For some reason, Jason felt like those words were aimed at him, like she was telegraphing her own


    feelings in a roundabout way. She was trying to say that she’d put in the effort, she’d beenmitted,


    and if he was even considering a divorce, he better be ready for Estre to take the gloves off and fight


    tooth and nail for what she deserved.


    “Ms. Estre, I get the logic, but I just can’t swallow it. He just dusts off his hands after the divorce and


    marries some young thing in the blink of an eye. And me? What about all my years of youth, and


    everything I’ve done for this family, and for him?” she raged over the phone. “Am I supposed to go find


    myself some young stud now?”


    Estre replied with a chuckle, “Why not? Jo, you can snag a young one too.”


    The woman on the other end of the line burst intoughter, “Ms. Estre, you’re a breath of fresh air, a


    realfort. I love talking to you.”


    Estre quipped back, “I’m just picking up tips from your experiences, Jo.”


    Jason’s expression darkened. It seemed Estre was using these divorce cases as


    -practice, hustling to build an empire for some young gun in her future.


    “Ms. Estre, you’re young, and you don’t understand. Me and my husband, we met in our twenties,


    back when he was…”


    The woman on the phone was ready to pour her heart out, and Estre listened intently, feeling a crick


    in her neck, so she sprawled on the bed with the phone clutched to her ear. Lying down, she covered


    the mouthpiece and whispered to Jason, “Client’s going through a tough divorce. I need tofort her.”


    Jason gave her a nonchnt look and went back to his book.


    The client talked and talked, from how she met her husband thirty years ago, to how she supported him


    through their struggles, their children, and everything.


    This went on from early evening until nearly midnight, and Estre dozed off unknowingly on the bed


    while the middle-aged woman kept on about her hardships.


    Jason, however, stayed awake, nearly driven to the brink of madness. At that moment, he profoundly


    appreciated Estre’s stoicism and brevity. Otherwise, he felt he might actually lose his mind.


    The vintage clock on the nightstand struck twelve, and the woman finally took a deep breath, “Ms.


    Estre, thank you for listening all night. It’ste, and you have work tomorrow. Get some rest.”


    Jason picked up Estre’s phone and responded with a t “Hmm.


    15:21


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    The woman, too caught up in her own emotions, didn’t realize she was speaking to a man and after a


    few more words with Jason, finally ended the call.


    With a flick, Jason tossed the phone aside, staring at Estre who had fallen asleep on the bed. He


    remembered how she came home earlier, arm in arm with him, smiling and teasing, “Jason, let’s make


    a baby!”


    Jason’s mood soured at the thought. Every time she dangled the possibility in front of him, and just


    when he showed a hint of interest, she’d leave him hanging.


    Annoyed, when Estre’s leg identally brushed against him, he kicked her away without thinking.


    He turned off the lights andid down silently beside her. Estre, like a kitten, snuggled into his arms,


    mumbling, “Jason, you jerk. Don’t…”


    Every time she got to the crux, Jason couldn’t make out the words, but he knew they weren’t good.


    “Jason.”


    “Here.”


    He answered her softly and pulled the nket over her.


    The night was serene. The glow from the bedsidemp was a rare warmth in the room as Jason’s


    thoughts drifted to the past.


    – Jason, you’re worse than me.


    Without all this, or the Nelson family, would we have evene this far?


    That one time, he had pped Estre. The first and only time he ever raised his hand to a woman.


    He’d never imagined that he could evere to hurt Estre.


    The past was too painful to dwell on. Jason switched off the small bedsidemp and closed his eyes.


    The next morning, as Estre woke up, Jason was already dressed by the window, tying his tie.


    Seeing that Jason was ready to leave, Estre, still groggy, muttered, “Jason, we need to make up for


    last week.” She had intended to get down to business the previous night but somehow had fallen


    asleep without realizing it


    Jason didn’t respond and left the house.


    Downstairs, Drew and the driver were waiting for him. In the car, Jason took the documents from Drew


    and asked without emotion, “What happenedst night?”


    Drew reported, “Ms. Serene’s mom had an episodest night, but it’s handled now. Her brother’s got


    her staying with a teacher temporarily.”


    15:21


    He continued, “Ms. Serene’s not doing too well either.”


    “Keep an eye on her.”


    “Will do, Sir.”


    “And Sir, the legal transfer isplete. Justice Guardians LLP will handle thepany’s legal affairs


    from now on.”


    Jason looked disdainful, “Estre only handles divorce cases. What does she know about corporate


    law? From now on, all legal matters go through me.”


    “Understood, Sir,” Drew acknowledged.


    Back at the vi, Estre got ready and headed straight to the courthouse. She had a divorce case,


    another one Jason would scoff at.


    Aside from the Nelson International projects, her caseload was nearly all divorce or petty civil matters.


    Even though she had reminded Jason toe home that evening, he didn’t seem to take it to heart.


    Estre waited at home until bedtime, but Jason didn’t show up. And for the following days, he didn’t


    return, effectively letting the issue expire.


    On that Friday evening, after sharing a hearty meal with Grayson and the other execs at a swanky


    downtown steakhouse, Jason was all set to be chauffeured back to Sandalwood Oasis. That was when


    Drew, his face a mask of sheer panic, rapped urgently on the car window. “Sir,” he blurted out,


    breathless, “Ms. Serene’s in trouble.”


    _____ 15.21