Kristin didn’t miss a beat. “That Serene’s all over Jason like white on rice, just trying to squeeze a buck


    out of him. She wants cash, so let’s just cut her a check and be done with it. So, Estre, you take this


    check to her, tell her to pack up her mama and little brother, and hit the road out of Ravenwood.


    Otherwise, she can kiss any hopes of a payday from Jason goodbye.”


    Looking at the twenty million dor check from Kristin, Estre was amused. Kristin was usually sharp


    as a tack, but now? She seemed to have lost her marbles.


    “If I go to Serene with this, it’s like throwing myself into the lion’s den. She won’t take the money. She


    won’t leave Ravenwood.”


    If she really took this check to Serene, it would be tantamount to digging her own grave fast-tracking


    her divorce from Jason. And she hadn’t even had babies yet.


    But Kristin was adamant. “Listen Estre, trust me on this. It’s foolproof. Give the check to Serene. I’ll


    follow up with her. She’ll crack under the pressure. Where else is she going to get twenty million? How


    else will she support her mom and brother?”


    “This is…”


    Before Estre could finish, Kristin cut her off. ‘Estre, you’re too honest for your own good. That


    Serene’s got more tricks up her sleeve than a magician. You won’t beat her at her own game.”


    Seeing Kristin all worked up, Estre decided not to argue any further. It wasn’t about outying


    Serene; it was that Jason’s heart wasn’t with her. The more she iled, the worse it got. In this game,


    the referee was biased.


    “Estre.”


    Kristin called out again, snapping Estre back to reality. Estre took the check and said. “Alright, I’ll


    take care of it.”


    Kristin was so persistent, Estre figured she’d better y along. Otherwise, if Kristin took matters into


    her own hands, things would only get uglier. Making a scene would tarnish both her reputation and that


    of the Nelsons.


    Having epted Kristin’s check, Estre arranged to meet with Serene the next day.


    In the café, she didn’t beat around the bush with Serene, just told her to take the money and get her


    family out of here.


    Serene just sat there, ashen-faced, wordless.


    By the time lunch rolled


    Drew’s call came through. “Ms. Estre, Mr. Jason would


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    like you to stop by the office this afternoon.”


    15:21


    Hanging up, Estre couldn’t help but chuckle wryly. She had a hunch abou


    wanted to see her.


    why Jason


    Sure enough, half an hourter, when she swung open the door to Jason’s office, there was Serene,


    looking all pitiful beside his chair.


    Estre strolled in, cool as a cucumber, to find Jason mming the morning’s check down in front of


    her. “You gave her this?”


    As Jason tossed the check, Serene quickly jumped in with a tearful exnation. “Estre, there’s


    nothing between Jason and me. You’ve got it all wrong.”


    Serene yed the victim, but Estre couldn’t be bothered with her theatrics. She casually took a seat


    across from Jason, crossed her legs, and quipped, “What’s the matter? Your sweetheart doesn’t fancy


    the cash?”


    Then Estre added with a smirk, “How about you write me a check for twenty mil? I’ll have someone


    draft up the divorce papers and let you two lovebirds be.”


    Estre’s indifference made Jason’s expression darkened.


    Serene, taken aback, whispered to Estre, “It’s only twenty million.”


    As a richdy from the Dorvold family, Estre surely wouldn’t consider divorce over twenty million.


    It was then that Estre looked up at Serene and said with a faint smile, “Your love with him is stronger


    than gold. My worth to him is just this much.”


    There was that time at the old house, when Jason preferred the restroom over touching her, and how


    he’d stood her up to be with Serene. And now, for Serene’s sake, he was confronting her, ming her.


    There were too many of these moments, and even the most patient soul would grow weary and think of


    giving up.


    Estre was ready for a showdown when she handed over that check, ready for Jason to make a


    scene.


    Her nonchnt attitude seemed to punch Jason in the gut. After a long stare, he turned to Serene.


    “You can go now.”


    As Jason dismissed her, Serene pleaded, “Jason, Estre didn’t mean it. It’s just a misunderstanding.


    Don’t fight with her, just exin and it’ll be fine.” After some parting words to Estre, Serene left the


    office.


    In the corridor, Serene couldn’t help but nce back. Serene never admitted it, but she envied Estre.


    Only Estre could stir Jason’s emotions, and make him care. Even if it was just anger.


    Back in the office, Estre pocketed the check Jason had mmed down.


    15:21


    He looked up. “Estre, do you really want out?”


    Estre lifted her gaze, exhaling softly, “Jason, I’ve tried so hard for you.” Her words left the decision up


    to him. She wouldn’t cling on; she wouldn’t drag it out.


    If Jason truly wanted a divorce, she wouldn’t beg, even if it meant never bing a mother.


    Even if she once cared about him deeply.


    Dignity was worth something, after all. You can grovel for a while, but you can’t do it for a lifetime.


    Estre’s tone was detached, her words light, and suddenly, Jason didn’t know how to respond. “I’ve


    got a meeting soon. I’ll have Drew take you home,” he said eventually.


    Estre rose gracefully from her chair with a casual air, “I can make my way back alone.” Drew was


    stubborn as a mule. Since Jason had tasked him with escorting Estre home, he was determined to


    do just that.


    Estre, amused and exasperated by his insistence, tossed him her car keys, “Fine, you drive my car


    then. You can hail a cab backter.”


    Catching the keys tossed by Estre, Drew opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat.


    Momentster, the engine hummed to life, and Drew, with both hands firmly on the wheel, nced at


    Estre and said, “Ms. Estre, I think you’ve got the wrong idea about Mr. Jason and Ms. Serene.


    Something came up with Ms. Serene’s family recently, and she’s been having a tough time, so…”


    Before Drew could finish, Estre cut him off, “Even your boss isn’t worried about my


    misunderstanding, why are you fretting over it?”


    “He’s just a bit embarrassed.”


    “Embarrassed?” Estreughed. “Well, he can keep on feeling that way.”


    “Ms. Estre, it’s really not what you think.”


    “Drew, the more you exin, the worse it sounds. At first, I thought she was his mistress, and that’s


    why he was so nice to her. But now you’re telling me they’re just colleagues and friends. That means


    he treats me, his wife, worse than a mere colleague or friend. Drew, you’re rubbing salt in the wound.”


    With a few yful remarks, Estre left Drew speechless.


    ncing at Estre again, he noticed that despite her nonchnce, her eyes betrayed a sense of self-


    mockery. Drew then said, “Ms. Estre, he looks after Serené because three years ago…”