In no time at all, the driver came around with another car to swap out for them, and ke couldn’t help


    but grumble, “That Jason is too brazen, even daring to ram into your ride.”


    Korey offered a nonchnt smile. “That’s just Jason’s way. Don’t take it to heart.”


    “You’re too easygoing,” ke protested. Then, lowering his voice, he added, “But Mr. Korey, I heard


    that Ms. Holly’s ident might have something to do with Ms. Estre. Doesn’t that bother you one


    bit?”


    At the mention of Holly and Estre, Korey’s expression darkened subtly. “That has nothing to do with


    Estre. Where did you hear such a thing?”


    “I can’t recall where I heard it from. It could be got it wrong,” ke muttered. He didn’t tell Korey that it


    was within the walls of the Ledford estate that he had overheard the gossip.


    Korey’s mood was visibly soured, and he fell silent. Whether it was the mention of Estre or Holly that


    disturbed him more, he couldn’t say.


    Later, Estre got wind of Jason rear-ending Korey’s car through the grapevine that was Bryce, but she


    didn’t confront Jason about it. She knew all too well that would only stir up more trouble.


    That night, Jason had cornered Estre, offering to move Serene away if her presence was causing


    Estre any difort. Estre had brushed it off, iming Serene wasn’t significant enough to bother


    her, but the distance between Jason and Serene had grown.


    nheless.


    Since the time Estre said she had no feelings for him at the resort, Jason hadn’t used


    Serene as a prop.


    Come noon, after finishing a meeting, Jason had barely settled back in his office when Serene knocked


    on the door.


    He nced up, spotting the lunchbox in her hand. “Didn’t I tell Drew there’s no need to bring food


    over?”


    Serene strode in with a smile, saying, “I noticed you’ve skipped lunch at the office for a while, so I got


    up early to make you some soup.”


    Without looking up from his contract, Jason replied, “Estre makes soup every day.”


    That was a bluff. Estre had only warmed up a tonic soup for him once, and he was deliberately


    bringing her up to make a point.


    At the mention of Estre, Serene’s smile wavered with awkwardness, fully aware of Jason’s intentions.


    He had been intentionally keeping her at arm’s lengthtely.


    Pretending all was well, Serene pulled up a chair across from Jason, her voice light, “The


    soup Estre made is a gesture of her affection. And this is mine. After all, you’ve always looked after


    Vincent and me.”


    Jason paused his skimming and met her gaze. As their eyes met, Jason’s expression remained


    emotionless. Serene smiled and said, “Jason, have you been avoiding me on purposetely? Have I


    caused trouble in your life? Have I given Estre the wrong impression? If so, I can go and exin


    things to Estre.”


    Serene mentioned that she wanted to clear things up with Estre, a notion that sent waves of refusal


    through Jason’s heart. He was acutely aware of Serene’s actions, including the incident at the resort


    where she intentionally exined the ne situation to Estre. He saw it all too clearly.


    The best strategy for handling such issues is to downy their significance. If no one else brings it up,


    there’s no need to rush in and broach the subject yourself; otherwise, it can backfire and make things


    worse. With years of experience in the business world, he knew these tactics all too well. The only


    reason he’d manipted Serene in the past was due to the strained rtionship with Estre.


    If Serene does go on to exin things to Estre, the bnce that they have painstakingly established


    will crumble in an instant.


    With a detached look, Jason spoke, “Estre understands. No need to exin.”


    His rtionship with Estre was simple: a bit more time at home, a bit more sweet-talking, and they


    would mostly avoid big issues.


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    “Jason, did Estre get the wrong idea about me?” Serene pressed, sensing his reluctance. “Look, I


    really don’t have any ulterior motives. I see you as a friend, a supervisor, and someone who’s been


    there for Vincent and me. I have no other way to repay you, so sometimes…”


    Before she could finish, Jason cut her off, “Estre hasn’t said anything.”


    Estre was sharp. If she didn’t want to fall out with you, she would turn a blind eye even you were at


    fault and leave it unmentioned.


    So whenever she and Jason fought, as long as he didn’t bring a third party into it, neither did she. They


    would only argue about the rights and wrongs in their rtionship.


    “Jason, I admit that I admire you a lot and find you very capable. But it’s not what you and Estre


    might think. It’s just you’ve helped me so much, and I am truly grateful to both you and Estre. if my


    gratitude has caused any misunderstanding between you and Estre, I apologize”


    Listening to Serene’s exnations, Jason remained unmoved. “Your job and benefits won’t change,


    and Estre isn’t the type to make things difficult for you. Don’t overthink it.” He had promised Holly


    he’d look after Serene, and he intended to keep that promise.


    Meeting his gaze squarely, Serene knew all too well that she had been a pawn in his game


    08:14


    with Estre, and a substitute for Holly. After a long silence, she asked, “Jason, have you moved on


    from Holly? Have you really let go?”


    His reply was indifferent. “Whether I have or haven’t, you’re not her.”


    With that, Serene was left speechless, the weight of his words settling between them like an


    unbridgeable chasm.


    Serene had been sitting across from Jason for quite some time, watching him work as if nothing was


    out of the ordinary. Finally, she stood up and decided to leave first. As she gently closed Jason’s office


    door, Serene lifted her gaze and caught sight of Estre striding toward her, with a sheaf of papers


    clutched in her hand.


    Upon seeing Estre, a smile quickly spread across Serene’s face. “Hey, Estre.” Even though her


    mood had been soured just moments before, she couldn’t let Estre catch a glimpse of her disarray.


    “Hey,” Estre greeted back in her usual nonchnt manner.


    As Estre passed by with her documents, unhurried, Serene turned and asked, “Estre, do you think


    there’s been some kind of misunderstanding between me and-”


    Before Serene could finish, Estre stopped, smiled, and said, “Whatever you’re thinking is none of my


    business. If Jason has any issue, he’ll talk to me directly.”


    Estre had long seen through Serene’s fa?ade. Besides, who Jason liked, who he was good to, and


    who he couldn’t get out of his head was of no concern to her. She was only interested in whether


    Dorvold Group was making money, if her cases were going to win, and when she could conceive a


    child with Jason to fulfill her major life task.


    With just a few simple words, Estre had left Serene speechless multiple times. In reality, no matter


    what Serene said or did, she had never influenced Estre. After staring at Estre for a long while,


    Serene sighed and said, “As long as you haven’t misunderstood, that’s good.”


    Estre patted her shoulder. “Focus on your work. After all, I own half of Nelson International.” All this


    idle chatter was less productive than earning some extra cash for thepany, which would help


    Estre in return.


    Serene swallowed hard. “Will do.”


    After parting with Serene, Estre pushed open Jason’s office door and walked in.


    Inside, Jason looked up as the door opened again. Seeing Estre, his face immediately lit up with a


    soft smile, a stark contrast to earlier,


    Estre approached with an impassive face, and Jason asked, “Did you run into her?”