The message sat in the chat, unanswered.


    Moran: [Hello?]


    When he still got no reply, he called Thorne directly. "It''s the Neural Nexus Tech g tonight," he said as soon as Thorne answered. "Where are you? Why aren''t you here yet?"


    "I have something tonight," Thorne said simply.


    "So, you''re noting at all?"


    "No. Have fun."


    "But-"


    Before Moran could ask anything else, Thorne said he had to deal with something urgent and hung up.


    Moran was left speechless. Still, he figured that given how important Vesta was to Thorne, he must have a genuinely unavoidable conflict to miss her event.


    He was about to call Granger when his phone rang-it was Granger. "I''ve got something on, so I won''t be able to make it over," Granger said.


    Moran sighed. "Alright. You two are certainly a busy pair."


    Granger didn''t borate, ending the call after a few brief pleasantries.


    Vesta had seen Moran''s messages in the group chat. She already knew Thorne wasn''ting. As for Granger, he had texted her the day after she sent the invitation, iming he was too swamped with work. He hadn''t even bothered to call, just a single, dismissive text.


    "Ms. Hawkins."


    Dalton Ramirez approached her. "I have another engagement, so I have to be going."


    Unlike most, Dalton had arrived quite early. Vesta knew that PrimeStar was also holding its annual g tonight, and he was undoubtedly heading there next.


    She put on a polite smile. "Mr. Ramirez, it was an honor to have you, especially with your busy schedule. I won''t keep you. I will certainly be at the EchoWave g tomorrow."


    "You''re too kind, Ms. Hawkins," Dalton replied.


    Dalton was, in fact, on his way to the PrimeStar event. No matter how much he disliked Charlene, he couldn''t afford to show PrimeStar disrespect on a professional level.


    After a few more pleasantries, he left. Just as he walked out, Moran, bored without Thorne or Granger, also came over to say his goodbyes.


    Hearing that Moran was leaving so soon, the forced smiles on the faces of the Spencer and Hawkins family members nearly crumbled. Most of the guests hade for Thorne and Granger. Their absence was a blow, but the presence of Dalton and Moran had salvaged the situation. somewhat. Now, with both of them gone, they could only imagine what the remaining guests were thinking.


    Still, they couldn''t force Moran to stay, so they graciously saw him to the door.


    ...


    When Dalton arrived at the PrimeStar g, he saw Thorne conversing with a group


    of people before he even spotted Stewart or Charlene.


    He had suspected Thorne might make an appearance at PrimeStar''s event first, given his absence from the Neural Nexus Tech g. But he hadn''t expected him to still be here thiste.


    If he didn''t leave soon, would he even make it to Vesta''s party at all?


    Stewart and Charlene were upied


    and didn''t immediately notice Dalton''s arrival As a few acquaintances came over to greet him, Dalton asked casually, "When did Mr. Henderson get here?"


    One of them replied enthusiastically, "Oh, Mr. Henderson? He arrived quite early."