[Jason, let’s meet up today.] The message came from Holly, whose ount had been dormant for


    years.


    Staring at the message for a long time, Jason turned his gaze towards Estre, who was still half-


    asleep. He pulled the nket up to cover her shoulders, then replied to Holly’s message before getting


    out of bed.


    As Jason got dressed and ready, Estre opened her eyes, her voice groggy, “Up so early?” “Yeah, got


    a bit of a thing,” Jason said, looking down at her.


    Estre nodded, grabbing the pillow next to her and hugging it to her chest, not pressing him on what


    the matter was.


    The door gently closed behind him, and Estre’s eyes, which had been closed, slowly opened a little


    wider. Everything seemed to proceed just as she expected.


    Jason arrived at the coffee shop they’d agreed on, and Holly was already there. When she saw him,


    she stood up and greeted him with a gentle, “Jason, how have you been?”


    Her voice and demeanor carried a sense of recovering from a serious illness, and her spirit still wasn’t


    very good.


    “Good,” Jason sat down opposite her, and Holly ordered him an Americano.


    A few momentster, when the server brought over the coffee, Holly watched Jason with a faint smile


    and said, “My sudden reappearance yesterday must have rattled you all, didn’t it?”


    When Jason didn’t respond, Holly took a sip of her coffee, then set down the cup gently and spoke


    deliberately, “The surgery back then wasn’t aplete failure. I just couldn’ ept that version of


    myself. I couldn’t ept being unable to stand, and the scars or my face.”


    “I didn’t know how to face everyone, especially you. Your folks were so fond of Estre and the idea of


    you two together. I felt that maybe it would be for the best for everyone was just gone. My family didn’t


    know what to do with me, so they went along with that charade.”


    “Jason, I never meant to deceive anyone.” After a pause, Holly’s voice softened as she continued, “I’ve


    come back now because my health is gradually improving, and those scars have faded. That gave me


    the courage to return.”


    She paused, then asked, “Jason, have you uncovered the truth about that fire all those years ago?”


    At the mention of the fire’s truth, Jason’s eyes involuntarily narrowed.


    Their eyes met, and Holly said, “With your capabilities, you must have figured it out by now, right? I just


    never heard any fuss about it. Could it be that you have…”


    She trailed off into silence.


    Jason just stared at her, not saying a word. Even though Holly hadn’t said it, he knew she must have


    learned the truth.


    After a long silence, Holly gave a rueful smile, I almost lost my life. I’ve spent these years in the


    hospital. My future, with this body…” She stopped, then changed the subject, “But if you’d rather not


    dredge up the past, then let’s leave it. After all, you were a victim too.”


    Jason didn’t pick up where Holly left off, instead asking, “What are your ns for the future?”


    “Now, I’m working at my uncle’spany. As for my health, I’ll just take it slow.” Holly replied softly.


    They sat a while longer, and then Holly mentioned feeling cold and wanting to step outside into the sun.


    Jason agreed to go with her.


    The coffee shop Holly had chosen, on the outskirts of Ravenwood, was a charming garden café that


    offered a nice selection of coffees, pastries, and a walking garden. Despite it being December, the


    weather was unusually clear, and the garden flowers were in full bloom.


    Walking side by side in the garden, Holly said at an unhurried pace, “I’m still not fully recovered. My


    respiratory function is a bit weak, so I don’t get around much. When I get tired, Reba pushes me in


    the wheelchair.”


    Holly’s personal attendant Reba was the girl who drove the Maserati.


    “The medical care back home has improved a lot, and you’ll be back on your feet soon.


    “Yeah,” Holly replied, then smoothly shifted the topic, “You still couldn’t go against your family’s wishes


    and ended up with Estre.”


    Jason just pocketed his hands and kept silent.


    Meanwhile, at Sandalwood Oasis.


    Estre had just woken up from a long sleep and came downstairs when Bryce stormed i with


    urgency, “Estre.”


    Yawning, Estre asked, “What brings you here so early?”


    Bryce retorted, “It’s almost noon.”


    Before Estre could speak, Bryce quickly approached her, his voice filled with indignation, “Estre, do


    you know what I just saw? I must report this matter to you.”


    Estre looked at Bryce, her face still sleepy as he pulled out a stack of photos from his pocket, “Jason


    is out of line. Holly just reappeared yesterday, and he couldn’t wait to meet up with her today. Where


    does that leave you, his wife? He’s chasing after Holly like this, how are you supposed to hold your


    head up in the future?”


    Bryce was fuming as he handed the photos to Estre. They showed Jason and Holly having coffee,


    walking side by side in the garden. Estre’s face showed little emotion, asposed as before. It was


    as if this turn of events was anything but sudden.


    This morning, when Jason mentioned he was going out to take care of something, Estre actually


    already had a feeling about it.


    After looking at the photos, Estre turned to Bryce, “You’ve gone through a lot of trouble this morning.”


    Bryce replied, “It’s no trouble. I just happened toe across them.”


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Estre chuckled. She couldn’t quite believe Bryce’s im of coincidence. More likely, he’d been


    shadowing Jason since the school reunion ended, looking to catch him in the act.


    Estre turned to Bryce and smiled. She didn’t expose him; after all, Bryce just didn’t want her to be


    kept in the dark.


    Bryce caught Estre’s silent smile and sensed the turmoil hidden beneath her calm exterior. cing a


    comforting hand on her shoulder, he said, “Estre, if something’s eating at you, just spill it. Don’t bottle


    it all up inside.”


    “And what’s a guy, anyway? A dime a dozen, right?” he added. “Frankly, I think you should cut ties with


    Jason sooner rather thanter. Get a clean break, avoid the heartache.”


    When there was only one Serene in the past, Bryce had already been unable to swal his anger. Now,


    with Holly’s unexpected and dramatic return from the shadows, Bry was fuming. The sight of Holly


    yesterday had left him feeling like a storm cloud had settled over him, casting a shadow on his every


    mood.


    Today, with Jason off to meet Holly, Bryce wished he could teleport the whole regist office to Estre’s


    doorstep, urging her to finalize the divorce with Jason on the spot.


    As for Jason’s love life? Bryce couldn’t care less. Bryce’s loyaltyy firmly with Estree what may.