This time, Thorne''s trip was short; he was back in just three or four days, returning on a Friday night.


    The Hawkins and Spencer families breathed a collective sigh of relief. "He''s back. Now he and Charlene can finally get divorced next week."


    To their astonishment, however, Thorne left for another business trip on Sunday morning, his return date once again uncertain.


    This time, even Rhoda was frantic. "Are you kidding me? He''s on *another* business trip?"


    She turned to Vesta, her voice pleading. "Vesta, maybe you should talk to him. Otherwise, when are you two ever going to get married?"


    Rhoda and her daughter were prone to impulsive reactions, and normally Laverne would have let it slide, believing it was best for Vesta not to pressure Thorne. But they had already missed several chances to finalize the divorce.


    This couldn''t continue. Even Laverne couldn''t help but chime in, "She''s right, Vesta. Maybe you should find a chance to talk to him."


    Vesta''s expression remained cid, but she said nothing.


    Rhoda and Laverne could tell she was displeased. They assumed she was annoyed by their meddling in her affairs.


    Seeing her reaction, Rhoda quickly backtracked. "It''s just a suggestion, dear. If you don''t think it''s right, then just do things your own way."


    Vesta still didn''t speak.


    This only confirmed their belief that she was angry. Maureen finally intervened. "Alright, that''s enough. Let Vesta handle her own affairs with Thorne. Stop worrying needlessly."


    Rhoda offered a strained smile. "Right, right. I''ll stay out of it."


    Laverne fell silent as well, and the others quickly changed the subject.


    No one noticed that Leah, who was usually the most outspoken and impulsive, had been


    ungharacteristically quiet ever since hearing Thorne had left again. After her initial shocked outburst, she hadn''t said a word. Now, she was looking at Vesta with a sense of dread.


    Days turned into more than a week, and the Hawkins and Spencer


    families waited for news. But Thorne still


    padn''t returned ording to


    Vesta, he still couldn''t say when he''d be finished with his work.


    With this finalization period already half over, their anxiety grew.


    "Don''t tell me we have to go through another cooling-off period," Rhodamented.


    "How many times is this going to happen?"


    No one answered, not even Leah.


    Seeing that no one was responding, Rhoda was about to say more when she noticed her daughter''s strange expression She paused, and as her gaze fell on Leah, the girl quickly looked down, flustered.


    Rhoda frowned. "Leah, what''s gotten into youtely?"


    As a mother, she had sensed that her daughter had be quieter, as if weighed down by a secret. But whenever she asked, Leah would say nothing.


    The others hadn''t paid much attention to Leah, though they''d heard Rhodain about her odd behavior. Now, as Rhoda voiced her concern, they still weren''t particrly interested.


    Leah looked at the assembled family members, biting her lip as if wrestling with a decision. Finally, she spoke. "I... I found something out, but I don''t know if I should say it..."