Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Claudia and Tiffany both froze to hear that.

Trima frowned, “Charlene-”

“Mommy’s here?” Jasmine had taken the elevator up to the second floor.

As she came downstairs and saw Charlene, Jasmine was genuinely happy. After all, it had been over a half–month since she last contacted Charlene.

She interrupted Irma’s words and flung herself into Charlene’s arms. “Mommy!”

Charlene paused, gave her a gentle hug, and hummed in response, but she didn’t say much.

Irma didn’t want Charlene to leave the Henderson Group. However, seeing Jasmine there, she didn’t continue the previous topic.

Instead, she smiled at Charlene and said, “I haven’t had your coffee in a long time. How about making some for me?”

Growing up under Helena’s wing, Charlene was calm and collected from a young age. She was also gifted. Over those years, her coffee–making skills had become quite impressive.

“Of course, that’s no problem. It’s just that it’s almost dinner time.”

ffany preferred soda over coffee. She also didn’t enjoy watching Charlene show off her coffee–making skills, and she retorted, “Yeah, Tet’s wait for Thorne and Terence to come home, then we’ll have dinner.”

Right after she finished speaking, Thorne arrived. Upon entering, he first greeted Irma and Claudia.

Seeing Charlene, he glanced at her briefly before looking away and sitting on a distant armchair.

Seeing Thorne, Jasmine immediately left Charlene’s embrace and ran over. “Daddy!”

“Hmm.” Thorne hugged her, glanced around, and was about to speak when Terence Henderson returned.

Being much younger than Tiffany and Thorne and still a minor, Terence was cheerful and bright. Upon entering, he lightly jumped over the sofa armrest and sat smoothly.

Seeing so many people around, he joked, “Is everyone waiting for me?”

Tiffany gave him a light smack on the head. “Yeah, we’ve all been starving here waiting for you!”

Thorne was reserved and didn’t say much. Tiffany was hot–tempered, and Terence was the family’s ray of sunshine, closer to his parents in affection.

His return brightened Claudia’s somewhat cold demeanor, and Irma seemed happier, too. Seeing it was getting late and everyone was hungry, she ordered the meal to start.

There were nine of them, and they headed to the smaller dining room.

Irma, Thorne, Jasmine, and Charlene were the primary focus when they arranged seats.

Irma smiled and gestured to Jasmine, “Minnie, swap places with your dad. Let him sit beside your mom.”

Irma always made efforts to bring Charlene and Thorne together. Everyone else was used to it by then. They all felt Irma’s efforts were in vain, knowing no matter how much Irma tried, Thorne’s attitude toward Charlene hadn’t changed over the years.

Because they knew Irma’s attempts were futile, Tiffany sneered, not bothering to intervene this time, and casually took a seat.

Though Thorne wasn’t fond of Irma’s arrangement, he wouldn’t openly reject her wishes over minor issues. Thus, he remained silent, which was tantamount to a tacit agreement.

Charlene didn’t show the previous enthusiasm for Irma’s matchmaking.

Her expression was indifferent, but when she looked at Irma, her smile was tender as she said, “It’s fine, Irma. Let’s sit as we are.”