Estre’s surprise had barely registered when Korey’s sedan rolled to a stop beside her. “Are you here


    on business too?”


    Estre nodded, “Yeah, just gathering some info from the locals for a case.”


    Korey offered a casual smile. “Since we’ve bumped into each other, let’s grab dinner together.”


    Before Estre could respond, a sleek ck Maybach pulled up beside the sedan. The front window


    slid down leisurely, and Jason’s voice floated out, “Sure thing! I’ve already


    made reservations.”


    Upon hearing Jason’s familiar voice, Estre turned to see him resting both hands on the steering


    wheel. There was a cigarette between his fingers, and his gaze was icy as itnded on her. He had the


    look of someone who caught his wife cheating red-handed.


    Korey spotted Jason and chuckled, “Jason’s here too.”


    Jason took a drag of his cigarette and replied nonchntly, “Yep! Tagging along with the wife on her


    work trip.”


    After extinguishing what remained of his cigarette in the ashtray, Jason’s indifferent eyes met Estre’s.


    “Get in.”


    Seeing this, Estre nced back at Korey and said, “I’ll see youter, Korey.”


    “See you in a bit,” Korey said before instructing his driver to follow Jason’s car.


    Inside the Maybach, Jason turned to Estre with a sarcastic edge. “You sure seem cozy calling Korey


    by his first name.”


    Estre retorted, “I had no idea he was here. We just ran into each other, okay? Don’t


    overthink.”


    Estre didn’t want any tension during the dinner with Korey. She didn’t want others to notice any


    discord between them, even though their rocky rtionship was hardly a


    secret.


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    Jason lit another cigarette and kept silent.


    Soon, they arrived at a charming local vi restaurant. Jason immediately ordered the waiter to bring


    two cases of beer and a bottle of hard liquor. After Estre’s earlier exnation, he had yet to speak


    another word to her.


    Estre couldn’t tell if his silence stemmed from seeing Korey and being reminded of Holly or from


    Korey meeting her.


    When Jason ordered such an amount of booze, ke’s face turned pale. “Korey, your know you can’t


    drink.”


    Korey just smiled. “I’m here to keep Jasonpany, even if it kills me.”


    Jason chuckled at the remark. Estre knew she couldn’t stop them, so she didn’t bother


    to try.


    As the waiter started to serve the food, Jason filled their sses to the brim. There was so much to talk


    about, from the past to the present, and so much to drink..


    Once they finished a case of beer, Korey was looking pale, so Estre suggested, “Maybe that’s


    enough.”


    Jason ignored her as if she hadn’t spoken and filled Korey’s ss once more. “This one’s for Holly.”


    Hearing Holly, Estre just watched him, saying nothing. She had thought Jason’s silence during the


    drive was due to a misunderstanding. Perhaps he believed she and Korey had secretly run off together.


    But it turned out he was just lost in memories of the past.


    Korey nced at the full ss Jason poured and then at Estre. He f


    more pressing than the memory of his sister who was no longer there.


    her feelings were.


    Estre was not outwardly upset, just staring at Jason. Seeing this, Korey raised his ss. “Jason, the


    past is the past.” He wanted to encourage Jason to focus on his life. with Estre, but it felt like he was


    highlighting the fragile state of their rtionship. So he swallowed the words he’d been about to say.


    Estre snapped back to reality at Korey’s words and gave a cynicalugh inside. If Jason couldn’t let


    go of Holly, he shouldn’t have agreed to this marriage. Why got married and then yed the part of the


    grieving widower? Wasn’t he just tormenting her?


    With these thoughts, Estre picked up her fork, too disinterested to engage. further.


    By nine-thirty, after they had polished off two cases of beer and the bottle of liquor, Korey was a


    as pale as a sheet. His brows furrowed in difort. ke was sweating bullets at his side, and


    Estre was on the verge of losing her temper when the dinner finally came


    to an end.


    As they parted, Korey made Jason promise to treat Estre right. Jason merely smirked, “Don’t worry


    about my wife.”


    Half an hourter, the car stopped at a hotel. Estre was about to help Jason out when he coldly said,


    “Don’t bother.”


    Estre’s movements froze. Her expression locked in ce. She stared at Jason for a long moment


    before slowly straightening up. Her face was impassive.


    Once inside their room, Jason began to undo His shirt buttons with an edge in his voice. “Quite the


    nner, aren’t you?”


    Tying her hair back with an stic band, Estre heard Jason’s taunt and responded coolly, “Had you


    been a dayte, you might have caught us in the act.” He was convinced her trip was a cover for an


    affair with Korey, and she was done exining herself. She just let him think what he wanted. She was


    tired of catering to him.


    From now on, he could pine for whomever he wanted, care for whomever he chose. Estre was done


    ying along. Two years had been enough for her.


    Jason’s eyes turned icy as he locked his gaze on her. “So I ruined your ns?”


    With her hair tied and arms crossed, Estre leaned slightly against the nearby table, challenging him.


    “Jason, it seems you’ve been holding onto some resentment. Let’s cut to the chase. What’s the


    oue you want? Just be clear about it.”


    Clearly, he was the one who couldn’t move on, the one who didn’t want a real marriage. Yet he kept


    needling her. Estre found it amusing.


    His indifference tonight, along with his nostalgia for Holly while drinking with Korey, suddenly made


    everything seem pointless. No matter how much she tried, no matter how much she forgave, Jason


    would never reallymit to a life with her. So why should she bother?


    All Estre wanted was an answer from Jason


    Confronted by Estre’s nonchnce, Jason removed his tie, his voice chilling as heughed, “Have


    you secured a way out? Looking for an escape?”


    Estre, as rxed as ever, barely moved as she leaned on the table. Her voice was indifferent, “Yes,


    I’m looking for a way out. So let’s say you’ve got something on me tonight. Do whatever you please.”


    She threw caution to the wind, not even bothering with an excuse. Jason’s temper i He strode over,


    pinching her face and lifting her off the ground. “Estre, you think I’m some kind of saint? That I’ll just


    keep indulging you?”


    As his fingers tightened on her face, a sharp pain appeared in Estre’s stomach. She’d skipped


    breakfast, missed lunch while visiting Ryan’s neighborhood, and had barely touched her dinner due to


    ack of appetite. Now, the hunger pangs were catching up. with her.


    Her brow furrowed, and her hands wed at Jason’s wrists, but her usual strength escaped her.


    Jason, noticing her struggling with his grip, forced her to face him again. “Say it,” he demanded.


    A sarcasticugh escaped Estre. “Jason, what do you want to hear?” She continued, “You think


    you’ve been so good to me? Well, I’d dly pass up. Fine, I’ll admit it. I came here to have a fling with


    Korey. I’ve always been reckless, even tried to seduce you, Jason. When I conned your dad into


    making you marry me, you should’ve known what I


    was all about, right?”