Outside the door, the man saw that Estre had opened the door before he even had a chance to


    knock. With a grin spreading across his face, he greeted her with a casual, “Hey, Estre.”


    Bryce had just showed up like that, and Estre couldn’t help but say, “What the hell are you doing


    here?” She had explicitly told him that morning not toe, yet here he was, acting as if he hadn’t


    heard a word.


    Bryce slung an arm around her shoulder as he dragged his suitcase inside and said, “Worried about


    you, that’s all.” Then he added, “Besides, Holly’s back in town. Who knows what kind of tricks she


    might pull behind the scenes?”


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    Estre responded dryly, “Holly isn’t that foolish.” If Serene was considered intelligent, then Holly was


    shrewd. After knowing Holly for so many years, that much was clear to everyone.


    Unconvinced, Bryce insisted, “Still, I’m not at ease. I need to be by your side 24/7.”


    With her hands crossed in front of her chest, Estre turned to nce at Bryce. He looked so smug,


    and she had to bump him with her hip. Catching himself, Bryce asked with a roguish tilt of his head,


    “Estre, were you heading out to do something when you opened the door?”


    “Hungry,” Estre admitted. “Was about to go grab some grub.”


    Without hesitation, Bryce said, “Let’s go. I’lle with you.” With that, he took Estre by the hand and


    they headed out together.


    Jason would have a fit if he knew Bryce hade looking for Estre. What business did Bryce have


    always hanging around his wife?


    After strolling outside for over an hour, not only had they filled their bellies, but they also returned with a


    bounty of snacks.


    Estre walked in to find Bryce making himselffortable on her bed. She nudged his foot with hers


    and said, “Don’t tell me you have no intention of getting a room and n on crashing here?”


    Bryce sat up, leaning on his hands, and repeated his earlier statement, “I told you, I’m on a 24-hour


    watch.”


    Estre rolled her eyes at his audacity. “We’ll see how Jason skins you alive for this.”


    Bryce had a way of forgetting his woes once they were past, something Estre admired with a sense


    of resignation. She was the type who could hold a grudge for a lifetime, a ssic case of once bitten,


    twice shy.


    “I’ll crash on the couch. Besides, it’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before,” Bryce


    09:41


    pointed out nonchntly.


    Estre was a few months younger than Bryce and they had known each other since birth. Bryce had


    even worn Estre’s dresses as a child. So, he never really saw Estre as an outsider, even though


    she was now married to his cousin.


    Estre gave Bryce a disdainful look and said, ‘Don’t you think you’ve got too much time on your


    hands? Shouldn’t you be doing something meaningful?”


    Sprawled out on the bed like a lounging Adonis, Bryce replied, “The most meaningful thing for me is


    hanging out with you, E. As long as you’re happy, my life has purpose. You’re my whole world.”


    Estre kicked out yfully at him. “Great, now I’m the excuse for yourziness.”


    Bryce grabbed a pillow to shield himself, “E, it’s not that I’mzy. You see how it is with thepany


    and Jason. I don’t get a chance to shine. I’ve been thinking about starting something of my own, but


    every time I do, the folks throw cold water on it and cut off my funds. So, why not just live a carefree


    life?”


    He then added with a sigh, “Having a super sessful cousin isn’t always a good thing.”


    As Bryce expressed his sentiments, Estre remarked, “You never should have followed me into the


    law department.”


    “It’s all good,” Bryce reassured her. “I’ve got ns.”


    With a yful shove, Estre said, “Get off my turf.” Taking the hint, Bryce grabbed the pillow and the


    nket he’d brought and moved to the couch.


    Estre was in for a long stretch of studying, and Bryce stayed by her side the entire time. He’d doze


    off while she attended sses, hand her drinks when she was thirsty, and brin her food when she was


    hungry. His presence was indeed afort and convenience f


    Estre.


    A weekter, Drew knocked on Jason’s office door, his voice trembling slightly as he reported, “Mr.


    Jason, there’s something you should know.”


    Without looking up, Jason said, “Speak.”


    “Mr. Bryce has been apanying Ms. Estre on her business trip. He hasn’t even bee to the club,”


    Drew reported.


    After a moment of silence, Jason mmed the documents on his desk, his expression turning sour. His


    wife was away on business, and Bryce had eagerly followed her. It wasn’t the first time this had


    happened.


    Jason was furious, and Drew didn’t dare mention that Bryce hadn’t booked his own room and was


    staying with Estre. He’s aware of Estre and Bryce’s rtionship. Along with Jesse, the three of


    them are so close, it’s as if they’re one person. Fearful of aggravating Jason further, he decided to


    leave that detail out.


    Seething with anger, Jason stood up and unbuttoned his shirt cor as Drew reminded him, “Mr. Jason,


    Ms. Estre will be returning tomorrow morning.”


    Jason was livid. With a dark look, he instructed Drew, “Keep a close eye on Bryce when he gets back.”


    “Of course, Mr. Jason,” Drew replied, trying to exin, “Actually, Mr. Jason, Ms. Estre and Mr.


    Bryce…”


    Before Drew could finish, Jason cut him off with a cold voice, “I know there’s nothing going on between


    them, and there never will be.”


    What concerned Jason was Bryce’s influence. Bryce was always encouraging Estre to divorce him or


    taking her to ces where men indulged in mischief. Bryce never really treated his wife as a woman.


    That evening, as Estre and Bryce enjoyed the takeout they’d bought, Jason’s video call came


    through. Estre answered nonchntly “What’s up?”


    Jason’s face was a storm cloud. He said, “Tell Bryce he can’t hide forever. We’ll settle this


    when he’s back.”


    Annoyed by his tone, Estre shot back, “He was just worried about me being away. Don’t make a


    mountain out of a molehill.” Sick of his constant negativity, Estre had had enough. She wasn’t in the


    mood to appease him anymore.


    Estre’s fleeting irritance didn’t set Jason off. He simply said, “What time should I expect you


    tomorrow? I’ll pick you up from the airport”


    Estre replied, “If the flight’s on time, I shouldnd at 11 in the morning. If you’re too…”


    She was about to tell him not to bother if he was busy, but Jason cut her off, “Ravenwood’s gotten


    chilly. Layer up before you dene.”


    “Got it.” Estre had barely responded when Bryce leaned into the frame, chiming in, “Jason, don’t you


    worry. I’ll take good care of E. I’ve even packed her down jacket.”


    Jason’s expression darkened instantly as Bryce appeared. Without a word, he ended the video call


    abruptly.


    Estre nced at Bryce. Sure, Bryce could be a goofball, but when it came to looking ol for her and


    Jesse, he was more attentive and daring than anyone.


    !


    The next morning, the group gathered in the hotel lobby before climbing into the minivan to head to the


    airport. Bryce had loaded Estre down with a bounty of snacks, and he didn’t forget her favorite dried


    prunes.


    Meanwhile, in Ravenwood.


    09.11


    Jason wrapped up his meeting, realizing it was about time to head for the pickup. He quickly briefed the


    others in charge and made his exit. As he descended in the elevator, his phone buzzed in his pocket.


    Pulling it out, Jason’s face went through a quick


    session of emotions before he finally answered the call.