After the meeting ended, Charlene picked up her things and headed out of the room. Thorne watched her go, following a few steps behind.

The Ramirez and Watson families shared a close bond, much like Dalton and Hickey, who were quite familiar with each other. As they exited the conference room, Dalton greeted Hickey with a friendly nod.

Charlene, ignoring Dalton, approached Hickey with a polite, “Mr. Watson.”

Hickey chuckled warmly and said, “No need to be so formal all the time. Just call me Hickey”

Charlene nodded, adapting easily, “Hickey.”

Dalton paused, slightly taken aback. If he recalled correctly, the Campbell Watson art exhibit was the first time Charlene and Hickey had met. Even though Hickey had been quite courteous to Charlene, thanks to Stewart’s influence, they didn’t seem particularly close. Yet now, Hickey not only recognized Charlene immediately but also treated her with the kind of warmth reserved for old family friends. Charlene’s demeanor, though respectful, carried a touch of familiarity, almost as if-

At that moment, Thorne joined them, greeting Hickey with a simple, “Hickey.”

Hickey’s smile faded slightly upon seeing Thorne. The Watsons and the Hendersons weren’t particularly close, and his professional encounters with Thorne had been limited. Hickey had always thought Thorne was incredibly talented and noted his polite manner. Thorne’s personal life, however, had never caught his interest.

However, at his father’s art show last year, he distinctly remembered Thorne having a girlfriend-a well-known fact, at that. The news of Charlene marrying Thorne, and them having children who were already five or six, was as surprising as it was unexpected. Considering the indifferent and distant interaction between Thorne and Charlene at the previous year’s art exhibit, it was plausible they had already divorced by then.

The group headed to their lunch venue. As they settled into their seats, Thorne took his place beside Charlene Dalton observed this with a furrowed brow. During the meeting, he had noticed Thorne initiating conversation with Charlene. Although he couldn’t hear their exchange, Thorne’s demeanor was unusually gentle, especially considering Charlene’s known opposition to Vesta. And now, here was Thorne, purposefully sitting next to Charlene… Dalton’s frown deepened with each passing moment.

As the others chatted about various things, Charlene quietly concentrated on her meal, occasionally tuning into the conversation.

Thorne, seated beside her, was engaged in conversation with others, not particularly directing any remarks to

her.

It wasn’t until the meal was nearly over that Thorne spoke to her, “Minnie starts school soon. Are you planning to take her on her first day?”

Charlene, without lifting her gaze, replied coolly, “I’m busy, won’t have time.”

Thorne merely smiled, “Alright, got it.” With that, he turned back to his conversation with the others.

Dalton, who had been watching them closely, realized perhaps he was reading too much into it. Thorne’s interaction with Charlene seemed open and straightforward, likely just a courtesy given their business ties between Neural Nexus Tech and PrimeStar.

As the meal wound down, Dalton shifted his focus. Then, upon seeing Hickey, he recalled something and quickly texted York, “Did your father know Charlene before your grandfather’s art exhibit?”

York, whose work often kept him from responding quickly, happened to be on a break and replied almost

immediately, “Nope, why do you ask?”