The next day, Vesta took Jasmine out for a day of fun, visiting all the ces the little girl wanted to go. Jasmine had a wonderful time.


    As evening approached, Vesta asked, "Minnie, there''s a bonfire party tonight and more activities tomorrow morning. Would you like to stay here overnight?"


    Jasmine had been feeling quite bored since both Thorne Henderson and Charlene Ross were too busy for her, so she immediately perked up at Vesta''s suggestion. "Yeah!"


    "Alright, I''ll let your dad know."


    "Okay."


    Vesta picked up her phone, initially intending to call Thorne, but changed her mind just before dialing and sent a text instead. Lately, Thorne had been avoiding her calls, and he rarely replied to her texts. Even when he did, it would be after a long dy.


    She expected this time to be no different.


    But to her surprise, a reply from Thorne came back almost immediately: [Okay, got it. Thanks for taking care of her.]


    Vesta paused for a moment after reading his message, then sent another one: [Still busy?]


    This time, however, a while passed before he replied with a single word: [Yeah.]


    Seeing his curt response, Vesta knew that even though he''d replied, she could still feel his indifference. He hadn''t asked where she and Jasmine had gone or if they''d had fun. Staring at the screen, she fought the urge to ask if he was free tomorrow evening. Instead, she typed: [Minnie and I are going to get dinner now.]


    It was a long time before his reply came: [Okay.]


    That evening, Vesta and Jasmine checked into a hotel near the resort. Back in their room, Jasmine called Thorne, and he answered almost immediately.


    She had him on speakerphone, so Vesta could hear their entire


    ???


    conversation clearly. Thorne sounded like he was in his car. Jasmine excitedly recounted the day''s adventures, he listened attentively, responding to every detail with patience and warmth.


    It wasn''t just Moran Albright and the others; even Vesta had always thought that Thorne was an exceptionally good father to Jasmine. Even when she and There were at their best when he seemed most infatuated with her, she often felt that Jasmine held a more important ce in his heart.


    And yet, she remembered a time, before Jasmine was three or four, when Thorne hadn''t seemed to like her at all.


    Vesta shook herself from her thoughts and cut in, "Are you on your way to a work event?"


    "Yeah," Thorne confirmed.


    "Minnie and I will probably be here for another day. Do you think you''ll have time to join us for a meal tomorrow?"


    Jasmine, who was already missing her dad, chimed in, "Yeah, Dad! Why don''t youe hang out with us for half the day tomorrow?"


    Thorne didn''t give a definite answer. "I''ll see if I can make some time. If I can, I''ll let you know."


    "Okay..." Jasmine said, her voice trailing with disappointment.


    Thorne and Jasmine chatted for a little longer. Just as they were about to hang up, Thorne spoke to Vesta his tone polite. "Thanks for looking after Minnie thesest couple of days."


    Vesta smiled. "It''s no trouble at all. I''m having a great time with her keeping mepany."