Since there weren''t many people around, Jasmine felt she hadn''t had her fill of fun and decided to save some activities for when the ind officially opened to the public. Consequently, they left earlier than nned, around four in the afternoon.


    By the time they reached the maind, the sky was already dark. Thorne turned his head and asked, "What should we get for dinner?"


    Jasmine immediately raised her hand. "I''m okay with anything." Then she turned to Charlene. "What about you, Mommy? What do you want to eat?"


    Charlene had nned to tell them she wouldn''t be joining them, but seeing Jasmine''s joyful, wriggling excitement, she couldn''t bring herself to say it. "I''m okay with anything, too."


    "Then I''ll pick the ce?" Thorne suggested.


    "Okay!" Jasmine cheered.


    An hourter, they arrived at an upscale private restaurant. The decor was elegant, and the entrance was lined with luxury cars. It wasn''t until they were seated in a private room and ordering that Charlene realized it was an authentic Yaleborough- style restaurant.


    Charlene had been born in Yaleborough. Though she enjoyed all kinds of food, her family''s cooking still leaned toward that regional cuisine.


    Thorne passed her the menu. "These are their specialties. Want to try them and see if they''re the real deal?"


    Vesta was also from Yaleborough. In fact, she had grown up there, so her pte was even more attuned to its vors. And with the Hawkins and Spencers now in Starfall City...


    Charlene lowered her gaze to the menu he was offering. After a two-second pause, she took it. "Thank you," she said, her tone t.


    Her appetite was gone. She randomly picked a few dishes. When the food arrived, she tasted a few bites and found it was genuinely delicious, but she still didn''t eat much.


    Jasmine, however, was enjoying her meal immensely. Noticing how little her mother was eating, she asked, "Mommy, don''t you like it?"


    Charlene shook her head. "No, honey, Mommy''s just not very hungry."


    Thorne paused, seeming to understand the reason for herck of appetite, and didn''t say anything.


    About half an hourter, they


    ovel.r


    finished their meal and prepared to leave. Jasmine was reluctant to part with Charlene. As they left the privat@room, she hugged her. mother''s leg and mumbled, "Mommy, when are youing back home to olive? You''ve been at great-grandma''s for so long. Isn''t your work done yet? Can''t you work from our house?"


    Charlene didn''t know what to say and nced at Thorne for help.


    Thorne bent down and lifted Jasmine into his arms. "It''s more convenient for your mommy to stay at great-grandma''s right now When she''s really finished with her work, she''lle home." ''


    Jasmine frowned but finally relented. "Okay." Then she reached for Charlene. "I want Mommy to hold me."


    Charlene took her from Thorne''s arms. As she did, her purse slipped from her shoulder. Thorne caught it. "Let me get that?"


    "It''s fine," Charlene said, adjusting it. "It won''t fall." Helping her with her bag was too intimate a gesture for their current rtionship.


    Thorne didn''t insist. When the elevator arrived, he stepped inside with her.


    Neither of them noticed the group of people walking toward the elevator who had


    stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of them.


    Leah gritted her teeth. "It''s... it''s them. Why is he with them again?!"


    Vesta said nothing.


    Rhoda forced a smile. "Well,


    Charlene is from Yaleborough too," she said awkwardly. The implication


    was clear thorne had taken ation


    her


    here specifically to please her.