“Estre, your hubby’s cozying up in someone else’s bed, and you’re still snoozing? Aren’t you scared


    that someone might take your ce one day?”


    Kristin’s frustration was palpable as Estre, bleary-eyed, asked, “Which girl is it tonight?”


    Two years into marriage, and there was a queue of women ready to take Estre’s ce. Her mother-


    inw urged her to catch her husband in the act every now and then, and Estre was used to it by


    now.


    Yet every attempt had been in vain, with no solid proof of Jason’s infidelity.


    “I’ll send the hotel room number to your Messenger. Go and drag him back, Kristin paused before


    adding, “You know, if you keep ignoring Jason like this, I can’t help you anymore.”


    Ignoring him? If only Jason gave her a chance to take care of him.


    In two years, his visits home were countable on one hand, and every encounter ended in a row. He


    avoided her like the gue. There was nothing she could do to change that.


    But things hadn’t always been this way between her and Jason. He used to be good to her, and


    indulgent-until that one incident changed everything.


    Estrey silent for a moment, her eyes closed. Then, propping herself up, shezily said, “Alright,


    send me the address.”


    Half an hourter, Estre, having obtained the keycard from the hotel manager, was joined by Jesse.


    They reached the suite door together.


    As Estre was about to swipe the card, her heart, which had been calm until now, began. to pound


    with unease. Though she was ustomed to betrayal, the thought of her husband being taken by


    another still unsettled her.


    The door swung open, and a voice from inside called, “Four of a kind.”


    Both Estre and Jesse were taken aback. Wasn’t this supposed to be a catch-in-the-act moment?


    Why were they ying poker?


    The girls sitting beside the men were still a sore sight. Jason had a cigarette dangling from his lips and


    his hand on the cards, while Serene clung to his arm, sitting beside him.


    The men at the table were Ravenwood’s finest, the crème de crème. Jason, as always, was the


    center of attention-handsome features, a pair of gold-rimmed sses perched on his nose, and a


    carelessly slicked-back hairstyle.


    He was the epitome of dapper with a touch of rogue, breathtaking no matter how often one saw him.


    Women would bankrupt themselves for a man like him.


    15-


    Nelson International had soared under his leadership in thest two years, making him the big cheese


    of Ravenwood. If only he were still the same… If not for that one time, Jason would be the perfect


    husband.


    Jason had many virtues, but kindness towards her was no longer one of them.


    Seated facing the door, Thomas, upon seeing Estre, was first surprised, but then prompted tp greet


    her with a smile. He caught Jason’s cold nce and quickly corrected himself, “E, what brings you


    here?”


    With an air of nonchnce, Estre sauntered in, “Just missed you guys. Thought I’d drop by.”


    “Come on…” ncing covertly at Jason, Thomas said, “E, I dare not jest with you.”


    No need for words-they all knew she was here for Jason.


    Leaving such a gorgeous woman at home, ignored-what was Jason thinking?


    Estre was dressed to kill in a knee-length V-neck little ck dress, her long ck curls. cascading


    effortlessly, each strand exuding undeniable allure.


    As she approached the table, the girls in the room were left agape in awe.


    Unfazed by Serene’s presence, Estre ignored her and nced at Jason’s arm, prompting Serene to


    hastily exin, “Jason just won big. I was just, you know, celebrating with him.” Before Serene could


    finish, Estre’s hand mped down on her wrist, “Serene, touch him again, and I’ll chop off your


    hand.”


    “Estre, listen to me,” Serene pleaded, pain etched on her face, “You’re hurting me.”


    At Serene’s cry, Jason’s frosty gaze turned to Estre, “If you don’t let her go, I’ll deal with your hand


    first.”


    Taking advantage of the moment, Serene wriggled free and stepped back. She rubbed her wrist, eyes


    welling with tears, “Jason.”


    Jason nced at her impassively, “Why are you so scared of her? Sit down.”


    As the tension mounted, a girl next to Thomas curiously asked Jason, “Who’s that, Mr. Jason?”


    Smoke curled around his gold-framed sses as Jason tapped the ash, “Don’t know her.”


    The room fell silent at his words.


    Don’t know her? They’d known each other for 23 years.


    Estre was 23 years old this year.


    Standing by the poker table, Estre was both amused and annoyed. Despite it all, she


    15-10


    leaned in and whispered to Jason, “It’s half past two. Time to call it a night.”


    With a cigarette between his fingers, Jason kept his cool demeanor. It was as if Estre was invisible.


    Serene, trying to defuse the awkwardness, intervened, “Estre, men will be men, with their games.


    Thomas and the others are here too, so you shouldn’t worry too much.”


    Estre couldn’t help butugh, “Why don’t you tie the knot first, then lend me your hubby for a spin?”


    Serene was left speechless by the retort.


    After herment, Estre turned to Thomas and tapped the poker table, “Thomas, get


    up.”


    Thomas looked up, “E, you want in?”


    Jesse, who had apanied Estre on this infidelity hunt, chuckled, “What, men can y and


    women can’t?”


    With stylish short hair and a shy floral shirt, Jesse could easily be mistaken for a


    and Estre’s secret lover.


    man


    With a knowing look, Jesse turned towards Estre. “Hey Estre, I hear theds working at the hotel’s


    club are quite the catch. I’ll holler for a couple toe up,” she said with a


    mischievous twinkle in her eye.


    Estre slid into the chair Thomas had pulled out for her, and sat down with an air of


    nonchnce. “Sounds great.”


    As Estre gave her approval, Jason’s gaze finallynded on her face.


    Estre, paying him no mind, continued the game they were ying. “Jack of diamonds,” she called out


    nonchntly.


    Before long, a few dashing young men stood in the suite’s living room. Jesse directed the tallest and


    most handsome one to go keep Estrepany.


    The boy, with a mission in mind, sat down next to Estre with a grin. “Lady luck’s smiling on me. With


    me by your side, you’re sure to rake in the dough.”


    Estre chuckled, “If I win big, I’ll slip you a fat tip.”


    It was true that the rounds kept going in Estre’s favor. She seemed to have a knack for


    nly winning when Jason yed his hand, much to his chagrin.


    At this moment, with another sessful round under her belt, Jason mmed his cards down in


    frustration. His face was a picture of cold fury, almost chilling the air around him.


    Unperturbed, Estre pushed her cards back into the shuffler, ribbing him, “Mr. Jason can’t


    15:19


    take a loss? If you can’t stand the heat, go home and hit the hay.”


    Her taunt only drew a ‘dryugh from Jason. “You wanna sleep with me? Don’t even think. about it,


    Estre.”


    After his snide remark, Serene cast a wary nce at Estre, wondering if a divorce was on the


    horizon for these two.


    Ignoring his barb, Estre handed over her winnings to the young man beside her. “Here’s your tip,


    kid.”


    The boy’s face lit up as he epted the cash, “Thanks a ton!”


    The other girls in the room instantly perked up, green with envy.


    Flush with the cash from Estre, the boy suddenly blushed and said, “I can make your night even


    better. How about I stick around with you tonight?”


    After the boy said this, the cigarette in Thomas mouth dropped to the ground with a snap, and the


    others looked up.


    In that moment, the room fell into a profound silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.


    15-10


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