Jason’s
lips were as soft as a marshmallow, and the way his kisses peppered down on her face was so
ridiculous that Estre couldn’t help butugh. She’d only washed a
couple of his shirts out of sheer boredom, but the guy was acting like she’d just saved his
life.
After a flurry of smooches, Jason rested his chin on her shoulder, enveloping her in a warm embrace.
Estre nced at him sideways. “Jason, you’re selling yourself short! Getting all emotional over a
couple ofundered shirts?”
She knew his habit of not wearing a shirt for more than two days, so she’d just helped him ou. After all,
he hade all this way to see her. No matter what his purpose was, he had at least put his heart into
it.
To Estre’s teasing, Jason replied with a cool edge, “Estre, do you really think I came all this way to
ask you to wash my shirts?”
“Or was it that you missed me?” Estre probed.
She knew Jason’s little schemes better than anyone. He must have heard some unreliable gossip and
come to confront her, only to find nothing. She just couldn’t be bothered to call him out on it.
Jason didn’t respond to Estre’s jest, instead pressing his face against hers. “If I don’t reach out to
you, you just won’t bother, will you?”Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.
Estre bristled at his words. “Now, that’s heartless, Jason. In over two years of marriage, I’ve caught
you red-handed many times. And now you have the nerve to bite back?”
Jason’s face darkened. “Caught me doing what exactly? Do you have any solid evidence?” Upon
hearing this, Estre retorted, “Don’t rush me! When I get the proof, I’ll make sure the divorce leaves
you penniless.”
Jason scooped her up from the ground. “You gan scheme all you want with my body, but forget about
the money.” She could trick him with anything, but money was off-limits.
“Are you this stingy with everyone else? Not shelling out a dime?” Estre challenged.
Jason flopped her down on the bed. His voice wasced with arrogance, “There’s a line of women
eager to spend money just for the pleasure of mypany. Why would I need to spend a cent?”
“So what you’re saying is, if I haven’t slept with you, it’s because I’m stingy?” Estre shot back.
Before she knew it, Jason’s lips were on hers again. In the heat of their passionate kiss, Jason stripped
away Estre’s clothes, but his expression suddenly changed. “Estre,
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you’re on your period. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Estre burst intoughter at Jason’s frustrated look. “You didn’t call me beforeing over, did you?”
She had seen through Jason’s intentions all along and deliberately kept it from him. After all, he had a
habit of turning tail and running halfway through their encounters.
As Estrelle gloated, Jason pulled her close and turned off the light. “Let’s sleep.”
Forced into his embrace, Estre felt a wave of nostalgia. It was as if they had returned to the days
long past when they had still been close, and his embrace was always filled with
that familiar scent.
In the deep, dark night, as Jason’s hand wandered suggestively, Estre scolded, “Seriously? Take
care of yourself in the bathroom.”
Jason didn’t argue with her. He directly used her hand to masturbate. Once e Jason finished, Estre
wiped her hands on him disdainfully and proposed, “You should talk to your mom. Tell her to stop
hounding me about grandchildren like the Grim Reaper. She called again today.”
Without hesitation, Jason refused, “No way.” If he did that, Estre would never turn to him again.
Besides, this was the only connection between them.
Seeing his reaction, Estre dug her toenails into his calf with at
“Estre!”
vengeance.
“I’ve just done you a favor. You can’t handle a little scratch?”
“Sleep.”
After anothermand, Jason drew her into his arms again.
The night was quiet, and it had been a long time since they’d been this peaceful together.
The next morning, Estre was roused by her rm clock. She was getting ready to head over to
Ryan’s ce when Drew came trudging in, dutifully delivering Jason’s clothes.
Appreciating Drew’s loyalty, Estre said half-jokingly, “Drew, I’m seriously tempted to steal you away
from Jason.”
Drew, ever the professional, replied, “Ms. Estre, that’s high praise indeed.” Then he raised his voice
for emphasis, “Mr. Jason cares a great deal about you, Ms. Estre.”
Estre responded nonchntly, “He came all this way for nothing. It’s not easy for him.” She was
fishing for information, trying to figure out what rumors had driven Jason to her doorstep.
Drew managed a tight-lipped smile, saying nothing. He hadn’t expected his boss to dash over here just
because he heard Korey was in town for a conference.
Actually, they cared about each other. Why couldn’t they justreconcile? The past was the past, after all.
“Ms. Estre, you rest up. I’ve got to get going. After a formal goodbye, Drew made a hasty retreat,
eager to avoid any further probing from Estre.
The door closed softly behind her, and when Estre returned to the room, Jason was
half-awake.
“Who were you talking to so early in the morning?” he asked.
“Just my lover,” Estre retorted with a nce.
Jason rolled his eyes at herck of seriousness.
“Drew brought your clothes. You decide if you’re going back or what. That’s on you.”
“Why would I go back without you?”
Estre shrugged, “Suit yourself. But I’ll be busy here for the next couple of days.”
She was upfront about her activities. He could do as he pleased. She had work to attend to. After
saying that, Estre grabbed her things and headed to Ryan’s, while Jason chose to continue resting at
the hotel.
Jason himself couldn’t quite articte why he’d rushed over without a second thought. Was he trying to
catch her cheating?
He wanted evidence but dreaded finding any. However, he couldn’t deny that he minded Estre not
reaching out to him. Especially after his mother had called her the previous day, she still hadn’t
contacted him. That had unsettled him enough to pick her
up
from the
When he didn’t see her, the burning desire to see her intensified, and his behavior increasingly erratic.
He didn’t seem to have the upper hand as before.
grew
In the room, Estre had left just moments ago, and Jason soon got up, tidied himself, and started
working from his room. A guy like him could never afford to waste time, so when Drew brought over his
clothes, he also delivered Jason’sptop and work files.
Estre, for her part, had been out since morning, busy with Ryan’s case and hadn’t. returned to the
hotel for lunch.
Around 5:30 PM, having nearly finished visiting Ryan’s rtives and neighbors and gathering
information on old stories, Estre headed back to the hotel.
The story of Ryan’s childhood weighed heavily on her. Even after bing awyer and
understanding the hardships some people would face, she could never imagine that at
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boy who was even younger than her had endured such an inhumane existence. While Ryan was
locked up in a pigsty, she was already chauffeured to school, decked out in international designer
brands.
However, the thought that the information she collected tod sentence offered Estre a sliver of
constion.
might help reduce Ryan’s
As the cab neared the hotel, Estre quicklyposed herself. Ever since she was young,
no matter what she faced, no matter how upset she was, she always managed her emotions well,
making sure not to burden others with her troubles, always a poised and cheerful.
Unless she was too infuriated to hold back.
appearing
The taxi pulled up to the hotel. Estre paid the fare. Just as she stepped out, she heard someone call
her name from behind. She turned around, and her eyes widened in surprise.
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Korey! What was he doing here?