Chapter 169
Thorne didn’t look at Charlene as he gently tapped Jasmine on the nose, “Daddy’s got to work, pumpkin. Be good and listen to your mom, okay?”
“Okay,” Jasmine mumbled reluctantly. She glanced at Charlene, then slowly reached out her hand as she approached her, a quiet offer of peace.
Charlene took her hand and after nodding to the housekeeper, they left the house.
By the time they reached the Ross household, Irma had already been there for a bit.
Upon seeing only Charlene and Jasmine without Thorne, Irma’s face fell. “Where’s Thorne? Busy again?”
Charlene simply nodded.
Irma, visibly annoyed, reached for her phone to call Thorne. However, Helena, already aware of Charlene and Thorne’s impending divorce, felt it was unnecessary for Thorne to show up. She stopped Irma, saying, “He’s swamped with work, I totally get it. Let’s not pressure him.”
Inside, Jasmine ran upstairs to play video games with Carl.
Charlene stayed downstairs, keeping the two old ladies company.
Irma was overjoyed when she saw Helena’s new paintings, especially learning they were crafted with the art supplies Charlene had gifted her for her birthday. She showed great interest in the set.
When the conversation shifted back to Thorne, Irma asked, “Thorne didn’t forget to prepare something, did he?” “He did prepare something,” Helena said, her tone dipping slightly. “The emerald jewelry set he chose is exquisite, and the embroidered piece he sent over is lovely.” Irma chuckled, “Well, that’s more like it. Seems he took my words to heart.”
Charlene stayed silent, listening in.
After spending some time in the study, they moved to the garden for tea.
Helena, looking at the house across the street, remarked, “It’s strange, that house was under renovation day and night, as if the owners couldn’t wait to move in. But then, all of a sudden, the work just stopped.”
“Maybe they ran into some issues,” Irma speculated.
“Could be.”
Charlene had been thinking of selling that house but hesitated, fearing it might end up in the hands of the Hawkins or Spencer families.
So, she had left it untouched and hadn’t even gone inside since it had connections to the Spencer family.
While lost in thought, Charlene sneezed suddenly, feeling a chill run down her spine.
Both Irma and Helena immediately showed concern, “Are you alright? Did you catch a cold?”
Charlene grabbed a tissue, “Maybe. I did feel a bit under the weather last night, just not as much as Daisy.”
Helena and Irma had been friends for years, yet Helena hadn’t mentioned anything about the incidents at her birthday party or about Thorne and Vesta’s situation.
Their conversation remained light and cheerful.
After a while, Connie called Charlene, ranting about running into Thorne with the Hawkins family at a restaurant again.
Connie exclaimed, “Why does this keep happening to me? I don’t want to see this stuff!”.
Then, asking where Charlene was, she informed her, “I’m at my grandma’s.”
“Afe you heading back alone?”
“No. Minnie and Irma are here too.”
Connie quickly connected the dots, “So, Thorne didn’t accompany you back to your house but went to be with the Hawkins lot near Vesta’s?” hapterzu