Chapter 896

Thorne took the bowl from Charlene. After feeding Jasmine a couple of spoonfuls of soup, he glanced up. “The kitchen probably prepared some other food. You should head downstairs and grab something to eat.”

Charlene honestly wasn’t hungry at all.

However, she and Thorne had absolutely nothing to say to each other. For Jasmine’s sake, it was probably best to avoid lingering in the same space and suffocating the room with their awkward tension.

She nodded, turning her gaze back to the little girl. “I’m going to run downstairs for a quick bite,” she told Jasmine softly. “I’ll come right back up when I’m done.”

Jasmine nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Without another word, Charlene turned and walked out, heading down the stairs.

Jasmine kept her eyes on the doorway until Charlene’s figure completely vanished from sight. The moment her mother was gone, the sweet smile dropped from her face, replaced by a cold stare as she looked up at Thorne.

Sensing she had something on her mind, Thorne gently wiped a drop of soup from the corner of her mouth. “What do you want to say?”

Jasmine pressed her tiny lips together, her hands gripping the edges of her blanket. But in the end, she swallowed whatever she had been thinking and went back to eating in stubborn silence.

Since she didn’t speak, Thorne didn’t press the issue.

A little while after she finished her meal, Thorne checked her temperature again. Just then, Charlene walked back up the stairs. Spotting her in the doorway, Thorne looked over and offered an update. “No new spike. The fever seems to have completely broken.”

Charlene nodded in acknowledgment.

Thorne then called for the family doctor to come in and give Jasmine a thorough examination.

The doctor confirmed that Jasmine was indeed out of the woods, but advised them to keep a close eye on her for the rest of the night, just to be safe.

Having sweated so much earlier, Jasmine was feeling gross and uncomfortable. She looked at Charlene pleadingly. “Mom, I want to take a shower.”

“Your fever just broke,” Charlene said gently but firmly. “It’s not a good idea to shower right now. We’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Oh…”

Charlene stayed by Jasmine’s side for a while longer. Thorne remained in the room the entire time, but he kept his distance, refusing to interrupt the quiet moments between mother and daughter.

As Jasmine chatted with Charlene, she occasionally shot glances over at Thorne. Since he wasn’t intruding on their conversation, she didn’t bother trying to kick him out again.

Charlene kept an eye on the time as

they talked, waiting for the right moment to excuse herself. Before she could figure out an exit strategy, Thorne who had been completely silent finally spoke up Jasmine, it’s, past eleven. Your mom has work tomorrow. Let her go take a shower and get some rest. You two can talk more in the morning.” NovelPeak.org

Jasmine paused. “…Oh.” As much as she hated to admit it, Thorne was right. She looked up at Charlene. “Then, you should go shower, Mom.”

Seeing the hopeful look in Jasmine’s eyes, and noting how pale her little face still looked, Charlene swallowed the refusal that had been on the tip of her tongue. “Alright.”

By the time Charlene stepped out of the bathroom, Thorne was gone, and Jasmine had already fallen fast asleep.

Seeing the peaceful scene, Charlene turned off the main lights and slipped into bed herself.

In the middle of the night, half-asleep and lost in a haze, Charlene sensed movement in the room.

She jolted slightly, her heart skipping a beat. It wasn’t until she opened her eyes and recognized Thorne’s silhouette in the dim light that she let out a breath of relief.

Thorne was sitting on the edge of the bed, quietly checking Jasmine’s temperature. Seeing Charlene stir, he kept his voice to a soft whisper. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you.”

“…It’s fine,” she murmured, before asking, “What’s her temperature?”

Thorne held the thermometer in one hand while his other gently rested over Jasmine’s wrist. “Normal. No fever.”

Hearing that, Charlene’s lingering anxiety finally melted away.

Thorne stood up gracefully. “Goodnight.”

Charlene didn’t reply, and Thorne didn’t try to force a conversation He turned and quietly left the bedroom. e Charlene settled back into the pillows, pulling the blankets up as she drifted back to sleep. NovelPeak.org

The next morning, when Charlene woke up, Jasmine was still sound asleep She gently placed a hand against her daughter’s forehead. Once she was sure the fever hadn’t returned, she pulled her hand back and quietly slipped out of bed.

After freshening up, she headed downstairs, only to find Thorne already up and

about. He glanced over as she reached the bottom step. “Morning.”