Chapter : 500
Helena had come down with a cold these past two days. On Saturday morning, after visiting Sybil Ross at the hospital, Charlene drove across town to pay a visit to Irma at the hospital where she was staying.
When Charlene arrived, both Thorne and Jasmine were already there.
Irma seemed more energetic than she had been right after she woke up; the moment she saw Charlene, a smile lit up her face.
Thorne didn’t interrupt as Charlene chatted with Irma. Instead, he quietly poured Charlene a glass of water, then sat nearby, peeling apples for Jasmine and Charlene.
When Thorne finished slicing the apple into bite-sized pieces and handed a small plate to Charlene, she accepted it with a polite, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied simply.
Watching the two of them manage a calm, civil conversation, Irma let out a silent sigh of relief.
Charlene had lingered at Sybil’s place for quite a while, and by the time she’d spent half an hour with Irma, it was already mealtime.
Irma glanced at Thorne and said, “I have someone here to help with my meals. Charlene’s been visiting me every day since my stay began. Thorne, why don’t you take Charlene out for a nice lunch for me?”
Charlene was about to refuse, but Irma patted her hand and shook her head, saying softly, “There’s no hidden agenda, dear.”
She looked at Thorne as she spoke, as if to reassure them both-she truly wasn’t trying to set them up.
In truth, Irma, much like Moran Albright, had noticed how much more at ease Thorne and Charlene seemed with each other since they’d decided to separate. The tension had eased, and they got along better than ever.
Irma was glad to see it. With Minnie as their daughter, even if they wouldn’t be husband and wife anymore, it was good to preserve some warmth between them.
Thorne turned to Charlene. “What would you like to eat-Italian or American?”
Hearing she could join them for lunch, Jasmine perked up and tugged on Charlene’s hand. “Yeah, Mom, what do you want?”
Charlene hesitated for a moment, then said, “Something Italian, I guess.”
Thorne stepped out to take a call. While his back was turned, Irma lowered her voice and said to
Charlene, “Charlene, I really meet
it-there’s nothing more to this know you’ve let go, and Thorne’s attitude has softened too. As for his situation, I’ll do my best, but there are some things I just can’t control. If you two can get along, it’ll irritate that woman a bit, and it’ll be better for Minnie in the long run.” s
Given how much Thorne cared for Vesta, would a little goodwill between her and Thorne really cause any trouble for Vesta?
As for Jasmine…
Charlene said nothing. She chatted with Irma a bit longer, then took her leave.
Once she was in the private dining room and about to look at the menu, Charlene’s phone rang. She stepped out to take the call, and while she was speaking, she spotted Georgina and Leah approaching.
Thorne had his own private room at this restaurant.
Georgina and Leah often came here, eating and ordering as they pleased, always charging it to Thorne’s account.
When they arrived at the restaurant and heard Thorne was there too, they didn’t think much of it—just assumed he was entertaining someone important, and asked the manager for a separate room.
But the moment they saw Charlene standing outside Thorne’s private suite, they stopped dead in their tracks.
Leah’s expression darkened. “What are you doing here?”
Charlene kept her phone to her ear, ignoring the question. She couldn’t be bothered to answer.
The restaurant manager, who knew Charlene had come in with Thorne-and had seen Thorne’s daughter holding Charlene’s hand affectionately-wiped his brow unsure what exactly was going on. He forced a smile and explained honestly, “Miss, she arrived with Mr. Henderson…” s
Leah demanded, “Just the two of them?”
Thorne had given instructions to treat the Spencer and Hawkins families with courtesy, and those orders hadnt changed The manager nodded, still being truthful, “No, Mr. Henderson’s daughter is with them as well.” s