After Thorne and Vesta''sst meeting, her family had assumed it would be simple for her to win him backpletely.


    But five days had passed, and Thorne still hadn''t contacted Vesta. Even when she went to The Henderson Group to find him, she couldn''t get a meeting.


    They didn''t buy the excuse that he was just too busy. If you care about someone, you can find a moment to send a quick text. With Thorne making no effort and Vesta consistently failing to find him, they had a growing suspicion that he was actively avoiding her. But they never imagined that on top of that, he would be out in public with Charlene and Jasmine. Had his heartpletely shifted to Charlene, to the point where he no longer cared if their rtionship was exposed?


    As this realization dawned on them, not just Rhoda and Leah Spencer, but even Maureen''s expression darkened. Suddenly, none of them had an appetite. After sitting for another moment, they left their booth.


    As they were leaving, they each nced over at Thorne and Charlene''s table. There was Thorne, attentively serving Charlene, passing her dishes - his manner considerate, almost tender.


    Leah watched, her lips pressed into a tight line, feeling a pang of misery. But she didn''t dare say or do anything, simply following Maureen and the others out.


    Thorne and Charlene didn''t notice them.


    Having attended countless business dinners, neither of them was particrly excited about eating out,


    but Jasmine was thoroughly


    enjoying her meal. After her meal.


    dinner they


    walked around a bit more until


    Jasmine finally started to get sleepy.


    They hade in Charlene''s car, so Thorne had already called for his driver to pick them up. In the underground parking garage, Jasmine said goodbye to Cha and got into the car, yawning Charlene was about to get into her own car when she noticed Jasmine''s small backpack and Thorne''s spare phone were still inside.


    Before she could say anything, Thorne must have remembered too, because he walked over, opened her car door, and retrieved their things. After closing the door, he looked at Charlene. "Minnie and I are heading home. Goodnight."


    Charlene was silent. She simply nodded without looking at him again, got into her car, and was about to close the door when she spotted Dalton Ramirez and Kelvin Scott not far away.


    She paused for a second, then pretended she hadn''t seen them, closed the door, and drove off.


    Thorne followed her gaze, saw


    Dalton and Kelvin, and gave them a calm nod. Dalton''s expression was cold. He had clearly seen how naturally Thome had opened Charlene''s car door-a small gesture that suggested they''d been close for some time now.


    Dalton had never really mentioned his suspicions about Charlene and Thorne to Kelvin. So, seeing them together now, Kelvin waspletely stunned.