Kelvin saw her too, though neither of them could make out her face from that distance.


    Even so, Dalton''s mind instantly concluded it was Vesta. After all, everyone knew how close Vesta was with Thorne''s daughter.


    He watched as Jasmine threw her arms around the woman in a joyful embrace. Then, without another look, he turned to Kelvin. "Let''s go."


    Kelvin, who had also assumed the woman was Vesta, was taken aback. "You''re not going to say hello?"


    Dalton didn''t borate. "Let''s just go," he repeated tly, and they walked away.


    Charlene, on the other side of the field, hadn''t noticed them at all.


    Meanwhile, at the Hawkins family residence, it was already five in the afternoon. Vesta picked up her phone and dialed Thorne, hoping to have dinner with him. The call went to voicemail.


    Twenty minutester, there was still no reply. She stared at her phone for a long moment but resisted the urge to call again.


    A short whileter, she went downstairs for a drink. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Maureen and Katie were just returning home.


    "You''re back," Vesta greeted them.


    "Yes." Maureen set her purse down, noticing Vesta was still in the casual loungewear she''d had on that morning. "You''ve been home all day?"


    "I haven''t gone out."


    Maureen and Katie hadn''t thought much about running into Thorne and Charlene at lunch, assuming Vesta already knew about their outing. So, they didn''t bring it up. But seeing her daughter looking bored and a little Maureen felt a pang of


    sympathy She gently patted Vesta''s


    shoulder. "It''ll all be over soon."


    She meant that once the divorce was final, Thorne would have no reason to see Charlene privately, even with a daughter between them.


    Vesta thought her mother was


    referring to her worries about the et


    divorce itself, which was, in fact,


    consuming her thoughts She''s


    She simply


    nodded. "I know."


    Back in her room, she saw Thorne still hadn''t replied. She couldn''t stop herself this


    time and dialed his number again. No answer.


    After a moment''s hesitation, she called Jasmine. The call went unanswered.


    At that moment, Charlene and


    Thorne were busy with their


    winemaking. Afterward, they stayed at the estate for dinner Jas had had a wonderful day and, hearing that the stars would be especially bright that night begged to stay overnight and watch them from the rooftop.


    Charlene had no intention of staying. "I didn''t bring a change of clothes, sweetie. Maybe next time."


    "We can have the manager arrange for whatever you need," Thorne interjected smoothly.


    Jasmine nodded eagerly. "Yeah, yeah! Daddy and I didn''t bring clothes either, but they can just buy some for us. It''ll be quick!"


    Charlene fell silent, her eyes locking with Thorne''s, a frown creasing her brow.


    He poured her a ss of water. "You''ve been working so hardtely," he said with a


    small smile. "Wouldn''t it be nice to rx here for a night?"


    Charlene''s frown deepened. This wasn''t about being nice or not.