Bang! Bang! Bang! The knocking from outside the door escted, ignoring her query and bing
more relentless.
Estre’s brows furrowed in annoyance. What’s the big idea, disturbing people at this ungodly hour?
She had done her homework on this motel before checking in. It had a clean record, no sketchy
business in or around the area.
Gripping the stun gun she’d prepared just in case, she called out, “Hello?”
On the other side, a man’s voice, rough around the edges, drifted in, “Estre, open up.”
That voice-it tugged at a memory, familiar, as though she’d heard it somewhere before. With one hand
on the stun gun and the other on the doorknob, she hesitated, leaving the safety chain fastened.
As the fierce knocking sounded again, Estre’s resolve wavered, and she utched the door. The
next moment, the tall silhouette in the doorway gave her pause.
Staring at the man for a long beat, Estre finally spoke through the crack in the door, “How on earth
did you get here?”
He had called her earlier that evening, only to abruptly hang up, and now here he was, materializing
out of nowhere. The surprise was written all over Estre’s face.
Outside, Jason stuffed his right hand into his pocket, his tone icy as hemanded, “Open the door.”
Without haste, Estre undid the deadbolt.
Swinging the door wide open, Jason entered, casually adjusting his shirt cor, his face an unreadable
mask. Once inside, his gaze instinctively swept the room.
Estre didn’t follow him in. Leaning against the door, still armed with her stun gun, she watched as
Jason seemed to search for something. “You here for a surprise infidelity check?” she asked, her voice
dripping withzy sarcasm.
Estre couldn’t help but feel a mix of sympathy and introspection. What had she done to erode
Jason’s trust to this extent?
After all, their marriage had been scandal-free for over two years, with her dignity intact, while his name
was a constant fixture in the tabloids, his social media buzzing like a beehive.
Well, his antics had, ironically, saved Nelson International a fortune in advertising fees.
Jason turned around silently, not dignifying herment with a response, nor did he mention Korey’s
intrusion to her. He knew all too well that Estre could make a
mountain out of a molehill just to unsettle him.
Watching his cool detachment, Estre offered her assistance with a hint of mischief, “Need my help?
I’m quite the expert in these matters.”
Jason’s brows lifted slightly, as if to say he got the innuendo. He stared at her for a long moment before
shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the bed. “You sure can rough it out in ces like this.” He
then eyed the stun gun in her hand, “And that’s for?”
His voice was husky, a little strained. Estre straightened up and approached, “To keep jerks like you
at bay.”
With that, she set the stun gun aside, bending down to hang his jacket on the coat rack. “What’s up
with your voice?”
“Just inmed,” Jason replied, rolling up his sleeves. The drive over, with one cigarette following
another, had taken its toll, he realized when he first spoke.
“You drove here?” Estre asked.
“Yeah,” Jason answered, his tone nonchnt.
Estre couldn’t hide her exasperation, “Jason, are you masochistic or what? When I was at
Ravenwood, you wouldn’te home. Now I’m out of town, and you chase me down. What’s your
deal?”
She had been touched by the whole Richie thing just days before, but then he’d vanished again.
Resigned, she decided to stop overthinking and just live her life, only for him to show up out of the blue.
Jason suddenly looked up, and she immediately said, “Alright, alright, I’ll drop it.”
Jason changed the subject, “I didn’t bring any luggage. Hand me your towel.”
Estre, a stickler for cleanliness, was always well-prepared, which he knew all too well. Rolling her
eyes but obliging nheless, she handed over her toiletries.
ey were
Though they hadn’t officially cemented their rtionship as husband and wife, they well past
formalities. Jason had a habit of borrowing her stuff even before they tied the knot.
Shortly after Jason emerged from the shower, Estre returned from outside. Spotting him in just a
towel, drying his hair with her towel, she set a bag on the table, “I got cold medicine and anti-
inmmatory pills-pick your poison.”
Jason’s gaz
gaze darkened at the sight of the medications sprawled on the bed, “Who said you could go out at this
hour? Have you forgotten what happened a few days ago?”
His sudden outburst took the wind out of Estre’s sails, “Just trying to help.”
Estre had thought their bond deepened after he’d defended her fiercely that night, but his abrupt
departure had left her second-guessing. Maybe it had all been for Holly, who had faced simr dangers
before. Perhaps that night, in his rage, he had only seen Holly
in her.
Estre’s casual exnation failed to ignite Jason’s temper, but an inexplicable sense of distance crept
in. To the world, Estre seemed open-hearted and easy to get along with, but reaching her inner world
was no small feat
With a softened gaze, Jason continued to dry his hair as Estre took a deep breath and retreated to
the bathroom.
Then his phone rang-a work call. He tossed the towel aside and moved to the window to
answer.
After a lengthy conversation, Jason turned back to find Estre still in the bathroom, the door ajar. He
approached and peered inside to find her hand-washing his clothes at the sink. For a moment, Jason
stood frozen, struck by the simple, intimate act.
After staring at Estre for a long, silent moment, Jason moved behind her and, with a sudden whoosh,
wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.
Caught off guard, Estre looked up at their reflection in the mirror ahead. As Jason held her close,
Estre quickly dropped the clothing she had been holding and turned on the tap, rinsing her hands.
“Phone call’s done, so you can handle bath time on your own.”
But before she could slip away, Jason drew her hands back into his chest and, freeing his right hand,
gently tilted her chin upwards. Then he pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that spoke of more than just a
fleeting touch..
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