Chapter 3

Chapter 3 It was just past nine when Thome and Jasmine got home.

Jasmine clung to her dad’s shirt. Her movements were sluggish as she got out of the car. She didn’t want to come home because her mom was there.-

But Vesta had told her that Charlene came specially to spend time with her and her dad. They couldn’t just stay out, which would break Charlene’s heart.

Thome had also mentioned that if they didn’t come home tonight, Charlene would join them on their boating trip tomorrow.

Reluctantly, she agreed to return. Still, she couldn’t help worrying, muttering, “Dad, what if Mommy insists on coming with us tomorrow?”

“It won’t happen,” Thorne said with assurance.

Over the years of their marriage, Charlene always tried to find chances to spend more time with him, but she was sensible enough to back off whenever he made it clear he needed space.

In Jasmine’s memory, Charlene always listened to Thorne. If he said it wouldn’t happen, then it certainly wouldn’t.

Finally feeling relieved, Jasmine’s mood lifted. She bounced into the house, telling Latonia she would take a shower.

Okay,” Latonia responded. Remembering Charlene’s instructions, she handed Thorne an envelope. “Mr. Henderson, Mrs.

Henderson asked me to give this to you.”

Thome took it, casually asking, “Where is she?”

“She... packed up and left around noon. Didn’t you know?”

Thome paused on his way upstairs, turning back. “She left?”

Latonia nodded. “Yes.”

Thorne had never let Charlene explain why she came to Goldland, and he didn’t care much. Knowing she had left didn’t bother him either.

Jasmine was surprised to hear it, feeling a slight sense of loss.

She figured it would be nice to have her mom around in the evening, especially if her mom didn’t join their outing the next day.

Plus, her hands always hurt from polishing shells, and she had hoped her mom would help her finish.

Thorne and Charlene hadn’t seen each other for months. Charlene had come all this way yet hadn’t even seen Thorne.

Remembering Charlene’s unhappy expression upon leaving, Latonia couldn’t help but mention, “Mr. Henderson, Mrs. Henderson seemed upset when she left. It looked like she was angry.”

Latonia had initially thought Charlene had urgent business to attend to back in the country. Then, realizing Thorne didn’t know about her return, she sensed something was off.

‘Angry? Charlene’s always been super patient and nice to me. Wait, she can actually get mad? That’s a first. Thorne chuckled dismissively, barely acknowledging Latonia before heading upstairs.

Entering his room, he was about to open Charlene’s letter when Vesta’s call came through. After picking up, he carelessly tossed the envelope aside and left the room. The envelope fell to the floor beside the bed.

Thorne didn’t come home that night.

The next day, when Latonia came to clean up, she saw the envelope on the floor and recognized it as the one Charlene had given to her for Thorne the day before. Assuming Thorne had read it, she casually placed it in a nearby cabinet.

After landing, Charlene headed straight to her room to pack. She’d been there six years and had plenty of stuff, but she only took some clothes, personal items, and her professional books.

Thorne had always provided for her and Jasmine, depositing money into two separate accounts monthly. One was hers, and the other was Jasmine’s.

However, Charlene usually used her card for expenses, never touching Jasmine’s account. Moreover, because she loved Thorne, every time she went shopping and saw stuff that would suit him, like clothes, shoes, cufflinks, and ties, she couldn’t resist buying them for Chim.

mapter 4