Thorne served Vesta some food with his fork, he asked, “What would you like to eat tonight? I’ll have them ready for you in advance.”
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