Chapter 84

Stewart blinked in surprise. "Really? What a coincidence!"

Thorne nodded. "Quite a coincidence."

Stewart suggested, "We've got a large group here. Why don't you, Mr. Henderson, go ahead? We can wait for the next elevator."

"Sure, see you later."

"See you."

As the elevator doors closed, Charlene and Stewart waited. A few moments later, they boarded the next one. Charlene's phone rang; it was Jasmine. After a quick heads-up to Stewart, Charlene answered.

"Hello?"

Jasmine asked, "Mommy, are you off work yet? When are you coming home?"

Since her ankle injury, Jasmine had called daily. Now that Charlene was better—Jasmine had even asked yesterday—Charlene, busy with work, hadn't gone home the previous night.

Charlene replied, "Just finished. I'll be home soon."

As she hung up, they reached the ground floor. Quincy, curious, asked, "Ms. Ross, do you have a child?"

Charlene nodded.

Quincy hesitated. He assumed Charlene and Stewart were a couple, given their rapport and Stewart's evident concern for her. Mr. Ferrell, equally surprised by Charlene's youthful appearance, casually inquired, "Is your husband in the same field as us?"

Charlene paused. "Kind of."

Quincy, aware of Charlene's professional skills from their earlier discussions, had assumed her husband worked in the same field and was about to ask his name. But noticing Charlene's reserved demeanor, he dropped the subject.

Meanwhile, Stewart desperately wanted to reveal that the "husband" was Thorne, their CEO! However, considering Charlene's divorce from Thorne and their future interactions with Quincy and the team, he knew revealing this would be awkward and might even lead people to try to curry favor with Vesta by targeting Charlene. He remained silent.

After leaving Neural Nexus Tech, Charlene and Stewart parted ways. At the villa, Jasmine waited outside. Seeing Charlene, she ran over. "Mommy!"

"Hey, sweetie," Charlene responded, ruffling Jasmine's hair. Before Charlene could ask if she was hungry, Jasmine, eyeing her foot, asked, "Mommy, are you all better now?"

"Yes, completely healed."

"Where did it hurt? Can I see?"

"No need. It's all better."

"Oh, come on. Let me see."

Charlene reluctantly removed her sneakers, pointing to her ankle. Jasmine crouched down. "It doesn't look like there was ever a wound."

"It's not swollen anymore, so it's not visible."

"Oh…" Then, "Now that you're healed, you shouldn't stand too long. Dinner's ready. Let's eat first."

"Okay."

Jasmine happily led Charlene to the dining room, where only two places were set. Thorne's place was empty. Noticing Charlene's gaze, Jasmine said, "Dad said he's busy with work and won't be home for dinner tonight. It's just us."

Recalling her brief encounter with Thorne and Vesta in the elevator, Charlene suspected Thorne's "busyness" involved dinner with Vesta. She kept this thought to herself.

During dinner, Charlene chatted with Jasmine. Perhaps because Charlene had been giving Jasmine more freedom, their relationship felt closer than ever. Jasmine didn't seem impatient. After dinner, Jasmine wanted Charlene to help her bathe, wash, and dry her hair.