Divorce Time

Chapter 48

Charlene stepped out of the kitchen and immediately saw Thorne lounging on the living room couch, deeply engrossed in the morning

paper.

He glanced up momentarily upon seeing her before his attention swiftly returned to the articles before him.

Charlene paused mid–step.

In the past, she would have seized this quiet moment to sit beside him, enjoying his company without disturbing his reading. But then, there seemed to be an unspoken void between them.

With a heavy heart, she turned to head upstairs, and Thorne made no move to stop her.

But Charlene couldn’t help but feel puzzled. She half–expected him to confront her about the incident with Stewart and their supposed unfair treatment of Vesta. But he remained silent.

As Charlene reached the top of the stairs, Jasmine emerged from her room, looking pale and groggy, “Mommy, I’m starving. Is the soup ready?”

“Almost,” Charlene replied, turning to Latonia, “Is it still cooking?”

Latonia chuckled. “All done.”

a few minutes, she popped her head out to tell

soup, Charlene noticed Thorne had followed them into the

is there only

off guard, as Charlene hadn’t realized Thorne wanted to eat, Latonia quickly said,

plan on eating herself but always made extra. Given Jasmine’s small appetite,

to eat, Thorne’s elegance was unmistakable. His long fingers delicately stirred his bowl with a grace

soup, “It’s been ages. This soup is amazing.”

back home, you can have it whenever

listened silently, not joining

from her, equally

“Mommy, can you sleep with me tonight?” Charlene was about to refuse, but noticing Jasmine’s pale

soup

bowl, and Thorne didn’t eat much either.

unfinished.

the weather, Jasmine insisted on bathing to stay clean. Concerned she might

bed, Charlene hesitated before heading to the master bedroom.

nowhere to be seen. She half–expected