hapter 171
Estre couldn’t help but let out a sardonicugh as she set aside her book and turned to Jason, her
eyes alight with a mocking glint. “Jason, since when do you have any right to ask my dad to drop a
project?”
Before Jason could muster a response, Estre continued, her voice dripping with indifference, “And
what exactly does Holly’stest job have to do with the Dorvold family?”
Her casual dismissal left Jason speechless, his mouth opening and closing without a sound.
As they locked eyes, Estre calmly removed Jason’s hand from her arm, slid out of bed, and walked
over to her desk. She picked up the two contracts and turned back to Jason. “Since my father promised
you the project, then even if it sticks in my throat, I’ll swallow it. Get the paperwork done tomorrow.
From here on out, let’s go our separate ways and never cross paths again.”
Estre felt she was using all herposure and strength by not demanding the project back or
lashing out at him. She considered the project a payback for the baby in her belly, and after this, she
owed him nothing. Anything rted to Estre would have nothing to do with Jason. Whether it was
Holly or Serene, he could keep up his entanglements with whoever he pleased.
Jason’s temper red as he saw Estre with the agreement. “Estre, have you lost your mind? Don’t
think you can threaten me with a divorce.”
She had lost her mind? Estre’s amusement turned to anger at the usation. She shot back with a
sharpugh, “Me? Losing my mind? Jason, you’ve really lost all shame.” Then she added, “What if I am
threatening you? There’s no point in pretending here. Let’s just get this over with and move on with our
lives.”
She knew all too well that the Silverbrook project was just the beginning. It wasn’t about not being able
to beat Holly and Innovative Solutions Inc.; it wasughable to go-to such lengths for a man who didn’t
have a ce for her in his heart.
Serene or Holly, it seemed anyone mattered more to Jason than she did. But why should she, or any
woman, hang her hopes on one man when the world was so vast? She -refused to y that game any
longer. She had her pride, and she wouldn’t beg Jason to
love her or stay with her, making their marriage seem like a debt she owed him.
Estre’s mocking tone and her insistence on a divorce left Jason looking particrly sour. He stared at
her for a moment before he said, “Forget about the divorce, Estre. It’s not happening.”
Estre chuckled, “Afraid of taking the me? Worried about what people will say? Don’t worry, I’ll
handle it. You don’t need to…”
14:37
She was cut off as Jason abruptly grabbed her face. “Have you be addicted to causing scenes,
Estre?”
Unable to contain her fury any longer, Estre retorted, “Jason, we’ve known each other for years. Let’s
part on good terms and save some dignity for one another.”
“What dignity do you want? Me asking the Dorvold family to voluntarily step back is already giving you
the utmost dignity. Otherwise, do you think your dad’spany would have had a chance if I had
stepped in?” Jason spat out.
His outburst left Estre utterly furious, realizing that in his mind, he felt she should be grateful that he
hadn’t destroyed the Dorvold family.
Suppressing her anger, Estre’ said with a sneer, “So, Jason, are you nning to go to war with my
family over Holly?”
“Fine.” she eximed, pushing his hand away. Let’s see who’s more capable.”
With that, Estre called her father Cole, her voice calm. “Dad, don’t pull out of the Silverbrook project.
I’ll take it on.
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Cole said, “Alright, Estre. Whatever decision
you make, I’m behind you.” If his daughter couldn’t stomach the situation, they wouldn’t either. If things
got ugly, so be it. Pride was at stake.
Seeing Estre stir up trouble again, Jason was beyond frustrated. He shoved his hands in his pockets
and turned to gaze out the floor-to-ceiling window.
Estre, noticing his distraction, went to the closet and grabbed a set of clothes for going out. As she
began to change, Jason approached and grabbed her wrist. “Can’t you stop throwing a tantrum?”
Estre, pped his face in retaliation, her anger boiling over. “Get out, Jason
me.”
Jason’s cheek burned from the p, his grip tightening on her arm as he pulled
Refusing to yield, Estre said, “I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have provoked you, agr this marriage, or
been with you. Is that okay? Can I now make amends for you? Onc we’re divorced, you can be with
whoever you want, openly and freely.”
Jason looked down at her and swallowed hard. “Estre, all this over a single project?”
Estre couldn’t contain her scorn. “Just a project? Yes, I’m divorcing you over a project. What else do
you think you are to me, more important than money and benefits?”
“Jason, I’ve seen shameless people, but never someone as shameless as you. Nearly three years
married, and what have you given me? What benefits have my family taken from you? What gives you
the right to demand my father give up the project?
“If thepany was under my wing, I wouldn’t mind going toe-to-toe with you, but my
14:37
ch
dad? He’s your elder, your father-inw. How do you have the nerve to ask him to step aside for Holly?
Where do you think that leaves me, and where does that put my dad and the Dorvold family?
“You want to treat Holly well, I have no beef with that, but you’ve got no right to mess with my family’s
legacy.”
When Jason dropped that bombshell about there was no hope for Dorvold Group if he had interfered,
Estre felt utterly done with the whole charade. Divorce seemed like the only option left-she couldn’t
even bring herself to be angry anymore.
Jason was about to reply when Estre cut back in, “Jason, being with you is downright exhausting, it’s
like running a marathon for the heart and mind. We’ve been hitched for nearly three years now. How
many times has your mom had me on a wild goose chase for infidelity? How often have youe back
home, lent a hand to Serene, or paid a visit to my family? What have you actually given me?”
N?velDrama.Org content.
“I didn’t want to dredge up the past, but with the way you’re acting, I have to. Otherwise, you’ll keep
thinking I owe you something.
“I’ll admit, I married you because of those fortune-teller’s words, but you haven’t exactly made these
years a walk in the park. Let’s just call it even.”
After a pause, Estre added, “And now that Holly’s back, let’s find a day that works for you and get the
paperwork done. Set me free, and set yourself free too.”
Her words clogged Jason’s heart with a mixture of emotions. He had thought she was scheming to
marry him, and she wouldn’t let go so easily, but time and again, she had shown her willingness to drop
him and their marriage like a hot potato.
As Jason stared at her in silence, Estre grabbed a coat from the bed and
her pajamas.
When she looked back at Jason, her hands twitched momentarily. Lifting he she noticed the ring he
had given her still encircling her finger.