Chapter 9
Stewart and Charlene had become strangers to each other over the years, their meetings few and far between. Yet, even with these brief encounters, Stewart could tell the vibrant spirit that once defined Charlene seemed to have dimmed considerably.
He remembered Charlene in her prime, a force to be reckoned with, and could hardly believe she could ever be associated with the word
‘insecure.‘
Stewart wasn’t privy to the intricacies of Charlene’s marriage to Thorne, but he had heard enough to form his suspicions. Without delving into details, he earnestly advised Charlene, “Falling behind for a bit doesn’t really matter, Charlene. You’ve got skills and talents that aren’t just run–of–the–mill. It’s never too late to start over if you’re still passionate about this path. Don’t forget you were the student the professor was most proud of in his teaching career.”
Charlene chuckled at that. “If our professor heard that, he’d probably scoff, saying he was picking the tallest dwarf.”
When recalling their refined yet sarcastically sharp professor, Charlene’s smile faded slightly. “I saw in the news that he’s back for the celebration. How is he doing?”
“Pretty well, just constantly annoyed by us, his students, always embarrassing him,” Stewart replied.
Charlene laughed, her heart swelling with nostalgia for the days spent learning from their professor and tirelessly working on research
papers.
Come back, Charlene,” Stewart urged.
Holding her coffee mug tightly, Charlene took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.”
Her passion for artificial intelligence started at a young age, and she loved the field. But her love for Thorne had led her to abandon her dreams for nearly seven years.
Returning after such a long hiatus, catching up would undoubtedly take time. Yet, Charlene believed that with effort, it was still possible. “When do you plan on coming back?” Stewart inquired.
“I need to hand over my current projects. It might take a while.”
Stewart said, “That’s fine. There’s no rush.” Waiting a bit longer was no issue if she were willing to return.
After chatting more, Stewart glanced at his watch and mentioned, “A friend introduced me to a genius in algorithms who just returned to town. We’ve scheduled a meet–up soon. Since you’re here, why not join me?”
Charlene shook her head. “I’m not familiar with your team. Maybe next time.” Charlene
“Sure thing.” Stewart smiled.
As soon as Stewart left, Charlene saw Thorne’s sister, Tiffany Henderson, approaching.
Charlene had seen her in the news but hadn’t expected to run into her there.
“Greetings, Tiffany.”
Tiffany didn’t respond immediately. Her brows furrowed as she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I came for the Starlight University anniversary celebration,” Charlene replied.
Tiffany seemed to have forgotten that Charlene was also a graduate of Starlight University.
The day was for honored graduates invited by the university, except for faculty and current students. In Tiffany’s eyes, Charlene was an ordinary graduate without significant achievements.
Tiffany decided not to dwell on it. She couldn’t be bothered to care if Charlene didn’t speak out of turn and embarrass the Henderson family.
Thinking of her son, Tiffany bluntly stated her purpose. “Cain mentioned he misses your cooking. I’ll have the driver drop Cain off at yours and Thorne’s place later.”
Cain, Tiffany’s son and two years older than Jasmine, had grown increasingly rebellious due to his parents‘ strained relationship and Tiffany’s busy career. Knowing Cain enjoyed Charlene’s home–cooked meals, Tiffany had started sending him over whenever she could.
Chapter o
