Estre nibbled on her food, casually remarking, “Serene isn’t that foolish. Her tactics are far more


    subtle.”


    There’s nothing quite like the venom a woman can have for another, and Serene’s


    intelligence lied precisely in her refusal to stoop to petty schemes. That way, Serene never gave


    anyone anything to hold against her, always appearing as the most pitiful and innocent party.


    Jason remained silent, approached the dining table, and took a seat beside Estre.


    Estre, who had always detestedtro and bell peppers since childhood, found them unfortunately


    ubiquitous in restaurant dishes. Noticing Estre’s untouched meat dishes, Jason poured her a ss of


    water and began picking out thetro, “If it still tastes too strong, just rinse your bite in the water.”


    At his gesture, Estre chuckled, “You’re quite attentive, remembering all these little quirks


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    of mine.”


    Jason’s face was as expressionless as ever, “I’ve known you for 23 years.”


    Estre’s smile grew more pronounced, yfully nudging him under the table with her foot, “Tonight,


    I’m in your service, satisfaction guaranteed.”


    Jason didn’t buy it for a second, “Quit bragging.”


    After a few flirtatious teases, she’d usually leave him hanging. He wasn’t falling for it this


    time, and Estre might as well forget about bringing a child into the picture.


    “No lies,” Estre insisted, “I’m still thinking about motherhood, you know.”


    Jason just said, “Just eat.”


    Estre added, “I’ve got something this afternoon, so I’ll head back to the firm first, okay? Have


    someone bring over those expense reports and filings.”


    Jason gave a chuckle, “Took you long enough to get to the point.”


    “You’re i


    just worried I’ll take on those cases because of their connections to Korey. I won’t,


    and that’s that.”


    After Jason seemed to have softened towards her the night before, and considering what Drew had


    told her that morning, Estre was inclined to give in to him a bit.


    Estre volunteered to pass on the cases rted to Korey, and only then did Jason’s expression ease


    up. He picked up a slice of her favorite steak and ced it on her te.


    Meanwhile, at Erin’s suburban vi, he was gearing up to head to the office when Janie


    11:30


    came by.


    “Erin.”


    Erin frowned, “Mom, what brings you here?”


    Janie stepped closer, her gaze fixed on him, “Erin, you said Ruby and those kids were in your hands.


    Where are you hiding them?”


    After several days of stewing over it at home, despite Erin telling her to stay out of it, Janie couldn’t


    swallow her pride and hade to seek answers..


    Erin replied calmly, “Why are you asking about this, Mom?”


    Janie was visibly upset, “I’ve been thinking for days and I can’t let this go. I need to see Ruby. I have to


    vent this frustration.”


    In front of her own son, Janie didn’t hold back, believing he had the right to exact revenge


    on Ruby.


    Yet Erin remained stoic, “Mom, I won’t hand Ruby over to you, and I don’t want to sully your hands with


    this mess. Please go back.”


    Janie’s eyes instantly reddened with emotion, “Erin, I always treated Ruby like a sister, including her in


    all the good things. I can’t ept her betrayal.”


    “I won’t do much, just a small cut across her face, then let’s see how she seduces men


    after that.”


    Erin stood firm, “I won’t give her to you.”


    H


    Knowing Janie’s temper and what she might do, Erin would never hand Ruby over.


    Erin stubbornly refused to listen, and Janie stopped crying all of a sudden. “Erin, are you siding with her


    and your father? Don’t forget, she bore him two sons, sons who might im your and Pa’s


    inheritance.”


    Erin said unaffectedly, “Dad doesn’t have anything left.”


    Janie pressed, “You really won’t hand her over?”


    Erin, hands in his pockets, was about to respond when Hunter hurried in. Upon learning Janie was


    looking for Erin, Hunter had rushed over, fearful that Erin might give Ruby up to


    Janie’s wrath.


    Seeing Hunter, Janie’s demeanor shifted instantly, “How could you still show your face here after what


    you’ve done to your son?”


    Janie looked ready to devour Hunter with rage, while Hunter nced at her indifferently. before turning


    to Erin, “Erin, thepany shares have been transferred to you and Pa. The business is now yours


    tomand. Isn’t it time to let Ruby and your brothers out?”


    11.30


    Hunter’s insistence on calling the twins his brothers darkened Erin’s expression further.


    Hunter didn’t even give her a second nce as he demanded Erin to surrender someone to him, and


    even insisted Erin acknowledge the twins as brothers. Janie, full of fury, lunged at Hunter. “Hunter, how


    could you still sleep at night? After all these years I’ve dedicated to our family, this is how you repay


    me? Can you honestly tell yourself that this is how I deserve to be treated?”


    Erin hadpelled Hunter to give up his shares, and now Hunter spared no courtesy for Janie,


    especially with the divorce on the horizon.


    As Janie charged at him like a harpy, Hunter brushed her off impatiently, “Janie, don’t act as though


    you’ve sacrificed so much. Yes, you bore me two children. But aren’t they also yours? Would you not


    have to bear children if you married someone else?”


    “Hunter, you…..” Janie’s hand trembled as she pointed at him, struggling to catch her breath.


    Hunter continued unapologetically, “All these years married to me, have I ever made you earn a penny


    or lift a finger for work? Haven’t I provided for you? Don’t paint yourself as


    the victim.”


    Erin had demanded all shares from Hunter, and while Hunter was resentful, he dared not


    vent on Erin and instead unleashed on Janie.


    Speechless from Hunter’s words, Janie never expected to hear such things from him, to be portrayed


    as someone he had merely supported.


    Pale-faced and livid, Janie was left speechless by Hunter for a long time until she finally turned to Erin


    with tearful eyes, “Erin, do you see? This is your father.”


    Erin remained silent.


    Hunter, ignoring Janie, simply said to Erin, “Erin, where are Ruby and


    my


    children?”


    Hunter’s tone suggested as if Erin and Pa were no longer his children.


    Even though Erin’s heart seethed with rage and dissatisfaction, he didn’tsh out at Hunter with even a


    hint of his fury. Instead, Erin simply looked up at the bodyguard pacing the second-floor hallway and


    commanded, “Release them.”


    Donning a sleek ck suit, the bodyguard heeded Erin’s instruction, opened the door, and called


    inside, “Ms. Ruby, you’re free to go.”


    In the living room below, Hunter looked up at the stairs and saw Ruby with disheveled hair, disarrayed


    clothes, and bruises on her body and face. Dried tear streaks marked her face. as she emerged with


    two children. Hunter’s expression changed instantly, his mind exploding in an instant.


    In that moment, witnessing Ruby’s disarray, Hunter’s thoughts raced to the worst possible


    scenarios.