Jason shoved his hands deep into his jeans pockets, gazing down at her before he uttered, “Who said
I’m waiting until next year to get a divorce?”
Oh, the nerve! Kristin chuckled in disbelief, “Do you really need to tell me that yourself? And don’t
pretend, Jason. Can you honestly say you never mentioned kicking poor Estre to the curb when the
timees? You’ve really grown some backbone! Now you’re bold enough to do the deed but not to
own it, huh?”
The things Jason had spat out during his fights with Estre were never directly ryed to Kristin, but
the household staff were all too eager to report every detail they overheard.
Noticing Jason’s mood darken, Kristin hastened to clear any misunderstanding on Estre’s behalf,
“With so many eyes and ears at home, Estre didn’t need to breathe a word of it to me.”
Jason remained silent. He knew Estre was too proud toin to his mother about the harsh
words he’d thrown at her. All she wanted was a child, nothing more.
Seeing his silence, Kristin pushed further with a triumphant air, “Lost for words now, are we?”
Her persistence seemed to weigh on Jason. His eyes narrowed as he said, “Mom, aren’t you worried
that Estre only wants a child? That she might take the kid and demand a divorce?”
Jason’s blunt question left Kristin speechless. It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered the possibility, but
having it thrown in her face like this made her realize that he wasn’t entirely without reason. It seemed
his reluctance to get Estre pregnant was his way of clinging to their marriage out of fear she would
leave him once she had the baby.
After staring at Jason for a while, Kristin suggested, “Then you should treat Estre better, show her
some warmth. She’s always so generous with her smiles around you and never holding a grudge.”
Jason snorted, hands still in his pockets, “She’s always generous with her smiles to everyone.”
Kristin had no words. Just moments ago, Kristin was full of confidence, but now she suddenly felt the
conversation was going nowhere.
Usually, she was quick-witted, especially when schooling Jason. Why did he manage to leave her at a
loss for words?.
Furrowing her brows in concern, Kristin truly worried about the possibility of a future divorce for the
couple.
They had known each other for so many years. Why couldn’t they just get along?
11:34
After a thoughtful silence, Kristin proposed, “Even so, you can’t keep giving Estre the cold shoulder.
She’s not just anyone. She’s your wife.”
Pausing, a sudden idea seemed to strike her, and her eyes widened, “Why don’t you have Estre sign
a prenup, promising she won’t ask for a divorce after having a child?”
Jason looked down at Kristin but said nothing.
Seeing him just staring, she continued with a half-hearted smile, “I guess that wouldn’t be right either,
huh? It does seem pretty distrustful, making it seem like there’s no trust between you two.”
She had never contemted the thought of Jason and Estre actually getting divorced. She hoped
that when things cooled down, she’d see her son give Estre the grand wedding she deserved,
making up for the simple marriage certificate ceremony they had
before.
After her spiel, Jason gave her a smile, “Mom, you usually don’t seem all that bright, but today, your IQ
is through the roof. Not a bad idea.”
It wasn’t like he hadn’t had Estre sign agreements before. What difference would another make?
Kristin, relieved by his praise, clutched her chest and exhaled, “So the idea holds water, huh! If it’s
solid, then you and Estre better sign it quickly! Get that paperwork done and start working on having
kids.”
She added as an afterthought, “But don’t tell Estre this was my idea.” She couldn’t afford to upset
Estre. If anyone was to take the me, it would be her son.
Jason rolled his eyes skyward at Kristin’s anxious demeanor. Like mother, like son – Bryce was no
different, selling out their own kin cleaner than anyone else.
and
Kristin patted his arm. “Alright, let’s go inside for some cake.”
They entered the house to find Estre and Bryce yfully wrestling, their faces smeared with frosting.
Jason felt aplicated pang in his chest. His wife seemed to get along with everyone in the Nelson
family except him.
As the partygoersughed and indulged in cake, Kristin took the opportunity to follow Estre out to the
yard under the pretext of dodging the children’s frosting-smearing
antics.
Estre called out when she saw Kristin emerge.
Kristin wiped her face, remarking, “You missed a spot.”
Then, changing the subject, she ventured, “Estre, you wouldn’t think of divorcing Jason after having
a child, would you?”
Without needing to ask, Estre knew Kristin had juste from talking to Jason, and of
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course, Jason had deflected the issue onto her. After a long look at Kristin, Estre replied with augh,
“Whatever happens between us is always up to him.”
She did have that intention, but she couldn’t possibly admit it! It was one thing to confront Jason but
entirely another to confess to Kristin.
Kristin seemed satisfied. “As long as you don’t have that idea, that’s good. You know, it’s not easy for
two people toe together in this big world, especially after knowing each other for so many years.”
“Sure,” Estre agreed. She thought it was time for a change after so many years.
Their conversation in the yard continued as the birthday party came to a close. Guests bid farewell to
the hosts, Keith and Amber, and left for their homes.
Jason and Estre said their goodbyes to the old couple, who made them promise to work on their
rtionship and to plete their mission’ soon. They nodded and agreed, but as soon as they left the
house, they parted ways, one turning left, the other right.
Jason’s hands rested casually on the steering wheel as he followed Estre’s car. The thought of the
preemptive strike she hadunched with his mother soured his mood. It seemed she truly had the idea
in her head – to get a divorce.
Jason’s mood was as dark as a brewing storm, rolling in from the ocean and threatening to sweep
everything in its path.
After a drive thatsted a touch over twenty minutes, their vehicles pulled up to Sandalwood Oasis.
Estre stepped out first, followed shortly by Jason. They entered the house one after the other. Marie,
ever the cheerful soul, greeted them with a beaming smile, “Mr. Jason, Ms. Estre, you’re back! I bet
the old manor was all hustle and bustle
tonight!”
“Quite lively,” Estre replied.
Jason remained silent.
After a brief exchange with Marie downstairs, Estre ascended the stairs. Opening her. room door,
she found Jason’s gaze inadvertently meeting hers. Casting him a fleeting nce, she shrugged off her
coat and hung it neatly on the rack.
Breaking the silence, Jason asked with a hint of detachment, “Why didn’t you wait for me this
afternoon?”
Estre, with her back to him, replied nonchntly, “I just went ahead, nothing to wait for.” She half-
expected him to confront her about possibly tattling on Kristin, but he didn’t bring
it up.
Jason watched her back, his mind teetering on the edge of speech, yet each time, he found himself
reeling the words back in, unspoken.
Later, when Estre emerged from the bathroom, refreshed from her shower, Jason was
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no longer in the room.
She didn’t reach for her phone or seek him out. Instead, she simply dried her hair and slipped into bed,
surrendering to sleep.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In the dead of night, a series of thunderous roars ripped through the silence, jolting almost the entire
city awake. Estre was no exception, startled from her slumber.
As her eyes snapped open, a sh of lightning and a st of thunder illuminated the room, and there,
in the stark brightness, she caught sight of a pair of deep, intense eyes staring intently at her from just
an arm’s length away.
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