Only now did Charlene realize the real reason Thorne had rushed off yesterday— it was all because of Vesta.


    She had known for a long time, and had long since grown used to how much Thorne cared about Vesta.


    She also knew that Leah was making a point of saying these things just for her benefit.


    Expressionless, Charlene brushed past Leah and the others, stepping into the elevator ahead of them.


    When they saw the floor Charlene selected, it finally dawned on Leah and Georgina-Charlene was there to visit Irma at the hospital.


    They all knew Irma was unwell.


    Although none of them had managed to visit Irma in person, they were well aware she was a patient at this very hospital.


    They just didn''t know exactly which room Irma was in. In fact, they''d gone out of their wayst night to discreetly ask around for her room number.


    So, when they saw which button Charlene pressed, they immediately understood: Charlene was here to see Irma.


    Neither the Spencer family nor the Hawkins family had actually met Irma yet.


    They might have managed to dig up her room number, but they''d been careful to keep their distance; thest thing they wanted was to offend Irma by barging in uninvited.


    But seeing Charlene-someone they''d longed to meet but never had the chance, someonepletely at ease walking into Irma''s room-made Maureen and Georgina bristle with resentment.


    Leah shot Charlene a venomous re.


    There were still other people in the elevator, so she held her tongue for the moment.


    It wasn''t until


    itted


    stepp off on their floor that she muttered through teeth, "She and Thorne are getting divorced, and yet she keeps cozying up to his grandmother. Shameless."


    She paused, as if struck by another thought, and added in a low voice, "She''s clinging to Irma just so she can turn Thorne''s family against her."


    Maureen and Georgina nodded in agreement.


    Thinking of how badly Georgina had been ill, and how the Hendersons still wouldn''t allow Thorne to bring his own daughter to visit Irma, Maureen''s expression grew even colder.


    Meanwhile, on another floor, Irma had just finished a check-up and looked delighted to see Charlene arrive.


    As they chatted, Charlene took the flowers she''d brought and arranged them in a vase on the small round table by the window.


    Once she''d finished with the flowers, she nced out the window and spotted Thorne in the parking lot below.


    She only looked for a moment before turning away, returning to Irma''s side and picking up their conversation.<fn1180> This text is hosted at Find[?]ovel</fn1180>


    Irma still looked tired.


    She''d been in the hospital for a while now, and though people came to see her, the days had grown tedious.


    Having Charlene there was a wee change. Irma held onto her hand, talking in fits and starts, unwilling to let her go.


    Seeing how much it meant to the old woman, Charlene decided to stay a little longer and keep herpany.


    Irma knew Charlene still had to go to


    work. Though she hated to say


    goodbye, after another half hour of chatting, she finally relented. "Charlene, I won''t keep you any


    longer. You should get to work. Juste see me again when you have time, all right?"  s


    Charlene nced at her watch and realized it was gettingte. She was about to reply when the door opened.


    She turned. It was Thorne.


    Seeing him, she remembered he''d arrived at the hospital almost half an hour ago,


    yet he was only nowing up to see his grandmother.


    Thinking of Vesta, who was also a patient downstairs, Charlene immediately understood why.


    She was about to look away when Thorne greeted her. "You''re here?"


    Charlene replied with a cool, "Yeah," then turned back to say goodbye to Irma. Thorne spoke up again, "You''re leaving already?"


    Irma shot him a disapproving look. "Leaving already? Charlene''s been here for


    over half an hour. Not like you, showing up thiste."


    Charlene ignored Thorne, said her goodbyes to Irma, and left the room.


    Just before the door closed behind her, she heard Irma say to Thorne, "Thank goodness Charlene kept mepany for so long, Now that you''re here, you can at least stay and talk with me for a while."  s


    As she stepped out into the corridor, Charlene heard Thorne reply, "I have to leave for a business trip in a few minutes need to get to the airport."  s


    So he had time for Vesta, but not for his grandmother?


    It wasn''t that Thorne didn''t care about Irma-Charlene knew better. In all the


    years she''d known him, he''d always been attentive to his grandmother.


    But with so little time to spare, he kept most of it for Vesta. That, too, was just because she mattered to him.