Mr. Windsor and the others exchanged uncertain nces.


    It dawned on them that Thorne had attended the dinner specifically because Charlene would be there.


    But... Thorne already had a girlfriend, and their rtionship seemed solid. Surely, his interest in Charlene was just professional admiration-there couldn''t be anything more to it, could there?<fn0ec8> Updates are released by find[?]ovel</fn0ec8>


    Charlene and Thorne ended up talking for quite a while.


    Once they''d finished discussing the details of the proposal that interested Thorne, the conversation naturally petered out.


    After that, Thorne didn''t speak to Charlene again.


    Still, Coy, Josh, Mr. Windsor, and a few of the more observant guests all noticed that Thorne would asionally nce in Charlene''s direction.


    As the dinner was drawing to a close, Thorne''s phone suddenly rang.


    No one knew what was said on the other end, but Thorne''s expression changed abruptly. After ending the call, he turned to Charlene and the others. "Ms. Ross, everyone I''m sorry, but something urgent''se up. I have to leave now. Let''s get together again another time."


    Since he''d singled her out, Charlene could only respond politely, "Of course. Take care."


    Thorne and Coy left in a hurry.


    Mr. Windsor watched Thorne rush out, shaking his head. "For Mr. Henderson to leave so suddenly, especially with how worried he already seemed, something serious must have happened."


    Charlene''s heart skipped a beat, a wave of concern washing over her.


    Was Thorne''s sudden departure because his grandmother''s condition had taken a turn for the worse?


    With that thought, she quickly reached for her phone.


    If something really had happened to his grandmother, Thorne would have texted her as soon as he stepped out of the restaurant.


    She unlocked her phone, but there were no new messages from Thorne.


    So, whatever hade up probably wasn''t rted to his grandmother. Realizing this, Charlene finally let out a breath she didn''t know she''d been holding.


    Meanwhile


    Josh and Coy only found out after leaving the restaurant that Vesta''s car had been rear-ended in a bad ident, leaving her seriously injured.


    Thorne and Josh rushed straight to the hospital.


    As soon as they arrived, Leah hurried over. "You''re finally here!"


    Thorne nced anxiously at the emergency room doors. "How is she?"


    Before Leah or Maureen could answer, the doors swung open. The group waiting


    outside surged forward in a flurry of anxious questions.


    "Doctor, how''s my daughter?"


    "Doctor, is my granddaughter all right?"


    "Doctor-?"


    The barrage of voices made the doctor visibly weary. He held up a hand for silence, waiting until Leahy and the others quieted down before speaking. "The injury to her head doesn''t appear to be critical at the know


    moment. However, we won


    for sure until she wakes up and we


    can run some tests."


    belongs to s


    Both the Hawkins and Spencer families pressed the doctor with questions, while Thorne quietly instructed Josh to go downstairs and handle Vesta''s admission paperwork.


    Once that was done and Vesta was settled in her room, everyone gathered around her bedside, worry etched on their faces.


    Coy had already returned to the office, so only Josh remained with Thorne at the hospital.


    Originally, Thorne had nned to leave for a business trip the next day, but due to somest-minute changes the trip was moved up to earlfe In fact, they had only gone to dinner with Charlene and the others before heading out.  s


    Josh checked his watch, then leaned over to murmur to Thorne, "Mr. Henderson, it''s already two-thirty. If we don''t leave for the airport before three, we''ll miss our flight.  s


    Even though the doctor had said Vesta wasn''t in immediate danger, her head injury was serious enough that she likely wouldn''t regain consciousness for at least another hour.