Since Charlene''s car was still parked at the restaurant from the night before, she hopped into Thorne''s car after breakfast so they could drop Jasmine off at school


    together.


    After watching their daughter disappear through the school gates, Thorne turned to Charlene. "Shall I drop you at the office?"


    "No need," she declined evenly. "I''ll grab a cab."


    Thorne gave a brief nod, not pushing the issue. "Stay safe."


    He offered a polite nod of farewell, then climbed back into his car without a backward nce, heading straight for The Henderson Group.


    He spent the entire morning drowning in paperwork. Come noon, he had a scheduled lunch meeting. However, the moment he and Coy stepped out of the lobby, they spotted Vesta Hawkins waiting by the parking lot.


    Both men slowed their steps.


    Coy was acutely aware of the icy stalemate between Thorne and Vesta. He knew she had shown up at the office a few times recently, only to be turned away.


    But she hadn''t made an appearance in nearly half a month. Her sudden arrival


    now...


    Coy shot a discreet nce at his boss.


    Vesta approached Thorne with a soft, hesitant smile. "Am I interrupting anything?"


    "No," Thorne replied.


    Her smile brightened, and she naturally followed him into his car.


    Watching them settle into the backseat, Coy let out a quiet sigh of relief. He figured that deep down, Thorne still harbored feelings for her.


    The privacy partition smoothly rolled up, severing Coy and the driver''s view of the back.


    As the car merged into the bustling city traffic, Vesta looked at Thorne. "It''s been a while since we had a proper meal together. I just wanted to see you."


    "Mhm," Thorne murmured. "How are things at yourpany?"


    Hearing him voluntarily ask about her business lifted Vesta''s spirits immensely. She eagerlyunched into updates about her work.


    The restaurant wasn''t far. Ten minutester, they arrived.


    Thorne had brought Vesta to plenty of business lunches in the past. Today''s gathering with a few senior executives and partners was nothing crucial just a routineworking meal. No one was particrly surprised to see her at his side.


    Thorne had an important meeting scheduled for the early afternoon, so he prepared


    to head out shortly after eating, while the others opted to stay and chat.


    Just as Thorne and Vesta stepped out of the restaurant''s front doors, Vesta''s face suddenly drained of color With a terrified shriek of "Watch out!" she violently, shoved Thorne out of the way.


    Thorne''s reflexes kicked in. Sensing the danger, he immediately reached out and shoved her forward as well.


    An instantter, a deafening crash echoed through the street as a massive air conditioning unit plummeted from above, smashing into jagged pieces on the pavement.


    Thanks to Vesta''s warning, Thorne


    waspletely unharmed. But even


    though he had tried to push her


    clear, Vesta hadn''t entirely escaped. The heavy debris clipped her shoulder sending her crashing onto the hard concrete where she instantly cked out.


    "Ms. Hawkins!" Coy yelled in horror.


    The executives behind them panicked. "Get her to a hospital! Now!"


    Without a second''s hesitation, Thorne scooped Vesta''s limp body into his arms, loaded her into the car, and raced toward the emergency room.


    News traveled fast. Before long, anxious members of both the Hawkins and Spencer families rushed through the hospital doors.


    Vesta had sustained a severeceration to her shoulder. While it wasn''t life- threatening, the doctor made it clear she would require a substantial hospital stay to


    recover.


    Shortly after, Granger Harden and Moran Albright arrived, clutching bouquets and fruit baskets.


    By then, Vesta had regained consciousness. Everyone in the room knew she had just risked her life for Thorne.


    Moran looked down at her, his eyes brimming with gratitude and deep concern. "How are you feeling? Hanging in there?"