After the call, Jasmine clutched her phone and climbed into the car. Charlene


    watched her go, wanting to call out to her, to say something, but the words wouldn''te. In the end, she remained silent.


    Seeing this, Jasmine broke into fresh sobs, tears streaming down her face as she told the driver to go.


    The tears hadn''t dried by the time she arrived at the estate. She had stopped crying, but she looked sullen and withdrawn.


    Thorne, having heard the car approach, was waiting outside for her. His heart wrenched at the sight of her small, tear-stained face, her eyes zed with a hollow kind of hurt. He bent down and swept her into his arms. Stroking her cheek, he asked softly, “Are you that angry with your mom?"


    Jasmine had stopped crying, but the mention of Charlene brought a fresh wave of tears. They were silent tears, streaming down her face as she looked up at him.


    “I''m... I''m not angry with her," she sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I''m just..."


    "Just what?" Thorne prompted.


    Jasmine turned her face away, her little lip trembling. "Mommy... Mommy doesn''t love me. Everything else is more important to her than me..."


    That''s why she always put other things first. That''s why she broke her promises.


    She really wasn''t angry. More than anger, she felt a deep sadness, a hurt realization that she wasn''t important to her mother.


    Thorne understood. He carried her inside,forting her. "Your mother does care about you. She just has things she needs to do, too."


    "If you want to celebrate the holiday with her, why don''t we go over to your great- grandmother''s house tomorrow or the day after and celebrate with them?"


    Jasmine''s sobs hitched. "You''lle too?"


    "Yes."


    Jasmine fell silent.


    "So, is that a deal?" Thorne asked, gently wiping away her tears.


    She finally


    momod. But after a quiet


    she bit her lip and added,


    "But I still want Mom toe home. She hasn''t been home in such a long time..


    “I know. We''ll talk to her about it then, okay?"


    "...Okay."


    After a little more coaxing from Thorne, Jasmine finally stopped crying for good.


    The guests at the Henderson estate hadn''t left yet, and udia and Tiffany Henderson were still there.


    They had witnessed the entire scene of Thorneforting Jasmine


    They watched him carry her upstairs to get her ready for a bath before finally looking away.


    Upstairs, while Jasmine was in the bathroom, Thorne sent Charlene a text: [Just got her calmed down. Maybe give her a call in a bit?]


    Charlene had been waiting for his message and replied almost instantly: [Okay.]


    She then called Jasmine.


    Jasmine''s spirits had lifted slightly, and seeing her mother''s name on the screen made her feel a little better. She let it ring for a few moments before answering "Hello..."


    “Minnie...” Charlene''s voice was hesitant. “Are you still angry with me?"


    Jasmine turned her face away. She wanted to say yes, but she didn''t want to upset


    her mom again, so she whispered, "Just a little..."


    "I''m sorry," Charlene said. "This was my fault."


    Hearing that, Jasmine''s heart softened. But the sadness lingered. “Well... you can''t break your promises like this anymore, okay?"


    "Okay, I understand."