After The Harden Group''s g ended, Charlene and Stewart went their separate ways.


    Jasmine had been staying with the Ross family for the past couple of days. Seeing her mother was finally free, she eximed happily, "Mom, you''re finally on break! Can we go out and do something fun tomorrow?"


    Charlene stroked her head. "Where would you like to go, Minnie?"


    "Let me think about it and I''ll tell you," Jasmine said.


    "Alright," Charlene agreed.


    The next day, Charlene took Jasmine out, but they had hardly left the house when Thorne called. He reminded Jasmine that it was Christmas Eve tomorrow, and she needed to be home by that night at thetest.


    “I know, I know,” Jasmine chirped. “Mom and I wille back together tonight, right, Mom?"


    Charlene had no desire to spend the holiday at the Henderson estate. But she had promised Jasmine, and the whole reason her daughter was staying with the Rosses was to wait for her to finish work so they could go home together.


    After Jasmine hung up, Charlene waited until her daughter was distracted and sent Thorne a text: [Can you try to talk her out of it?]


    She didn''t specify what "it" was, but she was sure Thorne would understand.


    His reply didn''te for a long time. When it did, it was blunt: [That''s not going to work.]


    Charlene frowned but didn''t text him again.


    She truly didn''t want to go to the Henderson estate for the holidays. She looked at Jasmine and, after a long hesitation, said, “Minnie, I was hoping to spend the holiday with your great-grandmother and the family. Would you like to join me?" "What?"


    "And tomorrow," Charlene continued, "I want to cook a meal myself for your grandma and bring it to her at the hospital..."


    In Jasmine''s mind, her mother


    hadn''t been back to their home in a very, very long time. She had been eagerly looking forward to it. She understood that her mom had been, busy and she even understood wanting to cook for her


    UM


    grandmother for the holiday, but still...


    Her face fell, the smilepletely gone. She looked up at Charlene. "So... after you cook for Grandma, will you have time toe home? Or do you have other ns?"


    Charlene faltered.


    That was all the answer Jasmine needed. Her eyes immediately welled with tears. Without another word, she turned to leave.


    "Minnie..."


    Jasmine didn''t reply. Head down, she grabbed her phone and dialed Thorne. He a answered almost


    speak he heard Jasmine''s voice thick with tears. "Daddy, where are you? I want toe home.


    immediately, but before


    Thorne was at the family estate, entertaining guests with Lloyd Henderson. Hearing Jasmine''s sobs, he didn''t ask questions. "I''m here with your great grandfather you cane whenever you''re ready.''


    Then he asked gently, "Did you get angry with your mom?"


    Jasmine wiped her tears and nced back at Charlene, who was following her. The


    sight made her feel even more wronged, and the tears fell faster. “No...”


    It was Mom who broke her promise. Mom was the one making her upset.


    "Put your mother on the phone," Thorne said.


    Jasmine stopped and turned, holding the phone out to Charlene. When Charlene reached for it, also trying to touch her face, Jasmine pulled away.


    Charlene paused, then took the phone. “Hello.”


    "I''ll calm her down," Thorne said. "Don''t worry."


    Charlene was taken aback. His words made it clear that even though Jasmine hadn''t said anything yet, he had already guessed why she was crying.


    After a brief silence, she replied, "Okay."