Before Estre could utter a word, Jason cut in, “Estre, don’t even think about divorce.” From the


    moment he agreed to the marriage, he had never considered ending it.


    Estre, seeing Jason’s refusal to consider separation, stared at him motionless for a long while, then


    carelessly tossed her breakfast to the side. After that, she just turned her face towards the window and


    fell silent.


    More than ten minutester, the car stopped at the base of thew firm’s building. Estre got out and


    walked away without looking back. Holly hade back from death, and Estre wondered how long


    Jason could keep up his act.


    Watching Estre enter thew firm, and just as her silhouette disappeared, Jason’s phone rang it was


    Holly.


    Holly’s voice came through gentle and soft, “Jason, can we meet?”


    Twenty minutester, they met at the café where they hadst seen each other. Holly was originally


    confined to a wheelchair, but seeing Jason approach, she braced her hands on the armrests and stood


    up, “Jason, how have you been?”


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    “Miss, be careful,” the servant rushed over to help Holly as she rose.


    “I’m fine,” Holly responded with a smile, dismissing the servant’s hand and walking over to


    Jason.


    Sensing Holly’s rare happiness, the young servant quietly left them to their reunion.


    As they approached each other, Holly looked up at Jason with eyes full of mirth. Jason, feeling the


    intensity of her gaze, quickly looked away and then motioned to a nearby bench, “Take a seat.” Without


    waiting for her response, he seated himself first.


    Holly took her time and sat down beside him, striking up a conversation, “This winter’s been so mild.


    Ravenwood is always sofortable. But it looks like a cold snap ising. I heard it might snow for


    Christmas.”


    “Yeah,” Jason replied briefly, waiting for Holly to continue.


    Noting Jason’s typically reserved demeanor, Holly leaned back on the bench and turned to face him,


    “The Silverbrook project has been green-lit. The Dorvolds won the bid. I just submitted my resignation


    at thepany, and won’t be stepping into the office or dealing with Innovative Solutions Inc. affairs


    anymore.”


    Hearing Holly’s deration, Jason calmly suggested, “It’s better for you to rest at home. There will be


    plenty of time for work in the future.”


    Jason’s constion was met with a faint smile from Holly, “I’ve been idle for years now,


    09:41


    feeling useless and unable to do anything. I remember how ambitious I used to be. But fate wasn’t as


    strong as my will. I can’t have a job of my own like Estre or Serene, and I can’t live life to the fullest.”


    She suddenly became mncholic, “I never expected Estre to hate me so much that she would


    even…”


    Noticing a shift in Jason’s expression, Holly quickly masked her sadness with a forced smile before


    changing the subject, “Jason, I didn’t join Innovative Solutions Inc. topete with the Dorvold family. I


    just wanted a simple job. The board gave me the Silverbrook project because they were aware of our


    situation and wanted to trouble me. I never wanted a high position, just a regr job.”


    As she spoke, Jason simply said, “Rest is what you need most right now.” Jason understood the


    subtext of Holly’s words, but he chose not to engage. If he were to ce Holly within Nelson


    International, things with Estre would likely be untenable. Besides, Holly’s health truly wasn’t up


    to the demands of the workce.


    “I get it, but everyone has their rebellious moments.” Holly chuckled and added, “But I’ve found a spot.


    I’m nning to open a café and bookshop, something like this ce. I’m not expecting it to be


    profitable, but just to add some fun to my days.”


    Jason nodded, “That sounds more suitable for you.”


    After saying that, Jason stood up from the bench, “Estre doesn’t hate you, it’s


    because…”


    Before he could finish, Holly stood up and cut him off, “I understand, Jason. She’s your wife now, and I


    won’t share what you don’t want others to know.”


    Hands in his pockets, Jason paused for a moment then said, “Thank you.”


    Holly gave a bittersweet smile; the garden was vibrant with blooming flowers. She gazed at Jason


    intently for a long while, then stepped forward and rested her cheek gently against his chest, “I just feel


    so unresolved and heartbroken.”


    Jason held his breath for a moment before gently pushing her away, “I have another meeting. I need to


    get back to the office.”


    “Sure,” Holly responded, letting him go.


    It was a while after Jason had disappeared that Holly’s gaze finally shifted back. The servant


    approached Holly, offering support, “Miss, he’s long gone.”


    Holly sighed as she watched the distance, “If only I hadn’t been injured and was healthy.”


    “Miss, you’ll regain your health after some more rest,” the servant reassured her.


    Holly managed a pained smile, “But what good is health when Jason is no longer mine?”


    The servant remained silent.


    00:41


    Meanwhile, at thew firm.


    Estre had just left Logan’s office when her phone’s Messenger pinged incessantly. Bryce had sent a


    barrage of photos.


    Estre sat down and flicked through Bryce’s images: Jason and Holly sitting together on the bench,


    basking in the sun, Holly’s face buried in Jason’s chest.


    Surrounded by vibrant flowers, they looked like a painting.


    Cycling through the photos, Estre could only offer a wry smile. She had just been pressured to go to


    the hospital for a check-up, and now he was already off tofort Holly. He really was busy.


    Staring at the photograph of Holly nestled against Jason’s chest, Estre’s expression suddenly


    darkened a touch. Holly was in poor health, and if Jason was stalling the divorce, could he be nning


    to take advantage…


    The thought made her grip on her smartphone tighten noticeably. It seemed they both had their own


    ulterior motives.


    She had made a trip to the local hospital that day, and she wondered just how long this secret could be


    kept under wraps.


    “Estre, why don’t you pack up? We should head out to the symposium together,” Logan called out,


    interrupting her brooding thoughts.


    “Sure thing,” Estre replied, stashing her phone and agreeing to Logan’s n as she shut down her


    computer and stood up to get her things together.


    At the moment, she was only handling a divorce case where the client’s main goal was to stall for time


    and avoid the split, so Estre wasn’t too swamped. Plus, with the


    Silverbrook deal clinched, she felt at ease joining Logan and the others for a bit of schrly


    enrichment.


    She had barely pulled out of thew firm’s parking lot in her car when Bryce’s call came through.


    “Estre, did you get the photos I sent you?”


    Estre gripped the steering wheel with both hands. “I saw them.”


    Bryce, knowing she had seen the photos, threw a curveball. “You still nning on taking this lying


    down? You intent on being…”