The bar was dimly lit, a cacophony of voices blending with the pulse of music in the raucous night.


    Before Estre could utter a word, the girl blurted out, “Jason’s not home again tonight. Bet he’s


    shacked up with some other dame.”


    Jesse, hands casually tucked in her pockets, shed a wry smile. “Pa, are you also drowning your


    sorrows in alcohol? But seriously, you should. I mean, Jason’s vor of the week changes faster than


    the specials at Joe’s Diner, and you’re still not on the menu. after two years.”


    “Jesse, you…” Pa’s face turned beet red with anger. “So what? You honestly think Estre is


    Jason’s wife? Let her call Jason ‘hubby’ and see if he even acknowledges it.”


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    Pa thought it was her who should have been cozying up with the Nelsons. Her dad and Jason’s dad


    already toasting to their kids’ impending nuptials, but then Estre swooped in and stole the show. So,


    behind the scenes, Pa had tried to trip up Estre more times than she could count, stirring up all


    kinds of trouble.


    Now, with this chance encounter, Pa wasn’t about to let it slide.


    Jesse replied, “Whether Jason answers to Estre, I couldn’t tell ya. But if you call him, I bet he won’t


    give you the time of day.”


    Jesse raised her eyebrows, her tone firm. “Pa, you lost the game. Better quit those sneaky moves.”


    Pa was livid. “Lost to her? If it weren’t for Landon’s momentarypse of judgment, she wouldn’t


    stand a chance! Can she even keep Jason? He doesn’t even treat her like a wife. They’ve been


    married two years, and no wedding bash. All the while, Jason’s had a parade of women. Doesn’t


    Estre know? This is nothing but Jason’s protest against the marriage and against her clinging on. If I


    were her, I’d have killed myself by now. She’s so shameless.”


    Jesse’s expression darkened, and Pa continued, “As for you, Jesse, you mother must be so


    disappointed seeing you like this. What are you? Really Are you a woman or a man? Do you even


    know it yourself?”


    the Pa’s ranting didn’t bother Estre at first, until she insulted Jesse. Estre picked up full ss of


    wine on the table, without saying a word, and sshed it on Pa’s face. “Had enough, Pa?”


    Serene, sure, she’d take seriously. After all, that woman managed to stick around Jason, ying his


    secretary. But Pa? Not even a blip on Jason’s radar, despite the Lamont family practically throwing


    themselves at him. To Estre, Pa was a nonentity.


    Drenched and fuming, Pa hurled her purse at Estre. “You sshed me with your


    15:20


    drink?”


    Then it was on. Estre and Jesse, outnumbered, took on Pa and her posse. But they didn’t need


    numbers – Pa and her crew hit the floor before the night was over.


    Leaving the bar, Estre pulled out her phone and dialed a number. “Officer, it’s Estre from Justice


    Guardians LLP. Got a minute?”


    The man on the other end was the deputy chief of police. He admired Estre’s brilliance after she had


    handled his messy divorce.


    Thirty minutester, when Estre got home, the news of Pa’s arrest for causing a scene at the bar


    was trending everywhere. The inte, that fickle beast, turned on Pa as former ssmates came


    out of the woodwork with stories of how she’d tormented


    them or stolen their boyfriends.


    The Lamonts managed to pull some strings, getting Pa out and the trend squashed, but not without


    a stern lecture.


    Estre felt a certain satisfaction. As for her bond with Jesse, well, that went back a decade to a


    harrowing event in early high school, a time that had left Jesse forever changed.


    After a shower, just as Estre was ready to turn in, Jason burst into the bedroom. “Estre,” he began,


    “I think it’s time I reassessed you.”


    He just went out, and she’d already stirred up trouble. His father had even called him asking what


    happened.


    Estre, lounging on the bed, retorted, “Don’t y the innocent. And Jason, keep it in your


    pants.”


    He knew well why she and Pa had shed. And she was tired of Jason not giving her the respect


    she deserved.


    Jason, shrugging off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves and looked at her with a smirk “You’re giving me


    orders now?”


    As he approached, Estre snapped. “I don’t want to see you tonight. Get out.”


    “Calling off the baby ns?”


    “Yes.”


    His grin widened. “Are you sure you want to pass up this chance?”


    A lump formed in Estre’s throat, followed by a surge of anger and sorrow. What kind marriage was


    this, where having a child meant begging and waiting on a man’s mood?


    Estre’s gaze grew icy. She decided it was time to reim some dignity. “Get out,” she said, her voice


    a frosty whisper.


    15:20


    Jason’s eyes narrowed with intrigue, and he taunted her with his belt. “Where’s that fire. you used to


    have, Estre?”


    Estre grabbed Jason’s belt and smacked it against him. “Aren’t you just a pain?”


    Everyone has their moods; no one feels like wearing a smile 24/7 just for someone else’s benefit.


    The angrier Estre got, the more amused Jason became. He bent down, getting up close, “I’m in quite


    the mood today.”