The devastation outside grew worse by the hour. Thanks to the mansion''s


    elevated location, the old estate remained mostly untouched, but by nightfall even their cell service had be spotty and unreliable.


    With the severe storm warning she''d received that afternoon, Charlene realized there was no guarantee she''d make it out in the morning to get back to work at PrimeStar.


    After dinner that evening, she messaged the Ross family to let them know she was safe, then called Stewart to exin she was staying at the Henderson Mansion and might not make it in the next day.


    Stewart replied, "Things are pretty bad right now. PrimeStar''s already told everyone to work from home tomorrow. There''s no rush on your end. I''ll handle anything urgent for you, and we can touch base if anythinges up."


    "Alright," she agreed.


    Afterward, Charlene sat cross-legged on the carpet with Jasmine, helping her piece together a puzzle. Thorne lounged on the far end of the sofa, absorbed in a book.


    An hour passed before Thorne wandered over. Charlene didn''t look up, but Jasmine noticed and asked, "Dad? What''s up?"


    But Thorne''s gaze fell on Charlene. "Fancy a game of chess?"


    Charlene did enjoy chess-and Thorne was a formidable opponent. With anyone else, she''d take losses in stride, determined to improve. But when it came to Thorne...


    She shook her head lightly. "Not interested."


    Thorne took her answer in stride, ncing at her but saying nothing more. Then he changed the subject. "If you''re bored, why not head upstairs and read for a bit?"


    By "upstairs," he meant his own room or his study, where the books were kept. Charlene''s expression didn''t change. "No, thanks."


    He didn''t seem offended, just smiled and asked, "Have you read those new journals yet?"


    "No." She had purchased the physical copies, but work had kept her too busy to crack them open.


    Thorne didn''t press further. He simply turned and headed upstairs.


    A few minutester, he returned, arms stacked with several books and


    magazines. He set them down in front of Charlene.


    She paused, finally ncing up at him. "Thank you."<fnb87d> Official source is f?ndnovel</fnb87d>


    "You''re wee."


    Settling in beside Jasmine, Charlene opened a book and began to read. Thorne left her in peace, not interrupting again.


    That night, Charlene went to Jasmine''s room, and the two of them fell asleep together. Thorne didn''t disturb them.


    The next morning, Charlene came downstairs to find Thorne on the phone. After breakfast, Stewart called again to discuss some work matters. Charlene, without hereptop, had to ask the butler if she could borrow one.  s


    "I rarely use aputer," the butler admitted. "My old one brokest year, and I never reced it."


    Without a word, Thorne went upstairs and soon returned, cing aptop in front of her. He recited the password as he typed it in.


    Theputer sat open on the table; as Charlene glimpsed the desktop, she realized this was Thorne''s own workptop.


    She needed to ad


    ess confidential


    PrimeStar files. She was


    careful-thoroughly checking before


    and after using any device to ensure nothing sensitive could bepromised. But Thorne was an expert in this field, and she didn''t know the full extent of his skills.  s


    He must have trusted her to lend her his personalputer. But Charlene-


    She gently pushed theptop back toward him. "Thank you, but that''s alright. I''ll just use my phone."


    Thorne seemed to understand. Seeing her hesitation, he simply


    smiled, nodded, and closed the<pptop without insisting. Then he turned and carried it back upstairs.  s