Lloyd, his smile warm and inviting, was the first to speak. "Charlene, it''s been a while."


    Charlene nodded. With Jasmine standing right there, she hesitated for a second before managing a quiet, "Father."


    Lloyd smiled and nodded back. "We''re blocking the entrance. Let''s go inside."


    Charlene agreed, but before she could move, Jasmine grabbed her hand and tugged her forward. "Come on, Mommy!"


    Once they were settled in the private dining room, Lloyd spoke again. "Charlene, I hear you''re doing very well at PrimeStar. Congrattions."


    "Thank you," she replied.


    Just as the words left her mouth, Thorne casually sat down in the chair next to her.


    Charlene turned her head slightly, pretending not to notice.


    The Hendersons were all curious about why Charlene hade and what the current state of her rtionship with Thorne was, but no one dared to ask. They also knew about the rumors circting about her and Stewart. Since Lloyd was aware of her job at PrimeStar, he had almost certainly heard about that as well, yet he didn''t bring it up.


    Lloyd and Thorne didn''tmunicate often, but they kept general tabs on each other''s professional lives. They quickly fell into a conversation about their respective work, with Tiffany and udia joining in. Charlene had a vague understanding of what they were discussing but remained silent.


    Irma, long since retired, had no interest in their business talk. She happily served Charlene some food. "Have you been busy with work, Charlene? You look like you haven''t been eating enough." Then she asked, "Have you figured out your holiday schedule yet?"


    "I have, but I still have to attend a few gs after the official break starts. It seems there''s no rest for the weary."


    As Charlene was talking to Irma, she reached for a piece of duck. At that exact moment, Terence, not paying


    attention, turned thezy.no


    When be noticed Charlene was


    trying to get some food, he quickly apologized and started to turn it back, but Thorne had already served a portion onto her te. "Want another?" he asked.


    Charlene froze.


    Everyone at the table, except for Jasmine, stopped and stared.


    When Thorne picked up another piece, Charlene snapped out of her daze. "That''s enough, thank you," she said coolly.


    Thorne said nothing and simply ced the second piece on his own te.


    To the others, it was clear that while the tension between them might have eased slightly, a vast distance still remained.


    The rest of the dinner passed with Lloyd and Thorne talking business while Charlene rarely spoke a word.


    After the meal, down in the parking garage, Charlene announced, "Grandma, Father, I have some work to finish, so I''ll be heading out."


    Irma sighed internally, knowing it was an excuse to avoid going back to the family estate with them, but Lloyd and the others werent surprised in the least. Irma and Lloyd nodded, and after watching her drive away, they got into their own cars.


    None of them noticed someone watching from a distance, their


    expression a mixture of shock and amusement. As soon as Thorne''s car pulled away, this person


    snapped a photo


    and sent it a


    group chat, tagging Thorne.


    [Spotted this just now. Are you officially back for good, Thorne? And your first family


    dinner back includes Charlene? You two are really selling this ''not getting divorced'' thing.]


    Thorne saw the photo Moran Albright had posted but didn''t reply.


    Vesta and Granger saw the message soon after.