Chapter 20

So Mom is returning to Great Grandma's with us? "Yeah." Before speaking, Jasmine couldn't help but grimace when she heard that. Not because she was unwilling to see Charlene. Not that Jasmine didn't miss her, too. She hadn't seen Charlene in a very long time. She hadn't heard from Charlene in more than two weeks, which was unusual. Jasmine felt she did miss Charlene a little now that they had brought her up. However, they knew Charlene would return from her business trip to spend the evening with them at Henderson Mansion. When she woke up the morning after coming home, she discovered that Charlene had been gone. When Jasmine saw Charlene was not home, she secretly rejoiced.

During her mother's business trip, she had wanted to spend more time with Vesta. After all, after Charlene returned, it would be uncommon to see Vesta again. Jasmine had hoped Charlene would be gone for a longer period of time. However, Charlene was returning in two days. Charlene refused to let Vesta take her to school the following day now that she was returned. If Jasmine found out about the nosedive, Charlene wouldn't let her leave.

Tomorrow is Esta's auto race. Jasmine's mood changed after considering this. Vesta had agreed when she asked him to drop her off at school tomorrow morning. "What should I do?" she asked herself. "Jasmine was disappointed. "Dad..." Thome turned to face him. "What's up?" A conflict between her parents can result from her asking her dad to speak with Charlene about allowing Vesta to drive her to school the next day. What a headache!

Jasmine stopped wanting breakfast. But she would give in on the school matter and allow her mother to go with her. But no matter what, she was going to Vesta's auto race tomorrow night. "You promised to take me to see Ms. Hawkins' race tomorrow night, but if Mom finds out, she won't let me go," she begged Thorne. Thus, we are unable to inform Mom. Could you kindly cover for me if she asks?" "Got it." Jasmine felt a little better after hearing Thorne's reassurance. Thorne departed later, after breakfast. When Charlene got to the workplace, she didn't see Thorne.

She received a call from Helena at midday inviting her to lunch at "The Feast," which was only a short stroll from her workplace at the Henderson Group. Charlene heard someone remark as she was leaving the office and turning the corner to "The Feast," "No matter how hard we tried, Thorne, I doubt we could have gotten that deal without your assistance." "I owe you one for this." Charlene froze in her steps at the sound of that familiar voice. She glanced around the corner and saw the profile of Henley Hawkins, her real father. Thorne interrupted, saying, "Henley, you're too kind." Slowly, Charlene clinched her hand.

Thorne's tone was a little softer than normal, and she could tell. Thorne often saved this type of treatment for those he truly cared about. But she didn't think Thorne appreciated Henley because of her. Thorne didn't appear to be assisting Henley only because of her. After all, since Henley's divorce from Charlene's mother, they had hardly met. Only Vesta was recognized as Henley's daughter in public. Henley and Charlene had lost their father-daughter relationship long ago. Henley went on, predictably, "Her mother and I are concerned since Vesta is here by herself. If you could keep an eye out for her, it would be greatly appreciated.