Chapter 77
Stewart interrupted his conversation with Mr. Dale, noticing something was amiss. He went straight to Charlene.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
Charlene nodded.
“Did you twist your ankle?”
“A bit,” she replied.
Her ankle was indeed sore, likely sprained. Stewart's concern was comforting, yet tinged with sadness. She was acutely aware of the curious glances from those around them. They probably assumed she'd thrown herself at Thorne, desperate for his attention, and that her injury was deserved. Thorne, however, didn't offer to help; not even a simple "Are you okay?" The only person who genuinely cared was Stewart.
"Let me take a look," he offered.
"It's fine," she protested. Many people were nearby.
Ignoring her, Stewart scooped her up and carried her away from the crowd. He sat her down, knelt, slipped off her high heels, and gently examined her swollen ankle. He asked a waiter to summon a doctor and fetch a pair of sneakers.
Stewart's open concern stunned many onlookers. The whispers about Charlene pursuing Thorne suddenly seemed like a misunderstanding; she and Stewart appeared genuinely close.
Vesta bit her lip, averting her gaze before looking at Thorne. Despite witnessing the intimate interaction between Charlene and Stewart, Thorne continued chatting nonchalantly. Vesta smiled, noticing Thorne's indifference, and resumed her own conversation.
Soon, the doctor arrived. After examining Charlene, he prescribed pain cream. Once he left, Stewart applied the ointment. Charlene tried to take over, but Stewart's firm "Let me handle this" stopped her.
The waiter returned with the sneakers. Charlene stood, testing her foot.
"It's not too bad. I can walk," she said.
"That's good," Stewart replied.
However, considering her condition, he suggested she skip the evening gallery visit. He'd arranged for photos of the exhibits, which she could review later in a video recap. Disappointed, but understanding, Charlene agreed. Stewart excused them before taking Charlene home.
The remaining group dispersed after their departure. After dropping Charlene off, Stewart left for another appointment.
Exhausted, Charlene planned to rest before catching up with Stewart about their professor's assignment. As she drifted off, her phone rang. An unfamiliar number.
Hesitantly, she answered, "Hello, who's this?"
"Granger."
Charlene sat up, surprised. "Mr. Harden?" she exclaimed, realizing she'd almost forgotten the morning's incident.
"Your car's been taken care of. You can pick it up later," Granger said before Charlene could reply. "Or, if you're busy, I can have someone deliver it."