Divorce Time

Chapter 213

Jasmine wasn’t around, so Charlene gave a small smile and said, “We’re about to split up.”

Sally’s mom had suspected as much. After all, even though Charlene had a daughter, she lived alone just across the street…

Besides, the last time there was a parent–teacher meeting, Charlene didn’t show up. Instead, a glamorous

woman turned up.

Thorne, ever the sociable one, greeted them with a, “Hey there.”

Sally’s mom replied, “Hey…”

Thorne asked, “You two know each other?”

Though he directed the question at Sally’s mom, his eyes were fixed on Charlene.

Charlene wasn’t interested in engaging with him, so she stayed silent. Sally’s mom answered, “Charlene and I

te neighbors.”

Noticing the awkward vibes between Charlene and Thorne, and seeing that Charlene seemed eager to dodge him, she quickly found a reason to slip away.

Thorne commented, “Looks like you’re getting along well with the new neighbor.”

Charlene just glanced down at her phone.

Thorne didn’t seem bothered, but he didn’t push any further.

Right about then, Jasmine returned, and the school’s family event was about to kick off.

Charlene had attended this sort of event back in Jasmine’s first year at preschool. But after Jasmine and Thorne went abroad last year, she hadn’t been to one since.

The first activity on the agenda was a good old–fashioned game of musical chairs.

The game was straightforward: set up chairs in a circle, two less than the number of families playing. Parents and their kids would walk around the chairs while the music played. When the music stopped, it was a scramble to find a seat. The family left standing would be eliminated. The last family remaining would be crowned the champions.

Thorne looked at Charlene, “You want to do it, or should I?”

Charlene was about to say, “You go ahead,” but Jasmine piped up first, “Dad’s got this.”

Thorne turned to Charlene, “What do you think?”

Charlene nodded, “You go ahead.”

“Alright,” Thorne handed her his phone, “You can record it then.”

Charlene hesitated, not wanting to use his phone, “I’ll use mine and send it to you later.”

pocketed

arms, Thorne joined the other parents, forming

switched her phone to video mode,

over at

camera caught

her a quick smile.

gripping her phone a bit tighter.

Chapter 21

music kicked in, and Thorne turned back, effortlessly carrying Jasmine as they circled the chairs

the other parents.

on his feet, grabbed the nearest chair and

at Charlene, “Mom,

“I saw

when Charlene first read through today’s event schedule, she figured both Thorne and

thrilled even before the games began, just being lifted

chair, she

catching Charlene’s eye,

Chapter 213

wasn’t around, so Charlene gave a small smile and said, “We’re

even though Charlene had a

was a parent–teacher meeting, Charlene didn’t show up. Instead, a glamorous

woman turned up.

one, greeted them with a,

replied, “Hey…”

two know

Sally’s mom, his eyes were

in engaging with him, so she stayed silent. Sally’s mom answered, “Charlene and I

te neighbors.”

Thorne, and seeing that Charlene seemed eager to dodge

like you’re getting along well with the new neighbor.”

glanced down at

he didn’t push any further.

then, Jasmine returned, and the school’s family event was about to

first year at preschool. But after Jasmine

the agenda was a good old–fashioned game of musical

up chairs in a circle, two less than the number of families playing. Parents and their kids would walk around the chairs while the music played. When the

to do it, or

ahead,” but Jasmine piped up first,

to Charlene, “What do you

“You go

handed her his phone, “You can record

to use his phone, “I’ll use mine and send it to