On thest possible day, Thorne still hadn''t returned. The finalization window closed.


    Charlene assumed it would be several more days before he came back. But the very next day, as she and Stewart were in a meeting, Jasmine called with the news: Thorne was home.


    Stewart let out augh of pure disbelief. "Are you kidding me? He couldn''te back one day sooner? He does this the day *after* the window closes? He has to be doing this on purpose."


    Charlene put down her phone, her face unreadable. It couldn''t be intentional. It had to be a coincidence.


    Stewart knew that too, but he was furious on her behalf. "You know what? Just file for divorce. But then again, from filing to the court date, that''s another month..."


    Before they could say more, a knock on the door interrupted them.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the group chat between Thorne, Moran, Granger, and Vesta, a new message appeared.


    Thorne: [@Granger Harden @Moran Albright @Vesta Hawkins, Dinner tonight?]


    Moran was the first to react: [...]


    [Wait, you''re back? When did you get back?]


    Thorne: [Justnded.]


    Moran: [...]


    [.....]


    [...]


    He sent three consecutive ellipses to express his utter speechlessness beforeunching into a tirade: [The finalization window for your divorce was closing. I called you two days ago and specifically asked if you could make it back in time. You said no that it would be a white figured you''d be gone for ages, and now" you''re back today! Couldn''t you havee back one day earlier? The window is closed!]


    1.n


    Vesta had seen Thorne''s message the moment it appeared, but she hadn''t responded. Throughout his trip, she had called him several. times. Whether he had been busy or had deliberately missed them, he hadn''t answered a single one, though he had eventually called her back. Like Moran, she had asked him two days ago when he was returning, and he had given her the exact same vague answer. So she, too, had believed he would make a show of returning a few dayster.


    But no.


    Reading the exchange between Thorne and Moran, a sarcastic smile touched her lips.


    Thorne replied to Moran: [There was a change in the itinerary, so I came back two days ahead of schedule.]


    Moran: [...]


    Thorne then tagged the other three again: [So, are you free tonight?]


    Moran pouted in his reply: [Of course I''m free.] He hadn''t seen Thorne in ages, and despite his frustration he He


    was happy for the rehe


    started to tag Granger and Vesta to rally them.


    But then he stopped, deleted his message, and typed a new one: [Wait a minute. Tagging me and Granger makes sense, but do you really need to tag Vesta in the group chat?]


    Granger had just finished work. Seeing the messages and learning of Thorne''s return, he paused for a long moment before replying. [@Thorne Henderson, I''m free. See you tonight.]


    Thorne: [Good.]


    Moran: [...]


    Vesta was actually very curious to see how Thorne would respond to Moran''sst question. But Thorne seemed to ignore itpletely.


    Her hand tightened on her phone as she stared at the screen. Just then, it buzzed with a private notification.


    It was from Thorne. [Busy?]