Hearing this, Jason came to a dead halt. He stood still for a moment, then turned to lock eyes with


    Keith.


    The look on Jason’s face had definitely lost its earlier warmth, and his gaze towards Keith had frosted


    over.


    Keith went for the emotional angle, “You know better than anyone if there’s a future for you and


    Estre. And,e on, if you were really honest with yourself, could you truly ept her child?”


    “I can,” Jason replied tly.


    In Keith eyes, Jason was always the level-headed one, not someone to be ensnared by emotions. But


    this time, Jason had gone too far, epting something most men couldn’t stomach.


    When Jason didn’t rise to the bait about the child, Keith yed the sympathy card, “I’m getting on in


    years, Jason. Can’t you indulge an old man’sst wishes? Besides, you haven’t even met the girl I’m


    talking about. How can you be so sure you won’t like her?”


    “Other than Estre, I don’t have eyes for anyone else.”


    Keith’s face darkened. “Are you trying to be the death of me? Do you want me to leave this world


    without peace?”


    Jason’s retort was nonchnt, “You’ve had a life of smooth sailing, calling the shots. Not many can


    boast of such glory. So even if this one thing doesn’t go your way, I doubt you’ll have any regrets.” That


    was Jason’s way of saying, deal with it.


    Keith fumed, “You bastard, you’re going to be the death of me.”


    Jason remained unfazed. “If I am, then so be it. What can I do? Nobody lives forever, and a hundred


    years from now, we’ll still have to face each other.”


    Kristin, trying not tough at Jason’sebacks, thought to herself that Keith should have kept his


    nose out of her son’s business. Keith had summoned Jason back for a blind date, and now, after


    getting an earful, hopefully, Keith would drop this.


    As Keith was ready to swing his cane at Jason, Kristin stepped in to calm him down, “Please, let it go.


    Don’t stoop to his level. You’ll only make yourself sick. And you know how stubborn Jason can be.


    Once he opens his mouth, he can rile up the dead.”


    It might have looked like Kristen was supporting Keith, but in reality, she was preventing Keith from


    hitting her son.


    Kristin’s peacemaking didn’t deter Jason from stating, “Grandpa, I won’t trade the rest of my life for


    your fleeting happiness, nor will I attend any blind dates you arrange. Estre is the only woman for


    me.” With that, Jason didn’t linger and left the house.


    “What a fool,” Keith cursed as Jason walked away.


    “Let it go. He’s gone. Save your breath,” Kristin soothed.


    Amber, watching the scene with disdain, chimed in, “Did you really think any of your grandchildren


    would be pushovers? I told you to stay out of their business. Serves you right for not listening.”


    Keith, still irate, dered, “As long as I’m breathing, he won’t be with Estre. The Nelson family will


    not be raising another man’s child.”


    Amber chuckled. “You think they even want your help?”


    As the elders bickered, Kristin nodded in agreement, thinking to herself how formidable her mother-in-


    law’s sharp tongue was. But then again, Amber was speaking the hard truth.


    Leaving the old family estate, Jason felt irked. Not so much at Keith’s pressure, but at the possibility of


    him getting in touch with Estre.


    Estre was already reluctant to ept him, and resistant to the idea of getting back together. Keith’s


    interference would only make things worse.


    Hands on the steering wheel, he found himself outside the Dorvold residence without even realizing it.


    Jason got out of the car and leaned against it, gazing up at Estre’s window. It had been three days


    since he’d seen her, four days since he’d seen Isaac. Pulling out a cigarette and lighter, he lit up and


    blew out a long smoke ring, which helped ease his mind a little.


    “What are you doing, lurking outside my house in the dead of night?” Estre’s voice suddenly cut


    through the silence. Jason turned, saw her standing next to him, and hastily stubbed out the cigarette


    in the nearest bin.


    Estre eyed the extinguished smoke. “What’s up?”


    “Just came to see how you’re doing,” Jason said casually.


    That was true, though he hadn’t expected to run into her right outside her house.


    Estre nced at his car. “You’re blocking the…”


    Before she could finish, Jason pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Caught off guard,


    Estre didn’t react right away.


    With his chin resting on her shoulder, Jason confessed, “I’m tired.”


    So was she. After all, who wasn’t tired in this world?


    Without responding to Jason or pushing him away, Estre waited before asking, “Had


    08:17


    enough yet?”


    Jason shook his head and kissed her cheek. “I’ve missed you.” He missed her so much he wanted to


    hold her forever, to open his eyes each morning and see her.


    Estre said calmly, “Jason, cut it out. I’m not falling for your act.” It had been years, and yet his tactics


    hadn’t changed.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    Jason didn’t reply, just held her in the quiet night. After a moment, he said, “Estre, no matter who


    comes to you, and no matter what they say, you’ve got to believe in me.”


    Estre guessed from thiste-night visit that something was up. He probably came straight from his


    family home. She didn’t delve further, simply stating, “You’re heavy.”


    Jason nuzzled into her neck. “Just a little longer.”


    It had only been days since they’dst met, but to Jason, it felt like centuries. Thest outing with her


    seemed like a past life.


    Estre eximed, “Damn it, I’m exhausted, and here I amforting you.”


    Jason nted a kiss on her cheek and murmured, “Still fretting over Glimmering Lake?”


    Estre pushed him away with a gentle but firm hand, “I’m on to something.” ncing at her


    wristwatch, she added, “It’s gettingte. You should head back and get some rest.”


    As Estre tried to turn away, Jason caught her arm and reeled her back in, lowering his head to


    capture her lips in a more intense kiss.


    At first, Estre tensed, poised to push him away, but the kiss deepened, fierce andpelling.


    After days of silence, Jason’s passion had reignited, yet there was a tinge of mncholy in his ardor


    this time, not quite as domineering as before.


    Just when Estre was getting almost annoyed by the kiss, Jason sensibly released her. He stared at


    her affectionately and asked, “Estre, what should I do for us to start over?”


    The night was dark, Jason’s voice was soft, and with the evening breeze, the atmosphere became


    rather sensual.