Jason’s voice was sharp with irritation, Estre cringed under its weight.


    She had lied simply to avoid Jason’s temper tantrum, not wanting to make a scene. Yet, here he was,


    well-informed of her whereabouts.


    Clearing her throat, Estre was about to speak when Jason cut in with a frosty tone, “Estre, if you


    don’t want me to turn the tables upstairs and want to save dignity for everyone, you’ve got two minutes


    to get down here.”


    Estre’s face soured. Why, she thought indignantly, should he have any say over her actions? They


    had already signed the divorce papers; he had no hold over her anymore.


    Then she nced at the man sitting across from her, who looked honest and reliable but not her type,


    so she used Jason’s call as an excuse to apologize to her date and slip out of the diner after hastily


    paying the bill.


    Soon, she was in the open-air parking lot, Jason’s car already waiting. The anger was palpable even


    through the open car window.


    Squinting at him, Estre wondered what right he had to be upset with her. Their eyes locked, and


    Jason’s re was practically lethal


    When Estre turned to leave, Jason blocked her path and pushed her into the car. The car door


    mmed shut, and with a stony face, Jason drove off. Neither spoke. In battles like these, the first to


    speak usually lost. Estre was under pressure, in a bad mood, and she wasn’t about to back down


    from a fight.


    After a tense drive, they reached Jason’s upscale apartmentplex. He dragged her out of the car


    and into the elevator. Once they reached his duplex penthouse, he pushed her inside. Stumbling,


    Estre turned and threw her purse at him in frustration, “What are you trying to do?”


    The purse hit him and fell to the floor, where he casually kicked it aside.


    “Exin yourself, Estre. What were you doing just now?” Jason demanded with an air of righteous


    indignation.


    Estre chuckled dryly, “What, looking for a father for Isaac is interfering with you now?”


    Her candid response nearly choked Jason. He had been less enraged when he thought she still


    showed some consideration by lying. Now, her casual admission made him want to kill the man she


    had been meeting.


    Jason’s stare was red with fury, and Estre retorted, “I’ve exined myself. Now, I’ll go back to my


    date.”


    As she headed for the door, Jason couldn’t swallow his pride and grabbed her arm. “Do


    think you can leave without my permission?” He threatened.


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    09:41


    Estreughed off his threat and reminded him, “Jason, you can’t possibly be this forgetful. We’re no


    longer husband and wife. We’re divorced.”


    Estre’s words hit Jason like a punch to the gut, leaving him seething with both anger and resentment.


    Just a few days ago, he’d been threatening Holly not to do anything foolish, vowing to make her pay


    with her life if she dared. Estre, on the other hand, was seemingly happy to move on and start dating.


    Frustrated and livid, Jason vented, “Are you taking me for granted, Estre? Is this your way of


    mocking my feelings?”


    Estre, arms crossed over her chest, responded defiantly, “How am I supposed to feel about you? In


    what way have I mocked your feelings? After all, we’re both unattached. And it’s only a matter of time


    before I find a father for Isaac. I even discussed this with you.”


    Estre imed she had given him a heads up about the situation, leaving Jason speechless. He


    silently drifted towards therge window, lighting up a cigarette for himself.


    He remembered her talking about finding a father for Isaac, but he’d brushed it off, believing she was


    trying to rile him up. Or perhaps she was offering him an opportunity, a chance to step up and be


    Isaac’s father. The thought that she would actually go ahead with dating caught him off guard.


    It dawned on him that Estre had always been unpredictable.


    As Jason smoked silently, his back to her, Estre tried to open the room door, but found it was locked


    from the inside, and only he could unlock it.


    She had fully nned to have a heated exchange with Jason, even expecting him to lose his temper.


    But his quiet retreat had taken her by surprise. Before she got in more than a few words, obviously


    expecting more of a reaction, he’d fallen silent.


    The unexpected turn left Estre somewhat deted, and she decided to leave. After taking a moment


    to stare at Jason’s retreating form, she said, “Jason, this isn’t getting us anywhere. Open the door.”


    Jason expelled a puff of smoke and turned to face her, his expression a mixture of resentment and


    bitterness. “Open the door for what? So you can run off to some date? Go running into the arms of


    another man?”


    Despite Jason’s harsh words, Estre held her peace. She simply watched him and retorted, “Let’s call


    it quits, shall we? Neither of us is a saint. I’m not ming you, but you’re no angel yourself.”


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Estre’s words got under Jason’s skin. She could say whatever she wanted about him, but he drew


    the line at usations about his character. Previously, he didn’t bother setting the record straight,


    choosing to let her rant. But now, he refused to allow those misperceptions to persist. When it came to


    matters of character and rtionships, he prided himself on being above reproach.


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    09:41


    With this in mind, he vehemently responded, “Don’t project your guilt onto me. How exactly am I no


    better?”


    Staring right back at him, Estre chuckled lightly. “Jason, don’t get too cocky. Wasn’t it you who said


    that everything done in the darkes to light?”


    She let the implication hang in the air before adding, “Holly visited the Sandalwood Oasis just a few


    days ago, didn’t she? Don’t bother denying it.”


    09.11