Divorce Time 31
Jasmine finally cracked a smile, rattling off her favorite foods without taking a breath.
Thorne listened quietly on the side.
After Jasmine finished, Vesta began to compliment her outfit. “Minnie, you look stunning in that dress. It suits you perfectly
Jasmine was happy. “Really?”
Vesta chuckled. “Of course, it’s true.”
Then, she asked, “So, Minnie, how was your day at school? Did you get along well with the other kids?”
Their conversation flowed smoothly, with Thorne rarely interjecting and focusing on his meal with meticulous care. To an uninformed waiter watching them, they appeared a perfect family of three, earning Vesta admiring glances.
Just then, Jasmine noticed a video call coming in from Charlene. She had requested the call that morning. But at that moment, she was enjoying her chat with Vesta too much to end it.
Seeing Charlene with another girl that morning had upset her. But her spirits lifted in class when the teacher reassured them that parents love their children more than anything, and that every child is unique and irreplaceable in their mother’s heart. That reassured her. Worried by Jasmine’s delayed response, Charlene called the teacher.
The teacher laughed and explained in the kids’ lounge that Jasmine was fine, video chatting with her dad and possibly an aunt.
“No need to bother,” Charlene decided, realizing Jasmine was busy with Vesta and Thorne.
Assuming Thorne was dining with Vesta, she softly said, “Let them talk. No need to disturb them.”
After hanging up, Charlene texted Jasmine, asking about her day, whether she had made any new friends, and what she had for lunch. Then, she reminded Jasmine to listen to the teacher and sleep on time. About ten minutes later, Charlene received a voice message from Jasmine. [Got it, Mom. I’ll sleep well.]
After spending the day with Sunny, Charlene found her outgoing, sociable, and capable.
At around six in the evening, as Charlene was about to leave work, Sunny offered to buy her dinner as a thank-you for her guidance. “It’s part of my job, Sunny. No need for formalities,” Charlene demurred. Just then, Charlene’s phone rang. It was her mother-in-law, Claudia.
Surprised, as Claudia usually ignored her, Charlene answered cautiously, “Claudia?”
Claudia tersely informed Charlene that Terence was secretly racing cars, expressed her concern, and asked Charlene to bring him back. then hung up after sending an address. The address led Charlene to a racetrack in the suburbs.
After apologizing to Sunny for the sudden departure, Charlene headed to the racetrack. It was bustling and noisy. Unable to reach Terence by phone, Charlene searched the venue. After nearly twenty minutes, she found him.
Terence was shocked to see her. “Charlene? What are you doing here?”
Charlene explained her mission.