They had all noticed how, over the past two years, Jasmine had grown increasingly distant and even hostile towards Charlene. They had assumed this rift would only widen until the mother and daughter werepletely estranged. They never expected this.


    They hadn''t initially known about Charlene''s job at PrimeStar Technologies, but as thepany''s reputation soared both at home and abroad, it became impossible to ignore. It was hard to believe that she had not only made good on her promise to leave The Henderson Group but was now thriving.


    As for the rumors about her and Stewart Ferguson... seeing her now at the same table as Thorne, barely sparing him a nce, she seemed soposed, so indifferent. It was as if she had truly moved on from him. Before, they hadn''t quite believed the stories about her and Stewart. After all, they knew how deeply Charlene had loved Thorne; how could she possibly have fallen for someone else so quickly? Now, seeing how different she was around Thorne, they finally epted that she had let him go.


    When the conversation turned to the sessful coboration between The


    Henderson Group and PrimeStar, they nced at Charlene, wondering if she would be involved. But she didn''t even look up, seemingly unfazed, and they quickly dropped the subject.


    After dinner, Charlene spent most of her time chatting with Irma. She exchanged no words with udia and Tiffany beyond the initial greetings.


    Around nine o''clock, while Jasmine was upstairs taking a bath, Charlene decided it was time to leave. It was obvious from Jasmine''s cheerful mood earlier that she expected her mother to stay the night. She would surely be upset when she came downstairs and found Charlene gone without a word.


    Thorne saw her getting ready to


    leave and looked at her.


    "Minnie W probably make a scene. why don


    You


    the night?"


    ет


    udia and Tiffany exchanged a look. It was clear now that Thorne and Chartene hadn''t told Jasmine about the divorce and intended. keep it that way for a while longer. They were both surprised to hear Thorne ask Charlene to stay, even if it was for Jasmine''s sake. The patience and tenderness in his eyes when he looked at his daughter were undeniable. They were both astonished by it. They had never expected Thorne to be such a doting father. He had always presented a smiling facade, but underneath, he was a cold and distant person. Before Jasmine, he had only ever shown genuine warmth to Irma, keeping everyone else, including his family, at a polite but firm distance.


    Charlene shook her head. "No, I can''t. I''ll call herter."


    Seeing her resolve, Thorne didn''t press further. Instead, he stood up. "I''ll walk you out."


    "Okay," Charlene agreed.


    Everyone understood that Thorne


    wanted to speak with her alone


    they tactfully remained behind