Estre leaned her elbow on the car window, cradling her face in her hand, and replied to Jason with a


    lack of energy, “Just thinking about nothing.”


    There was still a chasm between her and Jason, an invisible wall that no amount of glossing over the


    ufortable truths could mask. They could never truly return to the way things were before.


    Jason had never brought up the past, and Estre didn’t want to either. Besides, bringing up Jason’s


    former me-especially one who had passed away-wasn’t the wisest move she could make. It would


    only diminish her worth in his eyes and elevate Holly’s importance in his heart, nudging him back into


    the arms of bygone memories.


    “I shouldn’t have brought you here,” Jason muttered.


    Estre looked at him with a yful smile. “So, you don’t want me to be part of your life?”


    “You know that’s not what I mean,” Jason replied.


    Estre just smiled and didn’t say anything more.


    Before long, they were back at home. Marie greeted them with her usual cheerfulness, saying, “You’re


    back! Dinner is ready. Mr. Jason just made some ribs that are out of this world-I tried them myself!”


    Suppressing a yawn, Estre responded, “Marie, I’m not hungry. You guys go ahead and


    eat.”


    Marie wiped her hands on her apron, puzzled. “What’s the matter? How can a little outing’ take away


    your appetite?”


    “We’ll eatter,” Jason said.


    Estre was clearly upset, and Jason noticed it. But then, if she had taken him to Korey’s ce, he


    wouldn’t be thrilled either.


    Retreating to their bedroom, Estre grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom. As she


    sshed water on her face, an inexplicable sense of mncholy washed over her. When she came out


    of the shower, Jason put aside the case file he was reading and looked at her. “Come on, try to eat


    something.”


    “I’m not hungry,” Estre said, toweling her hair. Then, cing her hand on her stomach, she teased,


    “Besides, who knows if I’m pregnant? You haven’t been carefultely, have you?”


    Estre had always had a way with words, speaking nonsense when she didn’t feel like talking


    seriously.


    09-527


    Jason was momentarily stunned by her words, his heart leaping into his throat. “We should get you


    checked out at the hospital tomorrow,” he said uncertainly.


    Seeing his serious reaction, Estre couldn’t help but burst intoughter. “I was just joking, and you


    took it seriously.” Though, judging by Jason’s reaction, he probably hadn’t been practicing safe sex


    recently.


    Jason’s expression shifted instantly, and he pulled her into a kiss as if to silence her teasing lips.


    Sometimes, he really did wish he could sew her mouth shut.


    After a passionate kiss, Estre keptughing, remembering Jason’s earlier response.


    He stroked her cheek, half-serious, half-yful “Come on, try the ribs, at least. And aren’t you going to


    thank me for today?”


    Jason had indeed orchestrated the vandalism of Nick’s car. If it weren’t for Estre’s insistence on not


    meddling with her work, he would have taken care of the matter long ago without waiting for thew to


    take its course.


    With those words hanging in the air, Estre descended the stairs with him despite herck of appetite.


    She managed a few bites of Jason’s barbecue ribs, which were, to his credit, delicious.


    After dinner, Estre returned upstairs to work overtime. Initially, she hadn’t nned to workte, but


    after visiting Serene’s house, she wasn’t in the mood to keep Jason


    She felt Jason nudge her from behind and realized that she wasn’t in the mood for romance. After a


    work call, he retreated to his study. By the time he finished and returned to the bedroom, Estre was


    already asleep on the bed.


    Sitting at the edge of the bed, Jason realized there was still a barrier between them. That was why


    Estre, even in her displeasure, hadn’t talked to him about her concerns tonight. After watching her


    sleep for a while, Drew called. Jason took the phone to the adjacent study. Drew reported on Serene’s


    situation and mentioned, “By the way, Mr. Jason. Serene said she talked with Ms. Estre about the fire


    three years ago. She mentioned saving you and Ms. Holly.”


    Jason’s expression darkened ever so slightly at Drew’s report, but he ended the call with a nonchnt


    acknowledgment. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Jason was haunted by memories of the fire


    and Holly’s words that day. He didn’t know how long he stood there before returning to his desk.


    He opened a secret file on hisputer, revealing evidence that it was Estre who had tampered with


    the evidence and had set the fire.


    Jason had been in denial when he first found the evidence, but subsequent investigations


    211


    ??


    confirmed the harsh reality. Estre had started the fire that killed Holly.


    Jason closed the video screen and leaned his head back, letting it rest on the chair. The decision to


    agree to this arranged marriage was indeed a form of revenge against her, giving her what she wanted


    but denying her what she truly desired.


    Memories flooded back, weighing heavily on Jason’s heart. After all, it was due to that devastating fire


    that Holly lost her life. He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the thought that if the Ledford family ever


    found out and the truth ever surfaced…


    He couldn’t bear to think any further.


    Jason raised his right hand and rubbed his temple. It was clear to him that he and Estre could never


    go back to how things used to be.


    The next morning, Jason woke up to find Estre already gone from their bed.


    Marie informed him, “Mr. Jason, Ms. Estre left about half an hour ago. She said you were sleeping


    soundly, and she didn’t want to wake you.”


    With a curt nod, Jason had breakfast at home before heading to the office.


    Meanwhile, Estre clocked in at thew firm and headed straight to Nick’s neighborhood


    to look for clues.


    When she asked a few neighbors on Nick’s floor about the situation, they hurriedly tried to close their


    doors, iming they knew nothing about the man in 302, especially regarding any domestic abuse.


    The moment Estre heard that response, rm bells rang in her head. She hadn’t even broached the


    subject of domestic abuse, yet the neighbors were preemptively shutting it down. It was clear they’d


    heard themotion, possibly even cries for help. But there was a line she knew she couldn’t cross. If


    they were unwilling to speak, she couldn’t force


    This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    them.


    When Estre knocked on the door across from Nick’s, it swung open to reveal an olddy. With


    Estre having visited the neighborhood multiple times, she figured Estre was the detective in


    charge. With a helpless sigh, she said, “Look, we all just want to live our lives in peace. We don’t go


    sticking our noses in other folks’ business. You might want to find another way to handle this.”


    After expressing her resignation, she quickly closed the door.


    Standing at the doorstep, Estre pieced it together. Nick must’ve warned everyone to mind their own


    business, which is why no one dared to speak up.


    With hands buried in her trouser pockets, Estre headed downstairs. Gazing up at Nick’s balcony, a


    vivid scene invaded her thoughts. She imagined Nick unleashing his rage on


    Lexi, his fists and feet flying, and even using a chair as a weapon against her.


    09:52


    Lexi, desperately fleeing from the living room to the balcony, found herself with her back against the


    railing, cornered with nowhere to go. She could almost hear Nick’s menacing voice as he cornered her.


    “Run, go on, try to run from me again?”