Jasmine wasn’t around, so Charlene gave a small smile and said, “We’re about to split up.”

Sally’s mom had suspected as much. After all, even though Charlene had a daughter, she lived alone just across the street…

Besides, the last time there was a parent-teacher meeting, Charlene didn’t show up. Instead, a glamorous

woman turned up.

Thorne, ever the sociable one, greeted them with a, “Hey there.”

Sally’s mom replied, “Hey…”

Thorne asked, “You two know each other?”

Though he directed the question at Sally’s mom, his eyes were fixed on Charlene.

Charlene wasn’t interested in engaging with him, so she stayed silent. Sally’s mom answered, “Charlene and I

te neighbors.”

Noticing the awkward vibes between Charlene and Thorne, and seeing that Charlene seemed eager to dodge him, she quickly found a reason to slip away.

Thorne commented, “Looks like you’re getting along well with the new neighbor.”

Charlene just glanced down at her phone.

Thorne didn’t seem bothered, but he didn’t push any further.

Right about then, Jasmine returned, and the school’s family event was about to kick off.

Charlene had attended this sort of event back in Jasmine’s first year at preschool. But after Jasmine and Thorne went abroad last year, she hadn’t been to one since.

The first activity on the agenda was a good old-fashioned game of musical chairs.

The game was straightforward: set up chairs in a circle, two less than the number of families playing. Parents and their kids would walk around the chairs while the music played. When the music stopped, it was a scramble to find a seat. The family left standing would be eliminated. The last family remaining would be crowned the champions.

Thorne looked at Charlene, “You want to do it, or should I?”

Charlene was about to say, “You go ahead,” but Jasmine piped up first, “Dad’s got this.”

Thorne turned to Charlene, “What do you think?”

Charlene nodded, “You go ahead.”

“Alright,” Thorne handed her his phone, “You can record it then.”

Charlene hesitated, not wanting to use his phone, “I’ll use mine and send it to you later.”

Thorne shrugged and pocketed his phone.

With Jasmine in his arms, Thorne joined the other parents, forming a circle around the chairs. Charlene stood up, switched her phone to video mode, and focused on Thorne and Jasmine.

Suddenly, Thorne glanced over at her.

The camera caught his face.

gave her a quick smile.

Charlene paused, gripping her phone a bit tighter.

* Then the music kicked in, and Thorne turned back, effortlessly carrying Jasmine as they circled the chairs with

the other parents.

After a few rounds, the music stopped suddenly. Thorne, fast on his feet, grabbed the nearest chair and sat down with Jasmine, sporting a big grin. Seeing their victory, Jasmine waved excitedly at Charlene, “Mom, we got the chair!”

Charlene smiled back, “I saw that, sweetie.”

Honestly, when Charlene first read through today’s event schedule, she figured both Thorne and Jasmine might find these school games a bit dull. But it turned out Jasmine was thrilled even before the games began, just being lifted into Thorne’s arms.

Now, having snagged a chair, she was even more ecstatic.

Thorne, catching Charlene’s eye, chuckled.

Jasmine wasn’t around, so Charlene gave a small smile and said, “We’re about to split up.”

Sally’s mom had suspected as much. After all, even though Charlene had a daughter, she lived alone just across the street…

Besides, the last time there was a parent-teacher meeting, Charlene didn’t show up. Instead, a glamorous

woman turned up.

Thorne, ever the sociable one, greeted them with a, “Hey there.”

Sally’s mom replied, “Hey…”

Thorne asked, “You two know each other?”

Though he directed the question at Sally’s mom, his eyes were fixed on Charlene.

Charlene wasn’t interested in engaging with him, so she stayed silent. Sally’s mom answered, “Charlene and I

te neighbors.”

Noticing the awkward vibes between Charlene and Thorne, and seeing that Charlene seemed eager to dodge him, she quickly found a reason to slip away.

Thorne commented, “Looks like you’re getting along well with the new neighbor.”

Charlene just glanced down at her phone.

Thorne didn’t seem bothered, but he didn’t push any further.

Right about then, Jasmine returned, and the school’s family event was about to kick off.

Charlene had attended this sort of event back in Jasmine’s first year at preschool. But after Jasmine and Thorne went abroad last year, she hadn’t been to one since.

The first activity on the agenda was a good old-fashioned game of musical chairs.

The game was straightforward: set up chairs in a circle, two less than the number of families playing. Parents and their kids would walk around the chairs while the music played. When the music stopped, it was a scramble to find a seat. The family left standing would be eliminated. The last family remaining would be crowned the champions.

Thorne looked at Charlene, “You want to do it, or should I?”

Charlene was about to say, “You go ahead,” but Jasmine piped up first, “Dad’s got this.”

Thorne turned to Charlene, “What do you think?”

Charlene nodded, “You go ahead.”

“Alright,” Thorne handed her his phone, “You can record it then.”

Charlene hesitated, not wanting to use his phone, “I’ll use mine and send it to you later.”

Thorne shrugged and pocketed his phone.

With Jasmine in his arms, Thorne joined the other parents, forming a circle around the chairs. Charlene stood up, switched her phone to video mode, and focused on Thorne and Jasmine.

Suddenly, Thorne glanced over at her.

The camera caught his face.

gave her a quick smile.

Charlene paused, gripping her phone a bit tighter.

* Then the music kicked in, and Thorne turned back, effortlessly carrying Jasmine as they circled the chairs with

the other parents.

After a few rounds, the music stopped suddenly. Thorne, fast on his feet, grabbed the nearest chair and sat down with Jasmine, sporting a big grin.

Seeing their victory, Jasmine waved excitedly at Charlene, “Mom, we got the chair!”

Charlene smiled back, “I saw that, sweetie.”

Honestly, when Charlene first read through today’s event schedule, she figured both Thorne and Jasmine might find these school games a bit dull.

But it turned out Jasmine was thrilled even before the games began, just being lifted into Thorne’s arms.

Now, having snagged a chair, she was even more ecstatic.

Thorne, catching Charlene’s eye, chuckled.

Initially, Charlene could tell Thorne wasn’t too enthusiastic about these games.

Yet, perhaps there was something infectious about the lively music and the friendly competition. Soon enough, even he was caught up in the spirit, genuinely enjoying himself. With his quick reflexes, Thorne breezed through each round, clinching the championship without breaking a

sweat.

Initially, Charlene could tell Thorne wasn’t too enthusiastic about these games.

Yet, perhaps there was something infectious about the lively music and the friendly competition. Soon enough, even he was caught up in the spirit, genuinely enjoying himself. With his quick reflexes, Thorne breezed through each round, clinching the championship without breaking a

sweat.