Estre watched Kristin with a resigned smile. “It’s not really up to us, is it? And honestly, I’m kind of


    fed up with the way things are going.”


    It had been two and a half years of one problem after another. The issues between her and Jason


    seemed endless, and she was truly ready to throw in the towel. If those fortune-tellers were right, then


    she might as well resign herself to a solitary life!


    Jason’s attitude forced Estre to rewrite her entire life n, including whether to have children or even


    embrace motherhood. It had be a trivial concern.


    “Estre, honey, let’s not get worked up over this. How about we make Jason pamper us for a change,


    huh?”


    Estre just chuckled without responding. The thought of Jason trying to charm her wasughable. She


    had given up on such daydreams.


    Kristin, sensing her daughter’s silence, felt uneasy. She knew all too well that when a woman’s heart


    was wounded, nothing could mend it.


    Kristin just adored Estre and only wanted her as a daughter-inw. None of the other women, be it


    Serene or those minor celebrities caught her eye. Even if Holly were still around, she wouldn’t have


    approved of her son marrying anyone else.


    Kristin was distracted and served grapes without washing them, lost in her thoughts about needing to


    talk to Autumn to persuade Estre.


    She was painfully aware that the majority of Jason and Estre’s marital issues were due to her son’s


    behavior. Take the wedding, for example. He hadn’t organized a thing, not even a wedding portrait. Any


    other girl would have walked out on him long ago.


    Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    When dinner was announced, Kristin walked over in a daze, still fuming over Jason’s birth control


    secret. She found him more disagreeable by the minute, not serving him any food and even knocking


    his utensils out of his hand. “What do you need a meal for with all your


    antics?”


    After the fourth time Jason’s utensils were knocked away, he looked up at Kristin. “Mom, what have I


    done to you?”


    “You upset me every single day, and I can barely stand the sight of you,” Kristin snapped back.


    Her anger amused the others, especially Bryce who couldn’t help but stir the pot. “My cousin is the


    worst, with a heart so dark. He shouldn’t be eating. He should be reflecting on his misdeeds.”


    Jason shot Bryce a cold nce, and Bryce quickly focused on his meal, acting as if he hadn’t spoken a


    word.


    11.34nting


    Kristin, seeing this, served Bryce more food. “You’re right, Bryce. Have some more.”


    Then, wistfully, she added, “If only your cousin had half your sense, I’d have peace of


    mind.”


    If Jason were as attentive to Estre as Bryce was, if he could dote on her as Bryce did, Kristin would


    be overjoyed. Their marriage wouldn’t have any issues, and they would be inseparable.


    Bryce, basking in the praise, then served Estre some food. “Estre, have a little more. I’ll help you


    cut the caketer.”


    “See, Bryce knows how to treat someone right, Kristin said, her actions speaking louder than her


    disappointment in Jason.


    Jason then realized that Kristin had a hunch about Jason’s secret and was taking out her frustration on


    him.


    After the lively dinner, it was time to sing the birthday song for the family matriarch, Amber, and make a


    wish.


    “Grandma, any wish you make today is bound toe true,” Jason’s cousin whispered to Amber.


    Even at 82, Amber was sharp and robust. Scanning the room, she announced her wish. “My first wish


    is for Jason and Estre to bless me with a great-grandson soon and to see the Nelson family thriving.”


    The room erupted with encouragement for Jason and Estre, but Kristin’s heart ached. If they were


    heading for divorce instead of having children, it might just break Amber’s heart.


    “Why so quiet today? You don’t seem happy,” Bryce asked Kristin, noticing her mood.


    Kristin forced a smile. “I’ve got a bit of a headache, feeling a bit off. Go ahead and eat a bit more,


    Bryce.”


    “Sure, I’ll eat your share, too,” Bryce replied cheerfully.


    After Amber made her wish, the cousin started cutting the cake. Bryce picked out a slice of chocte


    cake for Estre, and Kristin sighed, wishing her son had the same initiative. Turning to Jason, she saw


    him stepping outside to take a phone call instead of joining the celebration. Frustrated, Kristin stormed


    over and gave him a piece of her mind.


    Jason blocked her with his arm. “Mom, what’s the problem?”


    “What’s the problem?” Kristin seethed. “Have you forgotten what you promised? That day, at the old


    house, did you make those vows just to y us for fools? Jason, how can you be so heartless? Are


    you on contraception without telling Estre? Estre married you in


    273


    good faith. If you weren’t ready for this marriage, you shouldn’t have agreed to it!”


    Kristin thought of Jason’s scandals, like how he kept Serene as his secretary. Kristin felt he was unfair


    to Estre. How did she end up with a son who just couldn’t do right by his


    wife?


    If she were Estre, she’d probably be fuming mad by now, pushing up daisies with a tombstone so


    overgrown it’d be the talk of the graveyard.


    When Kristinid into him, Jason straightened his shirt and calmly retorted, “Estre’s young, you


    know, and she’s all in on her career right now. Kids? We can put that conversation on ice for a couple


    of years.”


    “Put it on ice for a couple of years?” Kristin blew her top. “You’re just biding your time until you can file


    for divorce next year! Don’t think you can y your little games, and nobody will catch on.”


    The deadline Landon had set for their trial period wasing up in February, and after that, Jason


    could legally initiate a divorce.


    The thought that Kristin had pegged him as such a guy irked Jason. He wasn’t pleased, not one bit.