Estre nced up to see a sleek ck sedan roll to a stop in front of her, the rear window sliding


    down to reveal Korey calling out to her from the backseat. A smile broke across her face as she


    greeted him. “Hey, Korey.”


    Korey nodded affirmatively and offered, “I’ll give you a ride home.”


    When Estre hesitated, not moving towards the car, Korey borated, “I’m heading to Sandalwood


    Oasis. It’s on the way.” Clearly, he was well-informed about Estre’s recent goings-on.


    w open the


    With Korey insisting and his secretary having already stepped out to courteously open door for her,


    Estre felt obliged to get in.


    Once inside, Korey chuckled, “It’s been a while,


    Estre returned the smile, “Yeah, it’s been ages.”


    Two years ago, before she and Jason got married, Korey came to the Dorvold family to propose, and


    she turned him down.


    When Korey was transferred away from Ravenwood, he had asked to meet up onest time. At that


    moment, she had been vacationing with Jesse. So, their parting stretched over two long years.


    As they started to move, Estre shifted the conversation to Korey, asking, “So, are you back for good


    or just on vacation?”


    “I’ve been transferred back. The official notice should arrive any day now.”


    “You must have been promoted. Congrattions in advance.”


    The secretary, noticing Korey’s good spirits that evening, turned to Estre and said, “Ms. Estre, Mr.


    Korey has been promoted to mayor.”


    Estre burst intoughter. “I guess I’ll have to start buttering you up, Korey.”


    Koreyughed along, “If you really did, I’d be over the moon.”


    “Don’t get annoyed by me, though.”


    However, Korey had Estre pegged just right; she was never one to cozy up to people, regardless of


    their power or position.


    Meanwhile, in the hospital.


    As the doctor finished treating the wound on Serene’s forehead, she turned to Jason with an


    embarrassed apology, “Jason, I’m sorry for the trouble and for wasting your time


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    15:23


    again.”


    Jason didn’t engage with her apology, simply asking, “Are you hurt anywhere else?”


    Serene shook her head no.


    “Then I’ll take you home.”


    Throughout the drive, Jason’s expression remained impassive, as if he were sitting next to a puff of air.


    Clinging tightly to the seatbelt, Serene watched him for a moment before venturing to speak, “I don’t


    know what’s gotten into my momtely. Her condition seems to be getting worse, and the episodes


    more frequent. Luckily, Vincent’s been staying at a teacher’s ce these days, or he would’ve been


    terrified by today’s incident.”


    Serene’s injury was the result of her mother’stest bout that evening. With Drew handling her


    mother’s situation, Jason had no choice but to apany Serene to the hospital. Gripping the steering


    wheel, Jason nced at Serene and suggested, “Have you considered hospitalization?”


    He was referring to a psychiatric facility.


    Serene shook her head, “No, I’ll take care of her myself.”


    Jason reminded her, “Yourst check-up wasn’t great. You might feel more at ease if she is taken to the


    hospital.”


    After a heavy sigh, Serene said, “If we send her there, she might nevere out. She might never live


    a normal life again. I’d rather care for her myself. I believe she’ll get


    better.”


    With that, Jason dropped the subject.


    As silence fell between them, Jason’s phone suddenly rang. Thomas’ voice came through, “Jason,


    Korey’s back in town.”


    The news of Korey’s return visibly soured Jason’s mood. Then Thomas added, “I just saw him pick up


    Estre.”


    Jason’s reaction was palpable. He ended the call and angrily tossed his phone onto the dashboard.


    Startled, Serene asked from the passenger seat, “Jason, what’s wrong?”


    Ignoring her, Jason floored the elerator, dropping Serene off at her ce within minutes.


    She got out, and before she could even say goodbye, Jason sped off.


    Left behind, Serene watched his car disappear with a poignant sense of loss. It had to be about


    Estre.


    15:23


    Having known Jason for over a decade, Serene had never seen him this upset over anyone else,


    unless it involved Estre.


    Right. There was also another woman. A formidable one.


    It wasn’t until Jason’s car had vanished from view that Serene, after lingering outside for a while, turned


    to head back home.


    Twenty minutester, Jason returned home with a stony expression. Marie looked at him in surprise,


    “Sir, didn’t you leave, with Ms. Estre? Why are you back early and alone?”


    Jason’s mood worsened. “Estre’s not back yet?”


    “No, not yet.”


    With that, Jason loosened his tie, fished a cigarette and lighter from his pocket, and headed upstairs.


    Standing by the bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling window, smoking and staring into the night, he stewed over


    the call with Thomas.


    As he reached for his phone to have Drew check on Estre, the bedroom door swung open.


    Spotting Jason at home, Estre asked in surprise, “You’re back?”


    Despite Jason having left her earlier, Estre wasn’t holding any grudges. Jason, on the other hand,


    was not so forgiving. He stubbed out the remaining half of his cigarette and asked coldly, “How did you


    get back?”