Estre paused mid-stride, turning to Jason with a quizzical look. “So, did you know that Jesse


    swapped her juice with Rachel? The juice you had the waiter toss was actually


    fine.”


    Estre and Jesse had seen it all. The tricks Rachel was ying were nothingpared to the ruthless


    games they’d encountered nearly a decade ago.


    The brief exchange between Jason and Estre left Bryce reeling in shock. Suddenly, he felt like the


    only fool among them, utterly clueless.


    And in truth, he was just that-aplete fool.


    Shivering, Bryce stammered, “Estre, hearing you and Jasono talk like that gives me the chills. Maybe


    we should steer clear of these ces.”


    He knew E and Jason were tough cookies, but he wasn’t nearly as hardcore. What if someone took


    advantage of him? He was still a virgin, after all.


    Jesse snorted with disdain.


    Bryce defended himself with conviction. “Estre, I’m not being a scaredy-cat here. Take tonight, for


    instance. You’re a looker, and what if someone really did take advantage of you? Plus, this is Jason’s


    turf. What’s he gonna do? Lay down thew or let it slide?”


    Estre retorted, “I am a married woman. A little hug or a pat on the back doesn’t mean I’ll lose a piece


    of flesh. Besides,e morning, if he doesn’t recognize me and I don’t recognize him, no harm done.”


    No sooner had she finished her sentence than she yelped in pain. “Ow, ow, ow! Jason, put your gori


    strength to better use. Let go already.” She wrestled his hand away, her grip firm and defiant.


    Jason, still irked by her earlierment, pulled her back forcefully. “Estre, you let someone else try


    that and see what happens.” If any guy ever touched her, he’d lose his


    hands.


    Estre teased him, “You had your chances, but you didn’t use them. So I might as well give someone


    else the-” She was cut off mid-sentence as Jason, pinching her chin, leaned in to seal her lips with a


    kiss.


    Jesse and Bryce, too embarrassed to witness more, beat a hasty retreat. Those lovebirds had no


    shame, putting on a public disy of affection at their age. They had seen enough. After a heated


    moment, Estre managed to free herself, and seeing that Bryce and Jesse had vanished, she shot


    Jason a kick and stormed off. Jason dusted off the spot where she kicked him, chuckling as he


    followed her.


    11-34


    Before long, they arrived at the suite. Estre saw Jason sauntering up, hands in his pockets. She


    turned to him, puzzled. “Are there no rooms avable?”


    “None,” Jason replied, nonchnt.


    Estre scoffed at Jason’s shamelessness. With a look of utter disdain, she swiped her card and


    opened the door to the suite. It didn’t matter if she locked him out-Jason had a key to every room in the


    hotel.


    Kicking off her heels and shedding her coat and purse, Estre barely had a moment. before Jason


    wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder like a man both weary and


    content.


    Estre nced at him. “Lost all shame, have you?”


    wish,” he


    As Jason looked her way, his lips brushed against her cheek. “You were the one acting like a neglected


    wife, saying I don’t hug or touch you. Tonight, you’ll get your said, his right hand boldly sliding under her


    clothes to caress her.


    Estre objected to his forwardness, elbowing him sharply. “Think you’re some genie granting wishes?


    Get your hand off.”


    After shended her blow, Jason released her, clutching his stomach and wincing. Turning to face him,


    Estre saw his pallor. She’d noticed hisplexion was off at the bar, but the dim lights had obscured


    how bad it was. Now she could see it clearly.


    Gripping Jason’s sleeve, she asked tentatively, “ying the victim?”


    Jason looked up at her, almostughing. “Only you would think that.”


    Estre poured a cup of water. “With your condition, you’re still trying to make good on promises?” She


    was certain that if anything happened between them tonight, he wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in


    the morning.


    Before Jason could respond, Estre handed him the water. “If you can’t handle it, don’t try to be a


    hero. Who asked you to finish all that liquor?”


    Jason rubbed his stomach, and Estre knew without asking that he must’ve hit the alcohol too hard


    tonight, damaging his stomach lining. She suspected that he had been ufortable for a while. That


    was why he hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol at the bar, sticking to her juice instead.


    And why hadn’t he said something earlier? They could havee back to rest instead of lingering at


    the bar.


    Taking the hot water, Jason gazed up at her. “Feeling sorry for me?”


    Estre retorted, “If something happens to you I’ll have to visit the hospital to take care of you. I’m


    feeling sorry for myself.”


    Jason took the water. “Dammit, heartless.”


    11:34)


    “Maybe save your curses and conserve some energy,” she suggested.


    After Jason had rested a bit, Estre urged him to take a shower and get some rest.


    As Jason headed to the bathroom with his clothes, Estre remembered how he had downed his drink


    in one go earlier that night. Reluctantly, she picked up her phone and called Drew. “Drew, Jason has a


    stomachache


    “Ms. Estre, I’m on it,” Drew replied before hanging up and springing into action. Since Jason was


    resting in Ms. Estre’s room, he couldn’t call a doctor over or suggest a hospital visit. So, not long


    after, Drew arrived with medicine, knocking on the door. After he set down the bags and closed the


    door, he made to leave.


    Estre, hopeful for a night alone, called out from the doorway. “Aren’t you taking him with you to the


    hospital?”


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    From outside, Drew replied with a straight face, “With your care, Mr. Jason is sure to be fine. Ms.


    Estre, you should get some rest too.” And with that, he helped her close the door and was gone.


    Jason sure had a knack for picking out a top-notch secretary and a ster driver.


    Drew had barely left when Jason emerged from the shower. Estre nced at the medicine on the


    table. “Your secretary dropped it off.”


    ???


    Jason’s pace slowed as he dried his hair, looking at the assortment of pills. “Estre, don’t-”


    A flicker of doubt crossed Jason’s mind, prompting a chuckle from Estre. “Drew brought them over.


    Who did you think it was?” She continued teasingly, “Bit disappointed, aren’t you?”


    Hearing the medicine was from Drew, Jason rxed instantly. “Disappointed about what? How did he


    even know I had an upset stomach?” Sometimes, Jason really dreaded that pitiful, kind demeanor


    Serene put on just for him.


    Estre replied, “Who else would tell him but me?” With that, she grabbed her clothes and headed to


    the bathroom.


    Inside the room, Jason let out a smallugh as he continued toweling off his hair,forted by the


    thought that Estre still cared about him-and smart enough not to call Serene over. Despite the time


    that had passed, the memory of Estre asking Serene to look after him still irked Jason..


    Half an hourter, when Estre came out of the bathroom, Jason was already sprawled out on the


    bed, asleep. Estre tiptoed closer, peering at him and thinking that he must really be feeling under the


    weather.


    She turned off the main light andy down beside him, hoping to rest. But suddenly, someone wrapped


    their arms around her from behind. With a gentle tug, Jason pulled her


    11:34


    close into an embrace.