Serene quickly got up from the ground, but she was too anxious and couldn’t stand steady, slipping


    again.


    Jason, witnessing her distress, ambled over and extended a hand to help her up. As he passed


    Estre, his gaze was icy, and the frost in his eyes was unmistakable.


    Estre couldn’t help but chuckle silently, and her smile wasced with a tinge of irony.


    –


    Once upright, Serene, flustered, began to ramble, “Jason, this this had nothing to do with Estre. I just


    lost my footing, and that’s all.” Her exnation, though well-intentioned, somehow made it seem as if


    Estre had pushed her on purpose.


    Estre, unfazed, sauntered over and gently cupped Serene’s chin, taking in her pitiful and delicate


    appearance that would move any man’s heart.


    Before Jason could intervene, Estre released Serene and locked eyes with him. Her voice was


    tinged with warning, “Jason, keep your little bird tucked away safely. Twenty-four-hour surveince, or


    she might just fly the coop.”


    Jason felt a sinking feeling. His heart was heavy as he finally spoke, “Estre, some things never


    change with you.”


    With a softugh, Estre retorted, “Change isn’t in my nature. You can either deal with it or walk


    away.”


    Then she turned on her heel and left. Serene, quick to defend her, said, “Jason, she’s just sparring with


    you verbally. Don’t take it to heart. She didn’t say a word to me. I thought she was upset about the


    ne, so I tried to exin.”


    Serene’s way with words was nothing short of cunning.


    As Estre passed by Drew, he offered a quiet “Ms. Estre.” His eyes held a glimmer of sympathy,


    which didn’t escape Estre’s notice. Inwardly, she mused that one could never rouse someone


    pretending to sleep.


    Exiting the restroom, Estre spotted Korey. His gaze seemedden with pity as he watched her from a


    distance. He was surrounded by the brass of Ravenwood. Normally, Estre wouldn’t approach him,


    and she certainly wouldn’t now. She offered him a small smile in acknowledgment and moved on.


    As she walked away, Drew suggested to Jason. “Sir, perhaps Ms. Estre didn’t do it intentionally.”


    Serene chimed in supportively, “Jason, I really don’t think Estre meant it.”


    Jason remained silent, His thoughts drifted back to an incident three years prior, to Holly.


    11:33 E


    After dinner, Estre wandered alone along the beach. Her mind alternated between Ryan’s case and


    her tangled feelings for Jason. She had hoped that after all these years, if they both tried a little harder


    and set aside the past grievances, they could mend fences. It seemed she was being overly


    sentimental.


    “Estre.” Lost in her thoughts, she was startled by a voice from behind.


    She turned to see Korey approaching, and greeted him with a faint smile, “You’re here for the


    conference too?”


    Korey closed the distance. “New position. Time to mingle with all the departments and businesses.”


    They continued down the beach. The conversation flowed as easily as the gentle sea


    breeze.


    Korey remarked, ncing at Estre. “You’ve been avoiding me since I got back.”


    “It’s not avoidance, just steering clear of any potential drama,” she replied, and thenughed at herself.


    “It’s quite ridiculous, really. Jason’s out there enjoying himself, but here I am, concerned about avoiding


    impropriety.”


    They found a couple of beach chairs. Korey invited her to sit. Estre adjusted her shawl and took a


    seat.


    Korey then revealed something from the past, I proposed to the Dorvold family because I saw you


    and Jason fighting. He hit you, so I wanted to support you, to show him you weren’t solely his.”


    Estre looked at him in astonishment, having no idea that Korey had witnessed her fight


    with Jason.


    “I genuinely care for you, Estre,” he continued, “much like I do for Holly or Jesse. I would’ve done the


    same for her. I just hope you and Jason can find happiness.”


    Holly was Korey’s sister.


    Estre couldn’t help butugh at the revtion. It turned out she had overthought their rtionship for


    years. After a moment, she said with gratitude, “Thank you, Korey.”


    They sat in silence for a while until Korey had to excuse himself for a call.


    Back at the resort, Estre stepped out of the elevator, with the shawl wrapped warmly around her, to


    find Jason waiting at her door, with a phone to his ear. He hung up as she approached. His gaze was


    fixed on her.


    Estre walked up to him with her hands pressing her shawl. “Looking for me? Aren’t you afraid of


    being discovered?” Her words made their legitimate marriage sound like an illicit affair.


    Ignoring her quip, Jason, with his hands buried in his pockets, asked, “Where have you


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    been?”


    secre


    Estre shrugged with a devil-may-care attitude. “Meeting my lover.”


    to every


    Jason’s face darkened considerably. He found himself needing a mental rescue e time they exchanged


    words. Yet, he didn’t let his anger show towards Estre, instead stepping closer to probe, “You’ve


    been seeing Korey?”


    Pulling her shawl tighter, Estre nonchntly confirmed, “Yep, just a quick catch-up.”


    His patience snapped. Jason grasped her throat and yanked her towards him with a force


    that brooked no argument. “For for heaven’s sake, I’m not six feet under yet, but here you are,


    gallivanting with someone else right under my nose.”


    Estre looked up at him. Her eyes were alight with amusement. “Well, I’m very much alive too, and it’s


    not like you’ve been a saint. Let’s not y the me game, shall we?”


    She pried Jason’s hand away, her voice icy, “Next time, keep the conversation verbal, no need for the


    roughhousing.”


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Gritting his teeth in frustration, Jason recalled who was really fond of getting physical – who had sent


    him to the hospital, and who had pped him across the face?


    “Mr. Jason,” came a voice, breaking the tension, as a neighbor from the adjoining suite emerged.


    Seizing the moment, Jason fished out a keycard, flung open Estre’s door, and, grabbing her arm,


    tossed her inside.


    Estre fumed at Jason’s audacity – his having her keycard was beyond irritating. Regaining her


    bnce, she hurled her fallen shawl at him. Her voice was a low growl, “Who gave you permission to


    barge into my room?”


    Jason retorted, “What’s the big deal about entering your room? It’s not like you haven’t crashed in my


    bed plenty of times.”


    Her anger dissolved into


    incredulousughter. Estre fired back “So what’s your n?


    To take over my bed tonight?”


    11:33