Chapter 483
Charlene was just about to speak when Thorne cut in first. “Your mom’s busy with work. Don’t bother her.”
Jasmine pouted, clearly displeased, her wide, hopeful eyes fixed on Charlene.
Charlene crouched down to meet her daughter’s gaze. “I have to go back to the office for a meeting, and right after that, I need to visit another client. It’s really not convenient to bring you along this time. Next time, sweetheart, I promise.”
Jasmine’s face fell, her voice muffled with disappointment, but she finally let go of Charlene’s hand. “Okay…”
Irma was still asleep, and there wasn’t much to say between Helena and Thorne. So, when Charlene left, Helena quietly left with her.
Inside the elevator, Helena’s voice was low and even. “He’s not worried you’ll be distracted if Minnie goes to the office with you. He’s worried someone he knows will see her there, isn’t he?”
Charlene understood exactly what she meant.
If word got out that she and Thorne were still technically married, Vesta would be the first to suffer.
To protect Vesta, Thorne had every reason to keep their not-quite-divorced status under wraps until everything was finalized.
When they reached the ground floor, Charlene watched Helena’s car pull away before turning on her heel and heading for her own car.
At the hospital, as Granger Harden stepped out of his car, he immediately recognized Charlene’s profile in the distance.
He opened his mouth to call out, but Charlene was already driving out of the parking lot.
The words died on Granger’s lips.
Moran Albright walked around from the driver’s side and clapped him on the shoulder. “Lost in thought again? C’mon, let’s go.”
Snapping back to reality, Granger followed Moran inside and up the stairs.
As they entered the hospital room, Jasmine greeted them with a bright, “Granger, Mr. Albright!”
Granger smiled, ruffling Jasmine’s hair before placing the fruit basket he’d brought on the table.
That’s when he noticed the gifts Charlene and Helena had brought earlier, neatly arranged nearby. On one package, a card was tucked under the ribbon, Charlene’s handwriting clear and delicate: “Wishing Irma a swift recovery.”
Seeing Charlene’s familiar script, something inside Granger softened. He found himself staring at the card, lost in thought, eyes lingering on the name: Charlene.
He was so distracted, he didn’t notice Moran calling his name at first. “Granger, come sit with us. What are you looking at?”
Granger blinked, turning to find both Moran and Thorne watching him.
Catching Thorne’s gaze, Granger instinctively looked away. “Yeah, coming. He set down the fruit
basket, hesitated, then shifted it so it was right next to the gifts Charlene had left.
No sooner had Granger sat down than Thorne’s phone rang.
It was Vesta.
Thorne glanced at the screen, then answered.
On the other end, Vesta’s voice was full of concern. “How’s Mrs. Hawkins? Has she woken up yet?”
“Not yet.”
“And Minnie? Is she feeling any better?”
“Much better.”
“Could I speak to her for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Thorne handed the phone to Jasmine.
Jasmine’s eyes lit up. “Is that Ms. Hawkins?”
Thorne nodded.
Jasmine snatched up the phone, her voice instantly sweet and affectionate. “Ms. Hawkins…”
Realizing it was Vesta on the line, Moran rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Before coming over, he’d asked Thorne if Vesta would be at the hospital, but Thorne had told him no.
It wasn’t until later that Moran
learned Claudia had laid down the
law the night before, making
ng it clear
Vesta wasn’t to visit Mrs. Hawkins.
To be fair, Claudia’s exact words had been, ‘t bring any u people
room
into
while she’s recovering
o your gran unne pager