“I’m gonna pop by the boss’ office and let him know I’m heading out early.” If it wasn’t for Kristin’s call,
Estre would’ve totally spaced on the whole thing.
On the other end, Kristin said, “Jason’s gonna pick you upter. You guys can head back together.”
“Cool,” Estre chuckled. “If I bump into him, we’ll ride back together.”
After hanging up, Estre quickly said her goodbyes to Logan and left.
The car had barely started when Jason’s call came through, “I’m downstairs.”
On her end, Estre replied, “I’m almost at the old house.”
With a click, he hung up, knowing all too well she had done it on purpose.
In her Audi, Estre nonchntly tossed her phone on the dashboard after the call dropped.
“Estre, you made it!”
“Hey, Estre.”
“Estre!”
As soon as she stepped into the yard, Kristin greeted her with a beaming smile, and the older folks of
the Nelson n warmly called out her name.
Smiling and exchanging pleasantries, Estre walked in to find Thomas, Grayson and her parents had
already arrived. After mingling a bit, she found a spot in the yard to sit and browse her phone.
Keith and Amber’s casual family gathering always featured chefs from top-notch hotels cooking up a
storm at home. It was a tight-knit affair, with only close friends and rtives attending – not just anyone
could snag an invite!
“What’s up, E? What game are you ying?”
“E, that looks super fun!”
Lounging in a deck chair, engrossed in her phone, Estre was soon surrounded by a group of kids.
“I’m gaming! Just wait till I lose this round, and you can have a turn,” Estre said, her fingers flying
over the screen as she yed Snake.
That was when Kristin approached. “Estre, hasn’t Jasone in yet?”
Estre nced up, “I took off early with the boss’ approval. He’s trailing behind.”
11.33
After her response, Kristin had a sinking feeling – the couple must’ve been at odds again. They’d been
getting along so well recently, hadn’t they?
Thest spat between Estre and Jason had slipped under Kristin’s radar.
With the ce bustling, Kristin refrained from prying, but she suspected Jason was at fault, likely due to
something involving that Serene girl.
Estre wanted kids and had always been easygoing. Kristin figured the trouble couldn’t
be Este’s fault.
As Kristin mulled over the potential cause of their argument, Jason strolled in, unfazed. He cast a brief
nce at Estre, swarmed by children, then headed straight inside
without a greeting.
From the sidelines, Kristin was watching. The more she observed their cold war, the more convinced
she became that they had indeed had a falling out.
As dusk fell and a chill set in outside, Estre led the kids indoors without acknowledging Jason, acting
as though he were a stranger. Jason, meanwhile, was engrossed in watching Thomas Grayson and
others y cards, his gaze never straying toward Estre. With the kids now monopolizing her phone,
Estre stood up to fetch some snacks from the kitchen. Kristin quickly followed.
“Hey,” Estre greeted her with a smile as Kristin approached.
“Estre, are you and Jason fighting?” Kristin, ever the straight shooter, went straight to the point
without beating around the bush.
Estre replied with a lightugh, “Just a little spat.”
Having long picked up on the facade of happiness, Kristin joined Estre and began helping her wash
some grapes. “Weren’t things fine just a while ago? Didn’t you say you were trying for a baby? What
happened for you two to stop talking all of a sudden?”
Before Estre could answer, Kristin continued, “I could tell you two had a tiff the moment you didn’t
come in together.” She added, “Estre, how’s the baby situation? Having a child could resolve a lot of
the tension between you. Sometimes, a child can be the peacemaker in a marriage.”
The talk of children brought Estre’s grape-washing hands to a halt. For other couples, a child
might’ve been a peacemaker, but for her and Jason, Estre wasn’t so sure. If anything, a baby
might’ve just amplified their issues.
This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.
After a pause, Estre turned to Kristin. “Mom, Jason’s been… using contraception.” Estre decided
to spill the beans about Jason, not wanting to end up holding the bag. Besides,ying out the situation
for Kristin could prepare her for the reality that she and Jason might notst much longer.
When Estre revealed that Jason was taking preventive measures, Kristin felt like her brain was about
to explode. Once she grasped the gravity of what had happened, her temper red. That no-good son
of hers was actually taking precautions behind Estre’s
back.
With a stormy expression, Kristin crushed the grapes in her hand, recalling how Jason had sweet-
talked her about having Estre get pregnant by the year’s end and making her a grandmother the
following year. It was all just a stalling tactic.
How could she have given birth, to such a brat?
1.
How could he go behind Estre’s back like that? How did Estre feel? Where did that leave her
dignity? She’s a woman, for heaven’s sake!
At that moment, Kristin didn’t need to ask whether the childbearing issue was the root of their argument
and why Estre hade to the old house alone.
Kristin tried to steady her tumultuous emotions, gearing up to console Estre and concoct some
excuse for Jason, when Estre spoke in a subdued tone, “If Jason doesn’t want to, let’s not push him.
It’s not easy for him either.”
That set Kristin off. “I don’t care about what he finds easy! I care about what makes you and me feel at
peace.”
She couldn’t fathom Jason’s casual attitude. After all, wasn’t she the daughter-inw they had finally
weed with open arms? Others like Korey would give anything to be in his
shoes!
The nerve of Jason!
After venting her frustration, Kristin turned back to Estre and probed, “Hold on, Estre, what did you
mean by what you just said? What’s this ‘if Jason doesn’t want to, let it be?”
Estre faced Kristin and exined, “Jason and I have both tried our best in this marriage. If we push it
further, I’m afraid the conclusion will be even less amicable, possibly leading to more strain.”
They had known each other for 23 years; parting on good terms seemed the best choice rather than
ending up in a situation too awkward for both families to bear.
At Estre’s words, Kristin panicked. “Estre, can’t we give it another shot? I’ll talk some sense into
Jason. Don’t be so negative. What if those predictions turn out to be true? What then?”
Kristin would never have brought up the matter of fortelling if Estre hadn’t made her stance clear.
Deep down, Kristin knew all too well that those prophetic words influenced a significant part of
Estre’s reason for marrying Jason.
11.24