Thomas had barely finished his sentence when Jason chuckled with a hint of mischief, “Thanks! I


    definitely owe you one.” Without missing a beat, he added, “Bryce’s team is short-handed, and you


    seem like a perfect fit to jump in and get some exercise.”


    At the mention of going over to Bryce’s domain. Thomas’ face turned ghostly pale. “Jason, are you


    returning a favor or seeking revenge? That ce is just…”


    Before Thomas could finish hisment, Jason had already dialed a number. “Drew, get everything


    ready for Thomas.”


    Thomas felt like crying without tears. “Jason, what did I do wrong? I’ll change. I promise I’ll change,


    okay?”


    “Is it because you haven’t smoothed things over with Serene yet? Then you better sweet-talk her


    yourself! And for the record, I already cleared the air with Estre yesterday. She said she’s not


    pressuring you and that you two should sort things out on your own. She even called Serene back for


    you Estre said she respects your choices.” As Thomas went on, Jason’s expression grew


    increasingly grim.


    After Thomas rattled off his piece, Drew entered, looking seriously at Thomas. “Sir, your ticket has


    been booked, and Ben will meet you at the station.”


    I


    “Jason, where did I go wrong?” Thomas was on the verge of tears. He was too sophisticated for a fate


    simr to Bryce’s.


    After being ushered out of Jason’s office by Drew, Thomas pulled out his phone and called Grayson


    and the others for help, but they could only tell him to take care of himself. In the end, Thomas had no


    choice but to call his mother for help.


    On the other end of the phone, Thomas’ mother, while ying cards, said, “Thomas, I think Jason’s


    decision is excellent. You’ve been too impulsivetely, and it’s time for some real-world experience.


    Your father and I are grateful to Jason. Don’t worry about the family business; your dad’s got it under


    control.”


    Thomas felt utterly abandoned.


    Back in the office, picturing Thomas’ deste expression, Jason finally exhaled a sigh of relief. Since


    when did he get drunk over Serene? And who told Thomas to spout nonsense in front of Estre?


    When he rememb


    face darken


    push


    a’s generosity and her indifference that morning, Jason’s since Korey returned, her attitude had


    changed. She even s she looking for a way out of their marriage?


    aive enough to think that, she had another thinging.


    ight in the evening.


    12:47


    When Jason returned to Sandalwood Oasis with Serene, Estre was descending the


    stairs.


    “Estre, Serene greeted her eagerly upon seeing here down.


    “Ms. Estre,” Drew, carrying Serene’s luggage, also greeted her awkwardly.


    Estre nced at them indifferently, nonchntly continuing downstairs, nonchntly pouring herself


    a ss of water, ignoring everyone.


    Seeing Estre’s reaction, Serene took the initiative to exin, “Estre, Jason said you’re not in a


    good mood and asked me toe keep youpany.”


    Serene knew all too well why Jason had here over. It was clearly to smooth over the


    awkwardness.


    Drew, trailing behind them, also felt the tension,pletely at a loss as to what y his boss was


    staging.


    Jason, however, remained stony-faced. “Why should you be afraid of her?” Then, turning to Drew, he


    ordered, “Drew, take the luggage to the master bedroom.”


    “Ah! The master…” Drew didn’t finish his words before a cold nce from Jason silenced him. “Right


    away, Sir.”


    As Drew passed by Estre with the luggage, his eyes were full of sympathy. s, this might be the


    end.


    Then Marie emerged from the kitchen, whispering, “Sir, thete-night snack is ready.”


    Jason, expressionless, turned to Serene, “Let’s have something to eat first.”


    Serene’s gaze lingered on Estre, urging, “Estre, have you had dinner? Join us for a bit!” Estre


    paused her ascent, turned to Serene, and said, “Serene, since Jason has brought you back to


    Sandalwood Oasis, you must mean that much to him. Instead of figuring out how to deal with me, you


    might want to focus on securing your hold on him.”


    Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org.


    When Jason wasn’t so brazen, she could still throw some harsh words around. Now that Jason had


    brought someone home, if she still acted like Mrs. Nelson, it would only


    diminish her own standing.


    After saying her piece, Estre turned to leave but then added as a reminder, “Oh, and make sure to


    leave me enough evidence.” After saying that, she continued upstairs.


    In the living room, Jason, with his hands in his pockets, wore a deeply unpleasant expression.


    Estre’s reaction felt like punching a soft pillow to him- no impact.


    Beside Jason, Serene stole a nce at him, and seeing he remained silent, she chose not to speak


    either.


    12:47


    Half an hourter, when Serene followed Jason to the upstairs master bedroom and heard him suggest


    she spend the night there, she panicked. “Jason, this isn’t right! Is there a misunderstanding between


    you and Estre? If there is, you should exin Women love to hear sweet nothings. They soften right


    up.”


    Jason ignored Serene and moved to the bedside cab, shifted a vase, and retrieved a pinhole


    camera. He then methodically found several more hidden cameras around the


    room.


    As Jason tossed the pinhole cameras onto the coffee table, Serene’s face turned ashen white. She


    was frozen in shock.


    In the second bedroom, Estre, fresh from her shower, was interrupted by the frantic knocking of a


    young maid.


    “Come in,” Estre said calmly. The maid burst through the door to report breathlessly, “Ms. Estre,


    Mr. Jason has found the cameras, and he’s removed them all.”


    Estre responded withposure, “I’m aware. You may go.”


    Once the maid left, Estre opened herptop, and instantly, the live feed from the master bedroom


    appeared on her screen:


    On the other side of the camera…


    As Jason was buried in his work, Serene sat dazedly in front of the dresser, not daring to! sleep on the


    bed or touch any of Estre’s belongings. Perhaps due to a restless night before, it wasn’t long before


    Serene, seated by the dresser, slumped over and fell asleep.


    At the desk, Jason noticed Serene dozing off. He stared nkly ahead for a moment before setting


    aside his work. He grabbed a thin nket, the one that neither he nor Estre had used, and carelessly


    draped it over her.


    Afterward, he turned and walked over to the bookshelf. Reaching up, he pulled down a book and gently


    flipped through the pages until he retrieved an old photograph from years past a group shot.


    –


    At herptop, Estre watched Jason’s every move. When Jason pulled out that photo, Estre


    couldn’t help but pause. If her memory served her right, that photo must have been seven or eight


    years old.


    Why had Jason kept it? And who in that photo meant so much to him?


    Observing her room from an outsider’s viewpoint, and seeing the picture in Jason’s hand, Estre


    suddenly had a startling realization. Despite the years they’ve been married, they had never taken a


    single wedding photo, not even a simple joint snapshot.


    Jason continued to gaze at the photo, and after watching for a while, Estre closed the surveince


    feed and went to rest.


    In the deep silence of the night, as Estre fell asleep, a sense of unease lingered. Even in


    12:47


    her dreams, she felt as someone was trailing her, spying on her.


    A bout of sleep paralysis gripped her. When Estre jolted awake, all she saw was a dark figure sitting


    on the couch, staring at her in the pitch-ck room.


    12:47