Estre’s repeated pleas finally got through to Jason, the old rusty pipe ttering from his


    o to the ground. Seizing the moment, Estre took his hand, “Let’s head back, shall


    We?”


    Jason’s gaze softened as he looked down at Estre, his eyes losing their fiery red tint, “Yeah. Let’s go


    home.”


    With Jason’s aggression diffused, Grayson and the others exhaled in relief. Thomas quipped, “E’s


    got a way with Jason, doesn’t she?”


    Bryce, with a flick of his leg, kicked the incapacitated man on the ground, “Damn it, thinking you can


    mess with my E? You got what you deserved.”


    Richiey curled up on the ground, too beaten to even open his eyes. From the moment Estre


    refused his 8 million, he should’ve realized she was no ordinary girl. After all, what average person


    could resist the temptation of 8 million?


    As the group made their way out of the dpidated warehouse, Grayson shoved his hands. in his


    pockets and muttered to Estre, “Maybe you should considering back to the office.”


    Estre justughed, “If everyone thought that way, there’d be no justice in the world.”


    Her resolve silenced Grayson. She wasn’t wrong to stand her ground.


    Half an hourter, when they returned home, Jason was still brooding, his face creased


    with concern.


    Covered in blood, he noticed Estre’s silence on the way back and spoke in a subdued tone, “Did I


    scare you?”


    Estre, picking up pajamas from the bed, turned to him with a smile, “Me? Scared? Hardly.” She eyed


    him up and down, “Maybe take a shower first?”


    Jason didn’t respond. He just stripped off his clothes and sat on the couch with his eyes closed, lost in


    thought.


    Estre, seeing his state, stopped talking and headed to the bathroom.


    A momentter, with her sleeves rolled up, she emerged and announced, “The bath’s ready. Tonight,


    you get the VIP treatment.”


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


    Jason let out a faint smile and headed for the bathroom. Estre, sleeves still rolled,


    followed him in.


    After a quick rinse, Jason submerged himself in the bathtub, his head included. Estre sat quietly


    beside him, watching him emerge from the water, pushing his damp hair back. She teased with a


    yful nce downward, “It’s not like I’ve never seen it before. That


    11:31


    towel’s a bit overkill.”


    Jason’s expression darkened, andter he asked, “When have you seen it?”


    They had their moments, but he had never undressed in front of her, so she couldn’t have. seen


    anything.


    Jason fell silent, and Estreughed, “Just kidding. You took it seriously?” Then she added, “Scared of


    me seeing? I’ll just step out then.”


    “Aren’t you curious?” he retorted.


    “If you don’t want me to leave, just say so.” Often, her flippancy was just a way to keep things from


    getting too tense.


    As Jasony in the tub, memories of their school days flooded back. Back then, they were close, with


    Jason fighting countless battles for her.


    If only that one time had never happened….


    Estre still vividly recalled the sting of Jason’s p. It had left her dazed and had. shattered years of


    friendship.


    Estre’s sudden silence prompted Jason to sigh heavily, “I was afraid I’d be toote.”


    His


    s voice echoed in her ears, and she snapped back to reality, “It’s okay, I was finest time, and I’m fine


    this time.”


    “Last time it wasn’t me who saved you,” Jason said, and the atmosphere grew still.


    Yes, it hadn’t been him who saved her. She had hoped for him, but it was Korey who came to her


    rescue, and the danger she had faced had been because of him.


    They had known each other for 23 years, there were too many stories between them, and there was


    still the person he couldn’t let go of or forget in his heart.


    Estre sat in silence before finally smiling, “You should get out of the tub soon; I’ll step out for a bit.”


    As Estre stood to leave, Jason reached out and grabbed her arm, “Stay with me a little. longer.”


    She looked down at him, and eventually sat back down.


    They remained quiet, one soaking in the tub, the other sitting by his side. Jason had a lot on his mind


    that night, and Estre, sensing his mood, refrained from any further teasing and sat in silence.


    “Estre,” Jason called out. She hummed in response, but he fell silent again.


    Their eyes met, and seeing Jason struggle to speak, Estre reassured him with a smile, “Don’t worry.


    Even if you hadn’t made it, I would have been fine.”


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    She wasn’t fragile like Serene or Holly; she wasn’t someone who couldn’t survive without another. She


    could take care of herself.


    Estre’sforting words weighed heavy on Jason. There were barriers between them that couldn’t


    be broken down. They could never return to the


    way they were before. Her casual demeanor was just a sign of her indifference, and her marriage to


    him merely a means to have a child.


    The next morning, Estre woke to find Jason already dressed and standing by the wardrobe.


    Clutching a pillow to her chest, she watched him, noting that he hadn’t realized she was awake.


    Breaking the silence, Estre said, “Thanks forst night.”


    “Awake, huh?” Jason nced at her. “I’ve got an early meeting this morning. You’ll have to head to the


    law firm on your own.”


    “Sure,” Estre murmured softly.


    However, after Jason left this time, he didn’t return for several days. Every time their rtionship


    showed signs of improvement, he immediately became distant again, as if deliberately suppressing it.


    This particr morning, as Estre was getting ready to leave, Bryce burst in, “E.”


    Yawning, Estre asked, “What brings you here so early?”


    “Just checking up on you,” Bryce replied. “And to fill you in about what went down the other night.”


    Bryce pulled up in his pickup, and Estre, not in the mood for driving, hitched a ride to thew firm


    with him. As they cruised down the road, Bryce gripped the steering wheel, his mouth running like a


    faucet, “Man, Jason went all WWE on that guy. Doc said that Richie shouldn’t even think about leaving


    the hospital this year. He might as well set up camp


    there.”


    Estre raised an eyebrow, “You guys just stood there watching? A fatal blow would’ve been a messy


    end for all.”


    “We couldn’t stop him, you know. Who knew Jason was in such a foul mood that night? Bad luck for


    Richie.”


    The moment Bryce’s words hit the air, Estre’s phone rang-a call from Korey. She answered with a


    brief, “Hi Korey.”


    “I’m fine, that’s all in the past now.”


    “Tonight? No can do, I’ve got a business trip this afternoon.”


    After a few more words, the call ended.


    11:31


    Bryce, with a suspicious glint in his eve, turned to Estre, “Was that Korey asking you out for dinner?


    Don’t tell me you’re thinking about divorce because Korey’s back.”


    Estre, annoyed, flung her shoe at him, “If your brother doesn’t care, why should you?


    Just drive your


    your car.”


    Bryce caught the shoe, then said with mock seriousness, “Look, Jason might not be Prince Charming,


    but Korey’s just a stuffed shift. Jumping from one bad situation to another isn’t gonna do you any good.


    He’s too straightced for you.”


    Estre snorted, “So everyone’s wrong for me, but you’re Mr. Right?”


    Bryce puffed up, “I’m definitely a better catch than those guys.”


    Estre chuckled, “Go ahead, say that in front of Jason.”


    Bryce blustered, “I’ll say it. I’m not scared.”


    All talk, no game-he didn’t even dare to provoke Jason with a call. It wasn’t until he’d dropped Estre


    off at the firm that he dared to dial someone.


    As the call connected, a chilling voice came through, “What’s up?”


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