Lexi’s face flushed with effort as she pushed against his hands, but Nick’s resolve was as cold as steel.


    Memories of Piper danced in his mind, a life with her that seemed so possible if Lexi were out of the


    picture. No messy divorce, no scandal, and the bonus of ying the grieving widower to garner Piper’s


    sympathy. So, with calcted cruelty, he tightened his grip around Lexi’s neck and, in one swift


    movement, sent her tumbling over the balcony rail.


    Estre’s mind painted the grim scene as a young boy’s voice suddenly broke her reverie. “Hey,dy,


    are you digging into the whole 302 incident?”


    Startled, Estre looked down to see a boy of maybe nine, mask-d, staring up at her with wide,


    earnest eyes. Kneeling before the boy, she gently tousled his hair. “Yeah, kiddo. I’m awyer working


    on a case for thedy who lived in 302.”


    The boy, absorbing her words, inquired further, “So you’re helping thedy from 302, right?”


    “That’s right, little man. I’m her attorney, trying to uncover the truth for her family.”


    Encouraged, the boy fished out a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Estre. “Here, take this.


    It might really help you. But please, don’t tell anyone I gave it to you, okay?”


    Estre clutched the USB drive, her surprise evident. This could be the breakthrough she needed.


    The boy, noting her astonishment, assured her, “It’ll definitely help thedy from 302. You have to catch


    the bad guy. I’ve gotta jet,” he said, taking off before Estre could react.


    As the boy’s figure disappeared into the distance, Estre pocketed the drive without chasing after him.


    This evidence was too crucial to risk any additional attention that could endanger the boy.


    Once she brought Nick to justice, she’d have all the time in the world to thank the mysterious helper.


    Estre was back at her office. The phone rang as soon as she settled at her desk. It was Bryce.


    “Estre, I’ve got the dirt you asked for. And, damn, it’s downright monstrous.”


    “Shoot it over to my email,” she replied, her voice a mixture of anticipation and dread.


    Soon after, Bryce’s findings arrived in her inbox, turning her pale as she read them. Clutching the


    damning evidence, she headed straight to the prosecutor’s office.


    As she drove back from the courthouse, gripping the steering wheel, Estre was haunted by Lexi’s


    tragic end and Nick’s deceit. As the traffic light turned green and she began to move forward, a white


    Maserati zoomed by. A nce at the passenger’s profile left her


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    stunned.


    It was her!


    But how could it be? She reasoned it must’ve been a lookalike, for the world couldn’t contain such an


    uncanny doppelg?nger.


    That evening, as the office emptied, Estre continued to work overtime. The image of the afternoon’s


    mysterious silhouette flickered in her mind alongside the memory of the fire Serene had mentioned.


    As the world outside plunged into darkness, and Estre was stretching, ready to leave for the night,


    someone rapped on her desk. She looked up to see a familiar face and smiled. “What brings you


    here?”


    Then, with a yful grin, she added, “If you’re here to catch me red-handed, you’re out of luck.”


    Jason yfully pinched her cheek. “Not up for a little hide-and-seek this time?” He was teasing her,


    recalling the time she had hidden Bryce from him, yfully searching the entire ce as if it were a


    game.


    “Keep dreaming,” Estre quipped, surprised Jason hade to her office.


    Descending in the elevator with Jason, she noticed missed calls on her phone. Work often


    made her oblivious to the world.


    They got to their old favorite diner. The nostalgia was palpable as they hadn’t dined alone like this in


    ages. The server brought out the fish, Estre’s favorite dish. However, it now turned her stomach in


    knots. Just a whiff of it, and she felt a wave of nausea.


    Jason, concerned at her pallor and her hand clutching her chest, asked, “Feeling okay?”


    She nced at him and took a sip of her juice. “Probably just a stomach bug. Ate something off at


    lunch.”


    He poured her a bowl of soup, and as she sipped on the savory soup, the queasiness subsided. But


    when she tried the fish again, the nausea returned full force. By the end the meal, she was miserable.


    On the way home, she joked weakly, “Jason, my body’s having a pretty strong reaction to


    you.”


    His response was azy nce. Not amused, Jason squeezed her chin. “No sweet talk everes out


    of that mouth of yours, does it? Let’s get you a thorough check-up tomorrow, alright? Don’t need you


    falling ill at such a young age.”


    Estre smiled wryly. Without his reminder, she’d almost forgotten her youth. Burdened by a serious job


    and a marriage to Jason that made her feel decades older, she sometimes felt like she was already


    living the life of a much older woman.


    00.50


    In hardly any time at all, the pair made their way back home, and as they did, Estre felt that


    nauseating sensation wash over her once more, even more forcefully than when they were having


    dinner. As soon as they stepped through the front door, Estre clutched her mouth and bolted for the


    bathroom.