"Is he trying to get back together with Charlene?" Vesta wondered. "If so, why hasn''t he broken up with me? Is he waiting for me to do it? Or maybe... maybe he still has feelings for me, but Charlene has just be more important to him now?"


    When the Spencer and Hawkins families heard that Thorne and Charlene had put their divorce on hold for Jasmine, their expressions soured. But the fact that Thorne hadn''t officially ended things with Vesta led Maureen Spencer and the others to a single conclusion: he must still be torn.


    "Vesta, if he still has feelings for you, you need to act fast," Georgina Spencer urged.


    Rhoda quickly agreed. "She''s right! If he still cares, and if you two were to... have an ident, a baby... he would definitely choose you. He''d forget all about Charlene and marry you."


    "Exactly!" Leah Spencer added excitedly, thinking it was a brilliant idea.


    Vesta''s eyshes fluttered. It was, she had to admit, a very tempting n.


    The next day around noon, Vesta went to The Henderson Group again. This time, she didn''t leave empty-handed.


    Thorne looked up, surprised to see her. "What are you doing here?"


    "I was hoping we could have lunch together," Vesta said with a gracious smile.


    Thorne studied her for a long, silent moment, his expression unreadable, before he finally looked away with a brief nod. "Alright. But I need to wrap things up here first."


    "Okay."


    Vesta sat by the coffee table, sipping her tea while she waited. As she watched Thorne''s focused profile, she recalled the flicker of reluctance in his eyes before he


    adresignedly agreed to her lunch invitation That brief moment of hesitation was all the proof she needed. He still had feelings for her. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have given in.


    After Thorne finished his work, they left for a nearby restaurant. Over the meal, Vesta talked about Neural Nexus Tech and the Hawkins'' familypany, and she shared amusing stories from her day with Jasmine. She deliberately avoided asking Thorne where they stood? He didn''t bring it up either. This silence only strengthened her conviction: even if he was falling for Charlene again, he couldn''t let her go.


    But despite not breaking up with her, Thorne still made an excuse to leave as soon as lunch was over.


    After he left, Vesta returned to her ownpany. Leah and the others were disappointed to see her back so soon.


    "Sis, you''re back already? I thought..." Leah trailed off, her hopes of Vesta getting pregnant that very day dashed.


    "These things take time," Vesta said calmly. Her rtionship with Thorne wasn''t what it used to be. She couldn''t rush it; she had to be patient and find the right opportunity.


    The others nodded in agreement. "You''re right. Good thingse to those who wait."


    The next day, Vesta contacted Coy to get Thorne''s schedule. She waited for him at the restaurant where he had a business dinner.


    Thorne stopped in his tracks when he saw her.


    One of his associates smiled. "Well, look who it is. Ms. Hawkins, you''re here too."


    Vesta smiled back, greeted the others, and then moved to Thorne''s side, lowering her voice. "You''ve been so busytely, we barely get to see each other. I''m free now sol


    wanted to spend more time with you."


    Thorne listened withoutment. He simply nodded, showing no signs of anger.