Estre’spun around, a yful smirk dancing on her lips. “I’m here to shop with your mom, Jason.
What’s it to you?”
Jason leaned in, his face inches from hers, but Estre was quick to pinch his jaw. “Jason,” she chided,
her tone teasing yet firm, “you’re getting shameless by the minute.”
Without another word, she bit down hard on his jawline, then pressed a button in the car, pushed his
face away, and strutted out with an air of triumph.
As she stepped onto the sidewalk, Kristin approached, her face lit up with a weing
smile.
Jason, meanwhile, rolled down the window and rubbed his face, watching Estre’s retreating figure.
“We’ll settle the score for that biteter tonight,” he mumbled to himself.
Seeing this, Kristin looked at him with a serious expression and said, “Son, you better start raking in the
dough to support Estre and my future grandchild.”
Estre nced back to see Jason still nursing his cheek and let out a chuckle. “Goodbye, Jason.
Don’t bother seeing me off.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Kristin linked arms with Estre, her face blooming like spring flowers.
“Estre, I saw some adorable cribs and baby clothesst time I was out. I’ll take you to check them
out.”
Estre couldn’t help but lose her smile. So that was why Kristin insisted on shopping
today.
“Kristin, it’s too early for that,” Estre protested gently.
“Not at all,” Kristin insisted with a knowing smile. “Time flies, and babiese quickly. Once you start,
there’s no stopping. I’ll be holding my grandchild in no time.”
As they entered the department store, Jason drove back to the office, his heart lighter than usual after
the yful exchange.
At the office, Drew caught sight of Jason’s unusually bright demeanor, and the tell-tale bite mark on his
face. He had worked with Jason for years and had never seen him this
chipper.
Inside the department store, Estre could do nothing as Kristin, acting as if she was already a
grandmother, filled their cart with baby essentials and clothes. Estre felt overwhelmed and under a lot
of pressure.
After Kristin finished her shopping spree, she left the address for Sandalwood Oasis, instructing the
store to deliver everything there Then, she announced to Estre that they were going to have a
delicious meal. However, just as they stepped out, they ran into Korey, surrounded by a group of
people. As the newly appointed leader, he was
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conducting fieldwork in the area.
He had just finished his rounds for the day when he spotted Estre and Kristin walking out of the
maternity store. The sight of them leaving the store tugged at Korey’s heartstrings unexpectedly.
Approaching them with a warm smile, he greeted, “Ms. Kristin, Estre.”
Korey had finished his inspections, so ke dismissed the reporters and staff, allowing everyone to
head home early for the weekend. Once they had said goodbye to Korey, they left him to catch up with
his acquaintances.
After Korey finished his own engagements, he nced at his watch and said to Kristin and Estre, “It’s
dinner time. Allow me to treat you both. Besides, I’ve been meaning to pay a visit, Ms. Kristin.”
Estre was about to decline the polite invitation when Kristin, with a cheerful grin, epted. “It must
be fate that we ran into each other today, so let’s catch up, Korey.”
Kristin knew about Korey’s previous overtures to the Dorvold family-it wasmon knowledge among
their circle. By epting his invitation, Kristin hoped to show him how close Jason and Estre were
and that they were soon to be parents, dispelling any lingering intentions Korey might have.
Kristin was keenly aware of the fragility of Estre and Jason’s rtionship. “The more peopleck
something, the more they boast about it,” goes the saying, and Kristin was a prime example of this.
And Kristin knew about thest time Korey asked Estre to handle the issue of paying the wages and
project funds to the migrant workers. She just didn’t bring it up.
With the invitation epted, Estre could only sigh and follow along.
Given Korey’s status, ke chose a private restaurant with an elegant ambiance, frequented by those
of Korey’s standing.
In the private dining room, as the waiter served alcohol, Korey considerately requeste “Please bring
thisdy some milk, thank you.”
Estre had just exited the maternity store, so Korey’s gesture seemed particrly thoughtful. Hearing
this, Estre knew there must be a misunderstanding-he probably thought she was already expecting.
Whether Korey was mistaken didn’t matter so much as the awkwardness Estre felt; Kristin was
acting as if she were pregnant, and how would she exin if it turned out she
wasn’t?
Kristin noticed Korey’s misunderstanding but said nothing to correct it, simplymenting, “You’re as
thoughtful and attentive as ever, Korey.”
When praising Korey, Kristin couldn’t help but think, if her son could have half of Korey’s
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attentiveness and patience, she might have already had a grandchild by now.
Korey smiled, then turned to Estre. “I saw youing out of the maternity store. Are you-” He
stopped himself, remembering her recent sess in a high-profile legal case.
Before Estre could rify, Kristin jumped in, ‘Yes. Estre and I have been at the maternity store all
afternoon, picking out some things for the new baby.”
Kristin yed along with Korey’s assumption, yet pointedly avoided correcting him.
Caught in the moment, Estre met Korey’s gaze and said honestly, “We’re preparing for pregnancy.”
Kristin added, “She might well be expecting already, just without the telltale signs.”
Korey chuckled helplessly. It seemed that Kristin still regarded him as her son’s love rival.
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As Kristin’s words trailed off, the waiter began to bring out the dishes. Korey, ever the gentleman, made
it a point to serve Kristin first before offering any to Estre. Yet Kristin’s gaze was fixed on the
attentiveness hevished upon Estre.
“Estre, it’s getting chilly out. Make sure to have some soup to warm up,” Korey suggested with a
considerate tone.
“Try this dish, it’s really vorful. I think you’ll like it,” he said, passing a portion onto her te.
“And this one should suit your taste as well,” he added, selecting another choice morsel
for her.
Kristin felt deeply pained and resentful as she observed Korey’s thoughtfulness. Her own son was not
as attentive and caring, and she resolved to give him a good scolding when she got back home, urging
him to learn a thing or two from Korey.
Her eyes were glued to Korey, and when he served Estre a piece of sulent Kristin couldn’t hold
back any longer. In a voice tinged with sarcasm, she said, you’re so caring. It’s about time you found a
wife to really put those skills to us
Korey responded with a smile, “Ms. Kristin, if you know someone suitable, feel f me up.”
Kristin, intrigued, asked, “What kind of person are you interested in, Korey?”
Setting down his utensils, Korey turned his gaze from Estre back to Kristin, his sn unwavering.
“Someone like Estre would be perfect,” he said, his eyes lingering on Estre for a moment longer
before they met Kristin’s again.
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