“And then there’s Bryce and Thomas. They couldn’t convince me to get a divorce, so off you shipped


    them to the hignds to build schools. And in all these years, when have you evere home without


    giving me the cold shoulder?”


    Estre had aundry list of grievances that she couldn’t even begin to tally up, and frankly, she


    couldn’t be bothered to itemize them to him. She had never been one to dredge up the past. Usually,


    she’d let bygones be bygones. But Jason was relentless, picking fights every chance he got.


    Like when she’d juste home. Estre had been in a good mood, trying to chat with him. He was


    snippy, but she let it slide-only for him to escte it into a full-blown row, even using her family as


    leverage. Even the saintliest patience has its limits.


    As Jason was about to retort with a stern face Estre cut in, “This morning at the family estate was


    just the same. You made promises in front of everyone, and then behind their backs/you dismissed it all


    as lip service. Jason, do you really think I have no self-respect? That I can be walked all over?”


    By now, Estre had regained herposure and continued, “Jason, my patience isn’t endless. I won’t


    keep indulging you. So, don’t put too much stock in those fortune-tellers’ words. I haven’t tried being


    with anyone else. How do you know I can’t live without you?”


    Even as she spoke, Estre was striving to keep her emotions in check. It wasn’t just the prophecies


    that mattered to her; it was the years of connection they shared. She remembered her mother always


    saying that the first person she saw when she was born was Jason. And so, she cherished that bond.


    One could only imagine the storm clouding Jason’s face at her words. Having known Estre for 23


    years, he understood her temperament. She wasn’t one for conflict or wasting words, but when truly


    upset, she wouldn’t hesitate to get real.


    This was the second time in months that they’d had a point-by-point argument, and both times, it was


    over Korey. He was bothered by it.


    As the tension between them thickened, Estre’s phone abruptly rang from her pocket. It was


    Thomas.


    Without any secrecy, Estre answered in front of Jason, putting the call on speaker. “What’s up,


    Thomas?” Her voice, as always, was bold and hearty.


    On the other end, Thomas sounded desperately pathetic. “E, I really need your help this time.”


    Estre nced at Jason expressionlessly, then prompted, “Go on.”


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


    “I’ve escaped from the school project, and Jason caught wind of it. I heard Bryce’s already been


    through the wringer. E, you’ve got to save me.


    12:50


    Calmly, Estre asked, “And how am I supposed to do that?”


    “Look, just temporarily convince Jason that you’re considering the divorce. I don’t need you to actually


    go through with it, just help me buy some time. After all, Jason’s been itching for a divorce for a while


    now.”


    His plea was almostical to Estre. Her marria


    for others to curry favor.


    was nothing but a bargaining chip


    After a brief, self-deprecating chuckle, Estre said, “Fine. Not just a temporary lie-I’ll even agree to a


    real divorce for your sake.”


    Thomas was nearly moved to tears. “E, I can’t thank you enough. I owe you big time. If you really


    split with Jason, I’ll set you up with someone decent. Someone more straightced than Jason, who


    won’t mess around or leave you lonely.”


    Every word Thomas said was a stinging satire of Estre’s marriage. Estreughed it off. “Alright, I’ll


    hold you to that promise of a good man.”


    Jason, meanwhile, was seething, his face a picture of disgust. In their eyes, his marriage. to Estre


    was a sham.


    As Thomas gushed his thanks, Jason strode over, snatched the phone from Estre, and hung up.


    Estre, unfazed, remarked, “You heard the call. Whenever you’re ready, let’s get the paperwork


    sorted.”


    Her sarcastic tone was not lost on Jason. “So, our marriage is just at everyone else’s disposal?”


    “It’s mutually beneficial,” Estre shrugged. “Doesn’t matter who calls the shots.”


    “Mutually beneficial? For you or for me?” Jason challenged, cupping her chin before leaning in to im


    her lips.


    His kisses, scented with a trace of tobo and his own clean fragrance, were an assault on her


    senses. Estre, irked by his presumptuousness, didn’t even close her eyes. Instead, she pushed


    against him with her foot. But that only seemed to intensify Jason’s passion.


    As Estre recalled her grievances, Jason did feel a twinge in his heart. He thought she didn’t care, but


    it turned out she did. Her myriad concerns made Jason see a semnce of a wife in her.


    However, as for Bryce and Thomas, those two rascals needed a lesson. Since when did he ask them to


    push for a divorce? Damn it, both meant more trouble than they were worth.


    As Jason’s kisses became almost suffocating, Estre, her face flushed, finally pushed him away.


    “Have you no shame?”


    12:50


    “Shame? We’re cut from the same cloth, you and I, Jason quipped, not missing a beat.


    Estre rolled her eyes in disdain. Then, looking straight at him, she asked, “Jason, don’t tell me you’ve


    changed your mind? That you can’t bear to part with me?”


    The call from Thomas, though harsh, did lighten the mood somewhat. Caught in Estre’s deep and


    bright gaze, Jason felt a stir within.