Moran Albright''s phone rang.


    He nced at the caller ID, excused himself from Vesta Hawkins and the others, and told Thorne Henderson not to wait for him before walking away to take the call.


    Only after Moran was out of earshot did Thorne speak. "Are you eating here too?"


    "Yes," Vesta replied. "When did you get back?"


    "Last night."


    "Still swamped with work?"


    The elevator arrived, and Thorne stepped in with them. "Yes."


    Just then, a message came through on his phone. He gave Vesta a slight nod before replying to two texts. By the time he looked up, the elevator had reached the ground floor.


    As they stepped out, Vesta asked, "Are you free tonight?"


    "I have ns," Thorne said.


    Vesta managed a smile. "Next time, then."


    "Sure."


    As soon as he finished speaking, his phone rang again. "I have to get back to the office," he told Vesta. "Something came up."


    "Okay," she said.


    Thorne nodded a quick goodbye to Maureen Spencer and turned to leave.


    Leah Spencer could be impulsive, but with Thorne present, she hadn''t dared to say


    a word. Now, watching his retreating back, a pang of sadness hit her. "Thorne... he''s so cold," she murmured.


    It was the first time she had ever seen him act so distant with Vesta. So cold, in fact, that a stranger might assume they were mere acquaintances.


    It was the first time for Maureen and the others as well. Thorne''s detached


    demeanor made it feel as though he and Vesta were truly over.


    Maureen lowered her gaze. "Let''s go," she said softly.


    Charlene Ross''s business trip went smoothly. After just two days, she was on a flight back to Starfall City.


    As she dened, chatting with a few engineers from herpany, she received a call from Jasmine Henderson.


    She answered casually, "Minnie?"


    Whatever Jasmine said on the other end made her pause for a moment before a smile spread across her face. "I get it, sweetie. I''ll be right there."


    Most employees at PrimeStar Technologies knew Charlene was married with a child, but they had never seen her take a call from her daughter before Hearing her refer to herself as "Mommy," they realized who was on the line. One of them couldn''t help but ask, "Is your daughter picking you up from the airport?"


    Charlene offered a gentle smile. "Yes."


    "Wow, that''s so sweet."


    Charlene smiled again, remembering the location Jasmine had given her.


    spi


    "The car is waiting over there, sp I wont be joining you guys. See your next week."


    "Alright, see you next week."


    Her colleagues were curious to meet Charlene''s daughter, but since she didn''t offer, they didn''t feel it was their ce to ask.


    Just as Charlene turned, she saw someone in the distance waving excitedly and shouting, "Mommy!"


    She looked up and saw it was Jasmine. And standing right behind her was Thorne.


    She hadn''t known he would be there too.


    Her stride faltered for a split second before she kept walking toward them, maintaining herposure.


    The PrimeStar group also heard the


    cry of "Mommy" and turned back


    realizing the little girl was likely


    calling for Charlene They were too ngf


    far away to see Jasmine''s face


    clearly.


    As they paused before getting into their car, one of them with sharp eyes spotted the


    man behind Jasmine. "Hey... is that Ms. Ross''s husband?"