Vesta offered a faint smile. "I wrapped things up and came straight here."


    The truth was, she hadn''t feltfortable leaving things unsupervised. The meeting was barely halfway through when she slipped out of Neural Nexus Tech.


    She knew Thorne wasn''t required to attend the meeting Charlene was leading today. Still, just as she expected, he had made a point ofing downstairs from his office to listen in.


    The thought of it made her chest tighten with an odd, bitter ache. Her expression grew a bit stiff.


    Thorne checked his watch. "I''ve got a video call in about ten minutes—shouldst at least an hour. Why don''t youe upstairs and sit with me for a bit?"<fn5e7a> Original content can be found at </fn5e7a>


    "Alright,” Vesta replied.


    Later that afternoon, Vesta returned to the Hawkins family estate. Georgina spotted her first. "Back already? Didn''t you and Thorne go out for lunch?"


    "He had work to finish," Vesta replied, slipping off her shoes.


    "I see."


    Feeling drained, Vesta started towards the stairs, hoping to rest. Maureen Spencer, catching sight of her weary face, asked gently, "Did something happen? You haven''t seemed yourselftely."


    Vesta paused only a beat before replying, as if nothing was amiss, "I''m fine-just tired, that''s all."


    Honestly, there had been plenty to worry about at Neural Nexus Tech. Thepany faced one hurdle after another, and crucial breakthroughs remained elusive. It was no wonder she felt exhausted.


    Maureen seemed to understand and didn''t press further. "Let me have someone prepare you some nourishing soup. Come down and have a bite."


    By then, Jta was home from work as well.


    She greeted Vesta with a soft, "Hey, cousin."


    Vesta offered a quiet "Mm" in return and sat beside her.


    As Vesta ate, Rhoda was absently cracking sunflower seeds, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, did you hear? The Sandersons'' daughter just had her engagement called off by the Donald family."


    Rhoda''s gossip was always about folks from Yaleborough.


    Tel


    The Sandersons and the Donalds were both old-money families-practically equals. Their eldest kids had grown up side by... side, bath bright and attractive, with a rtionship that, by all ounts, was going strong.  s


    The Sanderson daughter was not only beautiful, but brilliant too. She''d already earned several patents while still in college, boosting her family''s business to new heights.


    The Donalds had always been delighted with their future daughter-inw. Rumor had it the wedding was just around the corner. No one expected the Donalds to suddenly call it off.


    Georgina''s interest was piqued. "What happened? Why would they break it off out of the blue?"


    Rhoda leaned in, voice lowering. "It''s a bit dramatic, honestly. Word is, the Donalds'' eldest son cheated-with the Sanderson girl''s assistant, no less. The assistant''s a grad school alum toopetent, but nowhere near the Sanderson girl''s level. Supposedly, though, she''s got a fun personality, not so single-minded as the Sanderson girl-who''s all work, no y, always holed up in theb. Now the Donalds'' son is dead set on ending things-"  s


    Georgina frowned. "Didn''t he used to dote on the Sanderson girl? He always said she was talented and stunning, and he''s known for being level-headed. Hard to imagine he''d do something like this."


    "Exactly! But, you know, men''s affections are unpredictable. It''s not always the most aplished woman who wins their heart."


    "True." Leah, still in a sour mood


    herself, couldn''t help chiming in. "So


    what if the Sanderson girl''s


    talented? She''s got nothing going for


    her except brains. After a while it''s only natural the Donalds son would get bored."  s


    Vesta had only been half-listening, letting the conversation wash over her.


    But at that, she paused, her head lifting.


    Charlene really was extraordinary in her field.


    But outside of work, she truly couldn''tpete.


    Even if Thorne didn''t yet know Charlene was Kenton Wagner''s protégé, he was already well aware of her abilities.


    Yet now, at most, there was a trace more appreciation in his eyes-nothing more.


    Vesta recalled that morning at The Henderson Group. The moment Thorne heard she''d arrived, he hadn''t given Charlene a second nce—just ushered Vesta upstairs, away from everyone.


    The clouds that had shadowed her for days finally lifted, and for the first time in a while, a genuine smile appeared on her face.