Jason had his hands firmly on the steering wheel when Estre’s question came through, prompting


    him to steal a nce her way. “If Holly were still here, I would make the same choice, to be with you,”


    he said with unwavering certainty.


    Estre simply watched him, the corners of her mouth curling into a knowing smile. She had felt a tad


    juvenile for asking such a hypothetical question. Life wasn’t a bed of


    what-ifs.


    As Jason met her gaze once more, Estre offered him a quick smile before turning her attention back


    to the road ahead. The mysterious Maserati she had encountered twice now lingered in her thoughts.


    Surely Bryce had some leads by now.


    When they arrived home, Marie greeted them with the warmth of a spring breeze. “Mr. Jason, Ms.


    Estre, wee back.” Her joy was palpable, akin to a mother weing her children home, even


    though her recent blunder about Estre’s pregnancy had left her


    a bit embarrassed.


    After exchanging pleasantries with Marie, the couple sat down to a home-cooked meal. Estre had


    been in good spirits during the drive, but the sight of fish being served made her uneasy, a frown


    creasing her forehead. Once fond of seafood, she now found the


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    smell unbearable.


    Noticing her difort, Jason served her a bowl of consommé. “Not feeling well?” he inquired gently.


    Clearing her throat, Estre took a sip of water “My stomach’s been a bit off,” she


    admitted.


    Jason ced the bowl before her and signaled to Marie to take the fish away.


    Marie couldn’t help but murmur to herself as she carried the fish back to the kitchen. “It’s so odd. She


    used to love fish, and now it’s as if she can’t stand the smell of it. She’s been going to bed earlier too.


    These are all tell-tale signs of early pregnancy. I’ve raised two kids of my own and cared for expectant


    mothers before joining the Nelson family-l should know.” With a puzzled look, Marie decided to prepare


    aforting soup for Estre the next day.


    After dinner, Estre took a quick shower and flopped onto the bed, utterly spent. With Nick’s case


    wrapped up, she could finally rest easy.


    Jason approached the bed, his hand gently kneading the tension at the back of her neck. “Something


    on your mind?” he asked softly.


    Estre, lounging on her side, pondered the day’s events. “Just the case from today. Human nature is


    quiteplex. Luckily we had Bryce and that brave kid who stepped up. Otherwise, it would’ve


    dragged on.”


    08:56


    “I’ll visit that kid with Zoey tomorrow,” she added.


    But as soon as Bryce’s name slipped from her lips, Jason’s mood visibly darkened, his massaging


    hand retracting.


    “What did you stop?” Estre teased, looking up at him.


    Jason stood abruptly, his face a mask of cold indifference. “Since you’re so close to Bryce, ask him to


    do it.


    Herughter broke the tension as she yfully nudged his thigh with her foot. “Jealous, are we?”


    Jason brushed her foot aside. “Feet off.” He was irked that, despite his offer to help with evidence for


    the case, she turned to Bryce instead. What ce did he hold as her husband if she’d rather rely on


    someone else?


    Estre, sensing his intent to leave, quickly blocked him. “Let’s not blow this out of proportion. Besides,


    Bryce got nothing to do, and he’s good withputers. I’m just making the best use of resources,


    Jason scoffed, tapped her forehead with a finger, then lightly pushed her back onto the


    bed.


    Estre gently copsed onto the bed, noticing that her bedside ss of water was empty, With a


    careless swipe, she knocked the ss onto the floor before gasping, “Jason, did you really have to hit


    me that hard? You’ve dislocated my arm!”


    Prompted by the noise, Jason paled immediately and rushed towards Estre. He gently helped her up


    from the bed and objected, “I didn’t use any force.” Honestly, he hadn’t. He’d merely tickled her with his


    finger.


    Sporing her right arm limply, Estre red at him and snapped, “Don’t you know I’ve b pampered all


    my life?” She then winced while clutching her right arm, “It hurts. Don’t to me.”


    As Estre grimaced in pain, Jason found himself filled with worry. Holding her arm gently, he asked


    “Does it hurt when I touch it?” Before she could respond, he swiftly lifted her off the bed and proposed,


    “My grandad’s friend is a skilled bone setter. Let me take you to see him.”


    Beads of sweat formed on Jason’s forehead as tension gnawed at him. Much to his surprise, Estre


    burst intoughter. She flung her arms around his neck and smirked, “I was just messing with you.”


    Estre’s mirth was infectious, and her arms remained around his neck. After watching her for a


    moment with a flicker of annoyance mixed with relief in his eyes, Jason promptly dropped her back


    onto the bed.


    Estre, taken aback, instinctively clutched her belly, then kicked out at Jason. “If you hurt


    08:56


    me and something happens, you’ll be the one with regrets.”


    Returning to the matter at hand, she attempted to rise from the bed, but Jason. intercepted her,


    pointing out the broken ss on the floor. He then proceeded to clean up the mess with a broom and


    dustpan.


    Watching Jason sweep up the shards, Estre realized how much he had changed over the years.


    Once a man who wouldn’t lift a finger, he was now tending to household chores and even cooking the


    asional meál a fact that would surely surprise Kristin.


    Jason had finished picking up the shattered ss on the floor, and without a word, he flopped down


    next to Estre. He didn’t so much as nce her way, clearly still peeved that Estre had gone to


    Bryce for help instead of him.


    Estre rolled over and perched herself in his arms, but Jason’s voice was frosty, “Get off.” She already


    had Bryce, what did she need him for?


    “But weren’t you all worried about me just a moment ago?” Estre asked.


    “Get off,” he repeated, his expression unchanging.


    Seeing that Jason was still putting up a cold front and ignoring her, Estre distanced herself from him


    and spoke. “Fine, if you won’t cuddle with me, I’ll sleep by myself.”


    With that, shey down beside him, wrapping herself in a nket and deliberately turning


    her back to him.


    Jason watched her give him the cold shoulder and felt a re of irritation. Things were different in the


    past. Whenever he was upset, she’d always make the effort to soothe him. But now, after only a few


    attempts, she stopped bothering to try.


    Damn it, he thought, it was just like they said: once you’ve got what you want, the chase is


    over.


    Jason held a book in his hands, but he couldn’t seem to turn the pages. He waited, ho Estre would


    make a move, but she remained still. Gradually, his foot began to inch toward her side of the bed,


    almost of its own ord.