Thorne had been swampedtely. He was barely halfway through his meal when his phone rang again.


    As Thorne stepped out to take the call, Vesta seemed to remember something. She turned to Jasmine and said, "By the way, Minnie, school starts on Monday. Why don''t I drive you there?"


    Jasmine hesitated, her face showing a hint of difort. "I''m sorry, Ms. Hawkins. I already asked my mom to take me. She promised she would."


    "Oh, I see," Vesta replied, not pressing the matter.


    On Sunday evening, just as Charlene finished dinner and was about to unwind, her phone buzzed with a call from Jasmine.


    No sooner had she answered than Jasmine chimed in, "Mom, tomorrow morning Dad and I wille over. Then you and Dad can take me to school together."


    "Alright, sweetheart. I''ll be ready," Charlene replied.


    The next morning, Charlene had barely finished breakfast when Thorne and Jasmine showed up.


    As Charlene stepped outside with her car keys, Jasmine hopped out of Thorne''s car and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward his vehicle. "Mom, we''re runningte! Come on, get in!"


    Charlene protested, "I''ll need my car to get back to the officeter. It''d be easier if


    I just drive myself and meet you both at the school—”


    Thorne interjected, "I''ll drop you off at PrimeStar afterward."


    Charlene was about to refuse, but Jasmine tugged her forward, bouncing on her toes. "Yeah, let Dad take you! Come on, Mom, hurry!"


    Charlene hesitated, her brow furrowing for a moment. Then she turned and climbed into Thorne''s car.


    Today, she wore a custom whitece dress that gave her a serene, graceful air- perfectlyplementing her gentle disposition.


    As Jasmine settled in beside her, she couldn''t help but exim, "Mom, you look so beautiful today!"


    Thorne nced over, taking in the sight himself.


    Charlene gave a soft, even reply. "Thank you."


    Thorne looked at her again before asking, "What time is your meeting at The Henderson Group this afternoon?"


    "Three o''clock."


    "Do you need someone to pick you up?"


    Have him send someone to pick her up? If Thorne actually sent his car, and someone saw them, wouldn''t that give away their connection?


    Still, considering the current partnership between their two


    arriving at The Henderson Group in. his car, there was


    ough usible deniability to brush it off


    belongs to s<fn83bd> Fresh chapters posted on FindN()vel</fn83bd>


    Regardless, whether he cared about people guessing their situation or not, she


    didn''t need him chauffeuring her around.


    She replied coolly, "No, thank you. I can ride with someone else."


    "Alright."


    After that, most of the conversation was between Jasmine and Charlene; Thorne remained quiet.


    When they arrived at the school, both Thorne and Charlene walked Jasmine inside.


    Standing together, they made an impressive pair-well-matched in both looks and demeanor, naturally drawing attention from those around them.


    Seeing both parents apanying Jasmine on the first day, Ms. Payne, her teacher, assumed the couple hat reconciled. She smiled warmly at Charlene. "Ms. Ross, it''s been a white."  s


    Charlene nodded with a polite smile. "It has. Good to see you."


    Charlene chatted with Ms. Payne for a bit, then, once it was time, gave Jasmine a


    fewst words of advice before she and Thorne turned to leave.


    They walked away, and only when t


    Jasmine and Ms. Payne had


    finally


    disappeared from view did Charlene pull out her phone and open her rideshare app.  fo s