Charlene Ross was just about to pull over and check whose phone had been left behind when she got a call from Jasmine Henderson.


    She answered, and instead of Jasmine, Thorne Henderson''s voice came through. "It''s me. I think I left my phone in your car."


    "I''ll send you my location," Charlene replied coolly. "You cane pick it up."


    "Alright."


    She found a spot to park and sent him her location. Several minutes passed before Thorne finally arrived.


    Jasmine was asleep in the backseat, so only Thorne got out. He took the phone Charlene handed him. "Thanks."


    "No problem," Charlene answered, her tone indifferent.


    She rolled the window up and was about to drive away when Thorne suddenly spoke up. "I have to go out of town again in a few days, but I''ll try to be back as soon as I can."


    Charlene paused. Their divorce cooling-off period was almost over. She knew what he meant he might not make it back on the exact day the period ended, but it wouldn''t be much longer.


    Last time, when the cooling-off period ended, they hadn''t gone through with the divorce. They were both at fault, and now, hearing Thorne say this, Charlene found herself unable to muster any sharp retort. She just said, "Okay, I got it."


    With that, she drove off.


    The next afternoon, since the entire Ross family had other ns, Charlene joined Stewart Ferguson, two of his friends, and Connie Snyder-who had just flown home after finishing work-for a camping trip.


    Gaylord Hearst had mentioned the day before that the campsite would probably be packed, and he wasn''t wrong. When they arrived, they found tents already popped up all over the ce, and the area was bustling with activity.


    Gaylord had arrived earlier. When he saw them, he strolled over. "You made it!"


    Connie''s eyes immediately lit up when she spotted Gaylord. She sidled up to Charlene and whispered, "Oh wow, who''s the handsome guy? You two know each other?"


    Charlene nodded, about to reply, when suddenly another voice cut in. "Mr. Ferguson."


    Charlene turned at the sound and found herself looking straight into York Watson''s deep, steady gaze.


    The moment Gaylord saw York, his expression cooled instantly. He hadn''t expected York to show up.


    Stewart knew perfectly well why York was here. He cleared his throat and smiled. "Well, Mr. Watson, what a coincidence."


    York smiled back, but his eyes were on Charlene. "Charlene, it''s been a while."


    Charlene hesitated. "Yeah... it has."


    Connie immediately caught on, her face lighting up with gossip. She nudged Charlene and whispered, "Walt so York came all the way out here for you? When did you two-  s


    Charlene frowned. "No, don''t be ridiculous."<fn01ad> Follow current nov?ls on FιndＮovel</fn01ad>


    Connie just grinned, wearing the look of someone who thought she knew it all.


    dand


    Both Gaylord and York had brought


    friends along. After a round of


    casual greetings, they noticed Charlene and Stewart getting ready to setup their tent. Almost in unison, Gaylord and York turned to chat lege and offered, "Let me help you with that."  s


    Connie''s jaw dropped.


    Charlene knew York''s intentions, but she wasn''t sure what to make of


    Gaylord''s. She figured she and


    Gaylord got along well enough, so


    him offering to help seemed


    perfectly natural content belongs to s


    As for York, Charlene was about to politely refuse, but he''d already started unpacking the tent.


    She hesitated, then gave in. "Well... thanks, both of you."


    With the extra hands, Charlene didn''t just stand around—she pitched in alongside Gaylord and the others.


    A few momentster, she overheard someone nearby, their tone obsequious: "Mr. Albright, you''re here!"