**Chapter 7** Jasmine sprang from her bed, the excitement bubbling within her like a pot on the verge of boiling over. “Really?” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with disbelief. “Yeah!” “Then why didn’t Ms. Hawkins mention it to me?” “It’s only just been confirmed. I haven’t had the chance to tell her yet,” her father replied, his voice filled with warmth. Jasmine’s heart raced as a clever idea danced in her mind. “Let’s keep it a secret from Ms. Hawkins for now, Dad. We can surprise her when we get home!” “I like that idea,” he chuckled, clearly caught up in her excitement. “Dad, you’re the best! I love you to the moon and back!” Jasmine beamed, each word an explosion of joy as she hung up the phone. Her smile was radiant, a beacon of happiness that lit up her entire room. With blissful abandon, she began to dance and sing on her bed, each twirl a celebration of the good news. Amidst her joyous outburst, her thoughts shifted, landing on Charlene. The past few days had been a refreshing change; Charlene had refrained from calling, allowing Jasmine a brief reprieve. To dodge any awkward conversations, Jasmine had made a habit of leaving for school earlier, placing her phone out of reach, or even switching it off as soon as she returned home. Yet, as the days rolled by, a nagging guilt crept in, causing her to worry that Charlene might be growing angry with her. To her surprise, the phone remained silent. At first, Jasmine reasoned that Charlene must have picked up on her avoidance. But knowing her mother, she quickly dismissed that notion. Charlene was not one to let things fester silently; if she was upset, she would have addressed it head-on, not let it simmer in the background. That line of thinking suddenly shifted into an unexpected wave of longing—Jasmine found herself missing Charlene for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Unable to shake off the feeling, she resolved to call her mother. As she dialed, however, a sinking realization hit her. Soon she would return home and no longer have free access to Vesta. Charlene would likely impose barriers between them, just as she had before, robbing Jasmine of the moments with her sister that felt so precious. The thought of that future snuffed out Jasmine’s excitement, dousing her joy like a cold splash of water. Back home, the stillness of the night cloaked everything in a somber hue. Jasmine’s call pierced through the quiet, waking Charlene from a deep sleep just before she could answer, Jasmine’s anger boiled over and she abruptly cut the call. Despite having surrendered her custody rights in the divorce agreement with Thorne, Jasmine was still Charlene’s daughter, and that bond tugged at Charlene’s heart with fierce urgency. Fearing something was amiss after Jasmine hung up so suddenly, Charlene hastily returned the call, panic swelling within her chest. Jasmine peered at her phone and a mix of determination and stubbornness washed over her as she turned away, refusing to answer. Charlene's concern deepened, prompting her to use the landline to call their home instead. The phone rang only once before Latonia picked up, her voice warm and reassuring. After listening to Charlene’s description of the situation, Latonia calmed her. “Miss Minnie is fine. She went to bed late and slept in today. I just saw her, looking half-asleep but okay. Let me go check on her, and I’ll call you back.” A thread of relief unwound in Charlene’s mind as she listened. “Thank you. That would be great,” she replied, her voice softening. Latonia made her way to Jasmine’s room, and she found her pacing around, getting ready for the day. When Latonia recounted what had happened, Jasmine lied effortlessly, claiming she had dialed Charlene’s number by accident while brushing her teeth. None the wiser, Latonia returned downstairs to reassure Charlene. Meanwhile, Jasmine felt a lightness blooming in her chest, bolstered by her small act of defiance. After Latonia’s call, Charlene finally felt a sense of calm return, if only temporarily. Yet, the abrupt start to her day had stolen her chance of falling back into slumber, leaving her groggy and unfocused at work the next day. Meanwhile, across town, Thorne was unmindful of the storm brewing in the wake of the divorce agreement he had carelessly tucked away since the day Vesta reached out to him. With his timeline tight, he gathered his essential documents, wholly unaware of the tumultuous revelations waiting for him at home. As if weaving through an intricate web of emotions and unfinished business, the characters moved ever closer to a collision that would alter their lives in unimaginable ways.