The call was from Serene. Estre walked to the stairwell at the safe exit and answered


    the phone.


    After wrapping up the conversation, Estre returned to her desk, immersing herself once again in the


    sea of paperwork that awaited her


    It wasn’t until Friday, apanying Logan to aworking event, that Estre found herself in the


    same orbit as Jason.


    “Mr. Jason,” Logan greeted with a smile bright as the spring sun, reaching out for a handshake as they


    bumped into Jason.


    Despite Estre’s departure from Ravenwood and Justice Guardians LLP, Nelson International’s legal


    affairs were still tethered to her former firm.


    “Logan, Jason returned the handshake with polite detachment. His gaze then settled on Estre, and


    with a mild, “How’s it going,” he acknowledged her presence. In that moment, Jason seemed to have


    come to terms with the fact that Estre was no longer his alone, and she was now a mother.


    “Yeah,” Estre replied, her voice steady andposed.


    Logan told Jason about the work. Only when Logan saw Jason raise his hand to check his watch did


    Logan leave.


    While riding the elevator with Estre, Logan noticed her expressionless face, and thoug of her calm


    demeanor when she encountered Jason just now. He couldn’t help but feel emotional. Three years


    ago, the couple had seemed so connected.


    “Life sure is unpredictable,” he thought to himself.


    He wanted to ask Estre about it, but instead, he simply remarked, “Jason’s a decent guy.”


    Estre just smiled, saying nothing. Perhaps Jason was decent to everyone but her.


    The official meeting was the following day, and Estre, once back in her room, didn’t venture out


    again, not even for dinner.


    In the evening, when Drew arranged a dinner gathering, Jason realized that Serene had alsoe.


    She didn’t sit next to him, but it was clear she was still attentive to Jason, noticing the subtle shift in his


    demeanor over the years-a shift towards a colder aloofness.


    Halfway through the meal, Jason stepped out to take a call, and Serene followed. When Jason turned


    to head back, he caught sight of Serene approaching. With a frown, he dug out a cigarette and lighter


    from his pocket and lit up.


    Serene approached, exining, “The admin office has been swamped, so Mr. Howard asked me to join


    the trip.”


    Jason flicked the ash from his cigarette, uninterested. Her presence had never been the root of the


    problems between him and Estre


    They talked some more, and when Serene exined that she had already cleared up the reasons for


    the trip with Estre that afternoon, Jason remained silent.


    After finishing his cigarette, he returned to the private dining room.


    Past nine, as the dinner came to a close, Jason had a bit of wine, and Serene insisted on


    escorting an inebriated Jason to his room.


    *Jason, let me brew you some coffee to sober up,” Serene offered as she helped him to the couch and


    set her bag on the coffee table before heading to the kitchte.


    Leaning back, Jason felt a heavy throbbing in his head, a strange restlessness bubbling within b


    “Jason, are you feeling alright?” Serene returned with the coffee, noticing the crease of difort on


    his forehead. She knelt beside the couch, reaching out to check his temperature.


    Her fingers barely brushed his skin when she felt an overwhelming tension, yet she asked, “Is it your


    stomach? Should I call a doctor?”


    Jason, his eyes still closed, didn’t respond, but Serene grew bolder at his silence, her hand tracing a


    path from his forehead to his cheek, then to his adam’s apple, her fingers trembling. After years of


    knowing him and longing for him, she was closer than ev before but dared not hope for more.


    When Jason still hadn’t opened his eyes, Serene whispered, “You must be tired, Jas


    Holly’s passing, the rtionship between him and Estre, Holly’s return, and Estrell return – this


    situation would be stressful for anyone involved.


    There’s still no response from Jason.


    Taking a deep breath, she leaned in closer, just wanting to offer him a moment off but as she was


    about to kiss him, Jason’s eyes snapped open, and his hand shot out, stopping her in her tracks.


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Jason’s sudden movement startled Serene as she fell back onto the sofa. “Jason,” she uttered, her


    voice trembling.


    Without a word, Jason pushed her onto the adjacent sofa. Her eyes reddened instantly. “I don’t expect


    anything from you, Jason. I just want you to be a little happier, and let go of some of that repression,”


    she pleaded, looking utterly pitiable.


    Serene had cherished her affection for Jason since her heart first fluttered for him,


    no no


    despite knowing it was a dead end.


    Jason’s gaze was ice as he said, “Serene, you are not usually this bold.”


    “Jason, what are you talking about? I don’t understand,” Serene replied, her face paling as she sat up,


    “I was just ”


    Before she could finish, Jason coldly lifted her purse from the coffee table, extracting a miniature


    camera and mming it onto her face. “Drugging me, nting a camera… Have I been too polite to


    you?”


    The camera ttered against her, and Serene froze, her face draining of color, leaving her speechless


    before Jason’s unflinching stare.


    As Serene stared at him without speaking, Jason coldly said, “Serene, I’m sure you wouldn’t want me


    to use the same tactics on you that I reserve for others.”


    The implication was clear-if she didn’te clean with her motives, the conspirators behind her, and


    her reasons, he wouldn’t consider the fact that she had once saved him. She shouldn’t test his


    patience.


    At Jason’s threat, Serene’s face drained of color. Swallowing hard, she stared at Jason. motionless for


    a long while before finally speaking up. “Estre… it was Estre who gave me the pills. She said if I


    could help her get evidence of your infidelity, it would aid her in getting a divorce, and in return, she


    would help me get together with you.”


    Before Jason could respond, Serene continued, “Jason, I never dared to hope for anything between us,


    but you know what Estre is like. If I hadn’t helped her, she would never have let me off the hook.”


    “I was never a match for any of you. From the beginning to the end, I was just a


    a pa you and Estre. I never had a choice.” As she spoke, Serene’s eyes reddened, and clutched at


    Jason’s sleeve. “Jason, I know I made a mistake, but I was desperate.”


    “Please don’t fire me, and don’t make me leave thepany, okay? I still need to sup my mom and my


    little brother. Give me one more chance, will you? I promise I won’t s out of line again. And since I failed


    to produce the evidence this time, Estre surely we looking for me anymore.”


    Jason looked down at Serene, learning that the pills came from Estre, and it was Estre who


    wanted her to fabricate evidence of his cheating. In that moment, it felt as though a bucket of ice water


    had been poured over him, chilling him to the core. The drug Serene had slipped him had no effect. He


    felt no warmth, only a cold anger at Estre’s ruthlessness.


    “Sorry, Jason!”


    He shook off Serene’s grasp, repressed the fury in his heart, and stormed out of the room, heading


    straight for Estre’s quarters.