Estre brushed off Jason’s exnation with a wave of her hand, “If you’re trying to tick me off, why
bother telling me at all?”
Jason looked at her with downcast eyes. “Don’t you get what I’m trying to say?”
He did not apologizing outright, but Jason felt his message was crystal clear.
Estre smoothly slipped out of his embrace and strode to the door, flinging it open. “Feeling better?
Then go back to your own room.”
The gift was his own business, but the way he had looked at her that day, that was something she’d
remember for a lifetime. So right now, she wasn’t about to be treated like a naive child, coaxed with
sweet nothings – especially when there wasn’t even anything sweet on offer.
Jason was nearly beside himself with rage when Estre opened the door. He stared at her for a long
moment before turning away, “Not really.”
At the doorway, Estre’s patience snapped. She whipped off her slipper and hurled it at him, “ying
shameless, are we?”
The slipper hit Jason squarely on the back of His head, causing him to turn back around. Eyeing the
slipper now lying beside him, he picked it up and dropped it on the floor, his patience thinning as he
exined, “Estre, I’m trying to make amends here.”
The implication was clear: he was here to make peace.
Estre couldn’t care less and gestured for him to leave.
Jason remained motionless, watching her before suddenly rising from the bed with a gruff, “Fine, I’m
outta here.”
She didn’t want hispany, and he wasn’t keen on sticking around. But as he approached Estre,
his steps hesitated. Then, in a swift move, he scooped Estre up and kicked the door shut behind
them.
Estre’s back hit the soft mattress, and as she swung her foot at Jason, he pinned her wrists down
and trapped her with a light press of his leg, saying, “If you want to make it public that you’re the
Dorvold family’sdy, I’m not opposed.”
Her expression darkened instantly. If the word got out, her career as awyer would be a lot less
enjoyable.
Locking eyes with Jason, she struggled, “Jason, what the hell do you want?”
He had snubbed her earlier for Serene, and now here he was, repeatedly seeking her out, ying both
sides with a master’s finesse.
Estre stopped insisting he leave, prompting Jason to say, “With your attitude, what else
11-
could I want?”
He had nned to make a move under the influence, but she was as unyielding as if she’d swallowed
an atomic bomb, utterly impervious to sweet talk or reason.
As Estre aimed another kick at him, his expression darkened, “You really think I can’t take you?” He
then held her tighter, “Just let me hold you.”
He added after a moment, “Nothing more.”
When Jason said nothing more, Estre believed him after all, she’d always been the one calling the
shots. “Either go to your room or crash on the couch,” she told him. “Your choice.”
“What haven’t I seen or touched of you before?
Estre almost choked on her breath, her foot aiming for his groin, but Jason was quick to block it. He
then pulled her into his embrace, turned off the main light, and closed his eyes with her in his arms. At
that moment, Jason knew all too well that this fleeting peace was shamelessly earned.
Looking up at Jason, Estre remarked, “Jason, how did I never notice how shameless. you are?”
He rubbed his chin against her neck, “Learned from the best – you.”
Estre scoffed, “ming others? You’re the champion.”
After her words, she turned her back to him, and Jason wrapped an arm around her waist while his
hand ventured toward her chest.
Estre caught his hand and tossed it aside, “Have you no shame?”
Jason nuzzled her face, “You don’t want a baby now?”
“I don’t,” she replied shortly.
Jason massaged her waist. “Still angry?”
“You’re not that important.”
She wasn’t angry with him; she was just tired and wanted to sleep. Estre tightened her nightgown
and secured the belt, and Jason held her without any more fuss. Knowing Estre’s character, the fact
that she hadn’t kicked him out already meant she was being quite amodating.
Everyone said Estre had a good temper, but only Jason knew the truth. Generally speaking, don’t get
on her bad side, or it wouldn’t matter if you were the king of the world. After holding Estre for a while,
Jason gave her a squeeze, “Estre, let’s talk.”
But as his words fell, there was no response. He leaned in to check and found her already
11:33
asleep.
Grayson said she liked him. Why had he been so unwilling to believe it?
“Estre, open up.”
The next morning, Estre was awoken by a furious banging on her door.
With her arm resting on her eyes, she kicked away Jason’s legs draped over her until the banging of
the door echoed again. Only then did Estre reluctantly get out of bed with half-closed eyes.
Opening the door to find Bryce, all hustle and bustle, Estre yawned. “What’s the rush? You trying to
wake the dead?”
Bryce, holding a breakfast bag, couldn’t wait to break the news. “Estre, do you know who took away
the Golden Gaze ne? It was Jason.”
At Bryce’s words, Estre, still groggy with sleep, replied, “I know.”
Her admission stopped Bryce in his tracks. He turned to her, incredulous. “You know?”
“Yeah, the ne is already hanging around Serene’s neck.”
Bryce exploded. “He gave the ne to Serene?” Not waiting for Estre’s response, Bryce
mmed the breakfast down on a nearby table. “Estre, how can you stomach this? How can you
swallow this injustice?”
“I’ve told you a hundred times Jason’s no good There’s nothing to hold onto with him. I said stop putting
all your eggs in one basket and get the divorce already, but you just won’t listen. What, you think you’re
immune to the ailments thate from a woman’s fury?”
Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.
“Jason…” Estre began, only to be cut off by Bryce’s impatient interjection. “Jason, wha about him?
He’s a real piece of work, isn’t he? Generous to everyone else, but what about you? Been married over
two years now, has he ever even bought you as much as a sewing needle?”
“That guy, only you could put up with him. Any other woman would’ve walked out on him a hundred
times over. Look, I’mying down thew here, Estre. You’re going to ditch him, pronto. Even if it
means you’re flying solo for the rest of your days, you can’t stay
with him.”
No sooner had Bryceid down his verdict than Jason, bleary-eyed with sleepiness, ambled out from
the room. “Bryce, am I really as terrible as you’re making me out to be?”
Jason’s sudden appearance caught Brycepletely off guard.
Hold on, weren’t they at odds? What was Jason doing in Estre’s room now?
11:33
Bryce’s gaze swung towards Estre, who looked back at him with a face full of
sympathy. “I was trying to tell you, he’s here. You just didn’t give me the chance.”