Chapter 105
As Charlene sat in the car, a lump formed in her throat, suddenly feeling the air inside was getting stuffy.
She glanced away, contemplating cracking a window for some fresh air, but hesitated just as her finger nearly touched the button.
In the end, she didn’t press the button, instead, she turned her gaze outside, lost in thought.
Time seemed to slow until they finally arrived at Jasmine’s school.
*Charlene got out to walk Jasmine to the entrance, while Thorne remained seated in the car, motionless.
Jasmine hesitated, “Dad…”
“I’m busy, Thorne briefly responded.
“Oh…”
Charlene remembered how Thorne used to always get out of the car with Vesta to drop Jasmine off, handing
her over to the teachers themselves.
Now that she was with him, she couldn’t help but wonder if Thorne really had things to take care of, or if he just didn’t want to be seen with her in public. With that thought, she didn’t want to press the issue. She looked back at Thorne in the car and said, “You can go ahead. I’ll catch a cab to the office.”
Thorne glanced at her, saying, “It’s on the way.”
But Charlene no longer wanted the ride.
She thought about convincing him otherwise, but if he didn’t care, why should she?
So, she remained silent.
After seeing Jasmine off with her teacher, Charlene returned to the car, where she and Thorne drove in silence.
Ten minutes away from PrimeStar Technologies, Stewart sent her some documents. Charlene opened them, getting so engrossed that she didn’t even notice when they arrived at the PrimeStar building until Thorne mentioned it. Thorne’s car, a sleek Bentley, stood out in front of the building, drawing attention.
Knowing she and Thorne wouldn’t cross paths much in the future, Charlene didn’t want to stir unnecessary attention. She quickly grabbed her bag, thanked him, and headed into the company.
At noon, Stewart arranged a lunch with some clients, and Charlene joined.
Pulling into the restaurant’s parking lot, Charlene spotted Thorne getting out of his car. Vesta followed suit,
Stewart parked the car and noticed them as well, rubbing his temple. “What a coincidence,” he muttered.
“Yeah,” Charlene responded, her voice trailing off as she noticed Henley Hawkins, Rhoda, and a few others already there, waiting for Thorne and Vesta.
“Shall we wait for them to leave before getting out?” Stewart asked, still inside the car.
“No, let’s get out. I haven’t done anything wrong. Why should I avoid them?”
As they stepped out, Vesta’s gaze upon Charlene turned icy cold at once. The change was stark compared to her usual indifference, and Charlene surmised it might be because Thorne had asked her not to move into the house opposite her uncle’s-a request Charlene had agreed to, though it wasn’t of significant importance to
her.
What really bothered her was that she had asked Thorne for help, something Vesta clearly didn’t like at all,
because she didn’t want Charlene having anything to do with Thorne.
Observing Vesta’s reaction, Henley frowned, while Rhoda, witnessing such a scene for the first time, couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph, considering Thorne’s evident concern for Vesta.