He picked up his phone, fully intending to call Vesta Hawkins.


    But after a moment of hesitation, he didn''t dial her number.


    Setting the device down, he red back at his monitor. As he read the endless


    stream of online praise for Charlene, a predatory coldness settled over his features.


    ...


    Charlene didn''t have the time or energy to care about anyone''s petty jealousies.


    That afternoon, she sat down for an interview with a major newswork.


    When she finally checked her phone afterward, there was a recent text from Jasmine. The little girl exined that her grandparents were back, and Thorne had arranged for everyone to have dinner at the main family estate. Jasmine was already on her way there.


    Charlene quickly typed out a reply: [Okay, Mommy understands.]


    The video of her interview aired that very evening, evennding a spot on Central News.


    When the broadcast aired, the Henderson family had just finished dinner and were lounging in the living room, chatting over fresh fruit.


    Even Irma Henderson, who usually tuned out business matters, had caught wind of Charlene''s position at PrimeStar Technologies, let alone the rest of the family.


    Naturally, they were all well aware of the massive sensation hertest paper had caused that morning.


    The only onepletely out of the loop was Jasmine.


    She knew her mother had done an interview that morning, but she had no idea why.


    She was still young, barely grasping theplex jargon on the news, but she could easily tell that the anchor was showering Charlene with praise. Her eyes sparkled as she gasped, "Wow, Mommy is so amazing! I didn''t know she was this incredible!"


    Tiffany Henderson and udia weren''t ignorant of the small, cynical minority questioning Charlene''s abilities online.


    They stayed quiet at Jasmine''s outburst. Terence Henderson, however, had texted his


    congrattions to Charlene tha


    morning. Hearing his niece''s excitement, he scooped her into a hug and yfully squished her


    cheeks. "Of course she is! Your mom is an absolute powerhouse!"


    Thrilled, Jasmine grabbed her phone. "I''m going to call her right now!"


    The television wa was a bit too loud, so


    the little girl trotted off to make her call in peace. Tiffany watched her go before murmuring, "I heard she''s already published three papers Dropping that many high-impact studies in such a short timeframes she must be a shoo-in for all the major domestic and international Al awards this year, right?"


    The topic of awards had actually been brought up by the anchor during Charlene''s interview earlier.


    Tiffany was, of course, directing her question at Thorne.


    Thorne offered a curt nod. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she has a very strong chance."


    Neither Tiffany nor udia was entirely sure if Charlene was truly as brilliant as the hype suggested.


    But if she was...


    Then they had to admit, her future was utterly limitless.


    "We really underestimated her," Tiffany said tly.


    Thorne and udia remained silent.


    Irma Henderson, however, took issue with that.


    Seeing Charlene''s career take off brought her immense joy, and she quickly fired back. "She''s always been exceptional. She was brilliant in school Honestly, if she hadn''t given up on her major back then she would have swept these awards ages ago!"


    Tiffany rolled her eyes. "Grandma, you''re overthinking it."


    As far as Tiffany was concerned, Charlene was only in the running for awards because she had hitched her wagon to Stewart.


    Without him, she would never have reached these heights in a million years.