Just then, Jasmine saw Charlene pulling her suitcase along and called out, "Mom?"


    "Yep," Charlene snapped back to reality, closed the door, and said, "Mom''s got some work to attend to, I have to head back. You stay here and have a good time with Dad, okay?" Jasmine nodded eagerly, "Okay, I got it, Mom."


    Dragging her suitcase downstairs, Charlene bumped into Thorne who was hanging out with Vesta.


    *Seeing her leaving with the suitcase, he just asked, "Heading out?"


    Charlene replied coldly, "Yeah."


    "Did you call a cab?"


    "I did."


    de didn''t try to stop her, just said, "Alright then."


    With that, Charlene dragged her luggage out the door, got into her car, and left.


    Moran woke up ratherte today.


    Joining Thorne for lunch, he suggested, "Hey Thorne, maybe you should go up and invite her down?"


    He meant Charlene, of course.


    Thorne replied casually, "No need, she''s already gone."


    Moran raised an eyebrow, clearly shocked. "Left?"


    Granger paused too.


    "Yeah," Thorne continued, "She''s got somepany stuff to deal with."


    Moran knew about the tension involving Charlene, the decision not to hire Vesta, and Charlene''s new gig at PrimeStar. He remembered Thorne mentioningst night that Charlene couldn''t join them for dinner because she was busy with work. Thinking about it, he chuckled, "So busy, huh? Last night busy, today also busy. Must be swamped!"


    That level of busyness made it seem like PrimeStar couldn''t function without her. But everyone knew Charlene got in through the back door,cking significant skills and not being a major shareholder.


    "Busy" seemed more like an excuse-a pretty weak one at that. Moran was at a loss for words.


    Vesta caught on to Moran''s insinuation and couldn''t help but smile silently as she continued eating.


    What Moran and the others thought, Charlene had no clue about.


    After leaving Sapphire Springs Resort, she headed straight to PrimeStar.


    She was busy till nightfall.


    After two days of non-stop work, Charlene was nning to head back early to rest when her uncle Vernon called.


    Half an hourter, Charlene returned to the Ross household.


    Vernon and his wife, along with their two kids, Nadine Ross and Carl Ross, were all home.


    Seeing her, they greeted. Charlene smiled, "Hey."


    Carl asked, "Where''s Minnie? Didn''t you say she''s back in the country? Why didn''t shee back with you for


    08:51


    apter 2


    dinner?"


    She went to the hot springs, hasn''te back yet."


    Oh..


    Carl, thinking Jasmine might have gone to the hot springs with Thorne, didn''t inquire further.


    Before entering, Charlene paused as she nced at the vi across the street.


    Going to Sapphire Springs Resort, she hadn''t thought to bring the keys to that vi. If she had, she could have started clearing out all traces of the Spencer family and n a renovation... Helena''s birthday celebration was already in the nning stages by Vernon and his wife. Besides wanting Charlene''s input, there was another matter they needed her to handle.


    "These two invitations are for the Henderson family and Tiffany Henderson, try to deliver them in the next few days," Vernon said.


    Charlene hesitated, then took them, answering, "Alright."


    After dinner and chatting with Helena and Vernon''s family until about 9 p.m., Charlene prepared to leave.


    As she was leaving, Helena came out to see her off, holding her hand she said, "If those Henderson folks don''t want toe, then let it be. It doesn''t make any difference to me whether they show up or not!"