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 w 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-inw” every day, she knew that her sister’s


    rtionship 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 rtionship seemed, the knowledge that he was still, on


    paper, married to Charlene was a constant source of difort.


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


    Back when Thorne and Charlene’s rtionship 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’sing 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 with Charlene would have to be postponed.