Estre, with an effortless grace, said, “Go on! I wait for you.” Since she had


    apanied Jason here, she could certainly keep her cool.


    Jason went with Vincent into the room, and Estre and Serene remained in the living room. Serene,


    looking nervous, gazed at Estre for a long while before blurting out, “Estre, have you had dinner? I


    can whip something up for you.”


    Estre declined, “You don’t have to.”


    Serene insisted, “Then let me get you a ss of water.”


    Since Serene was adamant about hospitality, Estre didn’t stand on ceremony. They each settled on a


    couch. Estre wasposed and rxed, while Serene seemed ill at ease, like a child who had done


    something wrong as if this wasn’t even her own home.


    Biting her lip, Serene looked back at Estre, envying her for always seeming so unppable.


    Estre took a sip of her water, setting the cup down on the coffee table when Serene burst out, “Jason


    has been such a help to Vincent and me. If it wasn’t for Jason, I honestly don’t know what I would’ve


    done. I’m so grateful that…”


    Her voice trailed off as she caught Estre’s direct gaze. Realizing her mistake, she hurriedly stopped


    mid-sentence, exining, “Estre, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not trying to brag. I’m just really


    thankful for Jason, and it’s… awkward sitting here in silence.” Estre smiled nonchntly. Serene’s


    behavior was ambiguous. Sometimes Estre couldn’t even tell if Serene was genuinely mean or just


    putting on an act.


    As Estre looked at Serene, she calmly said, “Jason mentioned that you once saved him.” Seizing the


    topic, Serene quickly said, “Yes!” then continued, “Actually, during that big fire three years ago, Jason


    was in the room too. I just happened to be passing by and busted in. There were two firefighter masks


    inside, and one was broken. Holly gave the only working one to Jason, and that’s why he turned out


    okay. But Holly… her health wasn’t good to begin with, so…”


    Her voice faded, not finishing the thought.


    That fire had been so fierce, and for a moment, Serene had almostcked the courage to enter. But


    thinking of Jason inside, she had ultimately gone in. Holly had been conscious at the time, urging her to


    save Jason first. Serene had listened to Holly.


    The memories surged, and Serene’s demeanor softened from anxiety to mncholy.


    Serene recounted the past lightly while Estre simply observed. So it turned out that


    00:52


    Jason had been right there during Holly’s incident, and Holly had given her mask to him. Jason had


    never mentioned this to Estre. He never told her he had been there as well.


    Estre’s silence prompted Serene to ask, “Estre, didn’t you know about this?” then added, “Jason


    didn’t tell you, probably because he didn’t want to worry you.”


    With a sigh, Serene said, “Jason looks after me because I saved him and Holly. Later, we heard that


    fire was set deliberately, but somehow the case just fizzled out, and the arsonist was never caught.”


    As Serene exined, Estre’s gaze drifted toward Vincent’s room. The muffled sound of Jason


    discussing a problem with Vincent carried faintly to them, and Estre suddenly realized just how


    distant she and Jason had be. He hadn’t even shared the details


    of such a serious event with her.


    Thinking back, it was ‘that time’ on the rooftop their argument, his p, and how they had stopped


    talking altogether since then, even at Holly’s funeral. His gaze had been particrly icy as if she were


    his enemy.


    At that moment, the feeling of being an outsider returned. Serene knew all his affairs. They shared a


    life-and-death bond. With his family background and pride, Jason still managed to integrate into


    Serene’s life. Over the past couple of years, Jason had probably visited Serene’s home far more times


    than he had the Dorvold family’s.


    Estre’s gaze returned from Vincent’s room, and she spoke evenly, “Don’t worry. Jason will uncover


    the truth.”


    “Absolutely! I trust Jason,” Serene nodded vigorously, then added, “So Estre, please don’t


    misunderstand me.”


    Serene seized the moment to make amends with Estre, who simply smiled, “You’re not even on my


    radar.”


    Estre was clear on one thing. Serene wouldn’t be epted by the Nelson family. However, if Jason


    insisted on looking out for Serene in other ways, there was nothing she could do. One could manage


    another’s actions, but not their heart. Besides, men didn’t need to be managed. If you were in a man’s


    heart, he wouldn’t let you be misunderstood or upset.


    Estre’s words left Serene looking as if she wanted to say more, but ultimately, she held


    back.


    Just then, the unlocked front door swung open and Drew came bustling in. “Serene, you home?”


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    His words halted as he caught sight of Estre and he jumped, greeting her, “Ms. Estre.” Seeing the


    two women in conversation, he added, “Ms. Estre, I got held up with some family stuff. Sorry for


    making youe out here, too.”


    213


    09:52


    Estre rose smoothly from the couch. “I needed some fresh air.”


    Inside, Jason heard Drew’s voice and came out of the room. “You made it.”


    “Mr. Jason,” Drew greeted, then said, “Mr. Jason, why don’t you and Ms. Estre head back? I’ve got it


    covered here, and the doctor will be here soon.”


    With Drew’s arrival, Jason approached Estre and took her hand. “We’ll leave this to you, then.


    Estre and I will head back.”


    Vincent rushed over and clung to his arm. “Jason, are you going already? Can’t you stay and y a bit


    longer?”


    Jason nced at his watch and realized it was gettingte. “Hey, E hasn’t had her dinner yet. I better


    take her home for some grub. You hang here with Drew, alright?”


    Vincent reluctantly let go of Jason’s arm upon hearing this. “Okay, then.”


    The siblings watched Jason walk away with Estre. Their eyes were heavy with goodbyes until the


    two disappeared from sight, leaving them lingering outside.


    Drew nudged Vincent, reminding him that Jason had left. Vincent turned to Serene, a wistful note in his


    voice. “Wouldn’t it be awesome if you were Jason’s wife? Then we could all be one big happy family,


    living under the same roof.”


    Serene’s face flushed with surprise. “Vincent, what are you talking about? Jason and E are the family


    unit here.”


    She then turned to Drew, her voice tinged with embarrassment. “Sorry, Drew. My little brother doesn’t


    know what he’s saying. Don’t take it to heart.”


    ”?


    get it,” Drew said with a dismissive wave, changing the subject. “How’s your mom doing? Does she


    need to go to the hospital?”


    As the Maybach hummed to life, Estre’s mind was still echoing with Serene’s words about Jason


    being present during that devastating fire. That meant he had witnessed Holly’s death firsthand.


    Estre had been silent the whole ride, prompting Jason to steal a nce her way. “Penny for your


    thoughts?” She seemed worlds away from the person she was in the kitchen. He regretted bringing her


    along, yet he knew they couldn’t have avoided today’s confrontation. It seemed like she was once


    again building walls between them.


    Estre was like that-holding her cards close and never tipping her hand. You always knew she had a


    knife, but you could never predict when she’d decide to let it drop.