“Hey, Grayson,” Estre answered the phone with familiar ease, knowing it was Grayson on the other
end.
Grayson’s voice came through, tinged with concern, “You and Jason finalized the divorce?” News like
that has a way of spreading even if Estre and Jason hadn’t made a public affair of it. Their circle of
friends, including Grayson, had caught wind of it.
Estre chuckled lightly, “Word travels fast, huh?”
There was a pause before Grayson replied, his voice steady but gentle, “Look, just because you’re not
husband and wife anymore doesn’t mean you can’t be friends. We’ve all known each other for over two
decades, Estre. Don’t stress yourself out.”
“I know, Grayson,” she reassured him.
Grayson switched gears, “By the way, the legal contract with my Corp is up for renewal. I was
wondering if you’re up for taking on thepany’s representation again?”
“Of course, I am. I’ll swing by tomorrow to discuss it with you,” Estre replied eagerly.
“Sounds good.”
After a bit more shop talk, they ended the call.
Estre ced her phone down and gazed at little Isaac, dozing peacefully beside her. Her spirits lifted
even more at the sight. She couldn’t resist leaning over and nting a gentle kiss on her son’s chubby
cheeks. The most gratifying part was seeing how well Isaac wa thriving sinceing back home.
As her hand brushed Isaac’s forehead, he mumbled in his sleep, “Daddy.” The word hit Estre hard.
No matter how much she did, she could never fill that particr role. No matter how capable she was,
she couldn’t transform into a man.
Watching Isaac murmur again, she yfully pinched his cheek, half-jokingly scolding, “You little brat,
your mama went through hell to bring you into this world, and all you can think about is daddy?”
Isaac murmured “Daddy” once more in his sleep. That kid sure knew how to twist the
knife.
Estre turned off the room’s main light, huffing as she settled onto therge bed next to his crib. All
her efforts seemed in vain when even in his dreams, Isaac didn’t call for her.
The next evening, when Estre had dinner with Isaac, Bryce, and Jesse, Jesse exploded upon
hearing that Estre had refused the shares Jason offered. “For god’s sake, do you
have any idea what Nelson International is worth? After all those years of Jason being tight-fisted, he
finally opens his wallet during the divorce, and you won’t take advantage of it?” Usually level-headed,
Jesse was now practically on the verge of pulling her hair out.
“Drop it,” Estre sighed. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch. I take those shares, and who knows
what stringse attached?”
“How is this a free lunch?” Jesse protested. “This is the reward for all the years you’ve
endured. Plus for Isaac…”
Jesse’s voice softened, but she quickly added, Anyway, you’re entitled to it.”
While Jesse wasmenting Estre’s refusal of the shares, Bryce nced at her and said, “My E just
wants to cut ties clean. If she wanted money, she could make her own, plenty
of it.”
Jesse gave Bryce a look and said, “Your E? Estre is no longer part of the Nelson family, in case
you forgot.”
Bryce rolled his eyes with a hint of arrogance, “Even if I cut ties with the Nelsons, wouldn’t cut ties with
E.”
Bryce’s resolve earned him a thumbs-up from Jesse. “Impressive.”
Jesse mused how one could forsake even their family, but not Estre. Clearly, Estre was, without a
doubt, the cornerstone of Bryce’s world.
Estre couldn’t help butugh, “Bryce, you’re about to make my son cry with all this sentimentality.”
Bryce teased back, “I thought you’d be so moved you’d throw yourself at me.”
Estre shot back, “I’d be willing, but the real question is, would you be up for the challenge?”
Their yful banter had Jesse in stitches.
The conversation reminded them of a time Bryce imed he couldn’t be attracted to Estre even if
she stripped naked, which had even made Jasonugh.
Bryson was exasperated, “Come on, you are a mom already. And this little guy is right here.”
“Bryce,” Estre chided while peeling shrimp for Isaac and cing them in his bowl, “your think the little
guy understands any of this?”
Bryce just shook his head, but seeing Estre’s lively spirit reassured him. He had worried the divorce
might have been a facade of indifference, but it was clear she remained as
strong as ever.
He watched Isaac grab a shrimp with his tiny hands and pop it in his mouth, his eyes
no-no.
crinkling with joy. Bryce couldn’t help but beam with pride. “Hey, Jesse, swap seats with me. I want to
sit next to my boy.”
Jesse retorted, “Dream on. I’m not moving.”
Despite Jesse’s refusal, Bryce ended up cing Isaac in a high chair next to him, peeling another
shrimp and offering it to his son. “Say daddy, kiddo.”
“Daddy,” Isaac’s voice was sweet as he looked up at Bryce with round, happy eyes. His endearing
mannerisms were a carbon copy of Estre’s as a child.
When Jesse yfully prompted Isaac to call her ‘daddy,’ the little boy shook his head. resolutely,
having been taught by Autumn that Jesse was like his mom, ady, and it would be silly to call her
‘daddy.”
Isaac’s refusal left Jesse asking, “What will you call me then if not ‘daddy”?”
Expecting a sweet ‘mommy’ in return, they were all caught off guard when Isaac earnestly replied,
“Jesse.”
Isaac’s response sent Estre and Bryce into fits ofughter. The kid had Estre’s spunky spirit
through and through.
Jesse, on the other hand, was mortified. As Isaac giggled along with Estre, the warmth of family and
friendship enveloped the table, any tensions from the past dissolving into theughter of the present.
In no time at all, Estre and Bryce wrapped up their work chat. When Estre, on behalf of Bryce’s
mom, nudged him toward the idea of going on a blind date, Bryce mmed u Estre mmed her fork
down with a tter. “Bryce, I’m talking to you. You gone deaf something?”
Bryce deflected with a nonchnt air, “Don’t sweat my business. Maybe worry about your own for a
change.”
N?velDrama.Org is the owner.
Estre crossed her arms and fixed Bryce with a stare. “Oh, so me talking to you doesn’t do squat
anymore, huh?”
At Estre’s fierceness, Isaac became alert. He carefully patted Bryce on the back and then reached
for the pitcher to pour Bryce some water.
Bryce chuckled, “Look at my boy, knows how tofort people already, even pouring water for his old
man.”
He picked up the ss that Isaac had filled for him. Just as he was about to take a sip, Isaac clinked
his sippy cup against Bryce’s ss in a mock-toast, putting on airs that made Jesse burst intoughter,
holding her stomach.
Bryce couldn’t help butugh. “You little brat, can’t even talk straight yet, and you’re acting
like you know all about toasting?” Despite his words, Bryce was touched seeing Isaac lift his sippy cup
as if to drown his sorrows with him and Bryce downed the water Isaac poured in one gulp.
Then he turned to Estre, a light in his eyes, “Ever since Isaac came back, he’s gotten a lot cheerier,
and he’s shot up in height too. Seems like, you know, maybe there’s just something about the home
turf that does a body good.”
08.05