At the Nelson family’s mansion.
Just as Keith entered the room, he saw Amber feeding Isaac beef stew. Spotting Isaac, Keith
immediately felt delighted and greeted, “Hey, Isaac.”
In the living room, Isaac, hearing someone address him, swung his face toward the entrance and
sprang from his tiny chair at the sight of Keith. He dashed over, his small feet thudding on the floor,
calling out, “Great-Grandpa!”
Keith’s response boomed through the house.
Reaching Keith, Isaac hastily arranged Keith’s slippers in front of him, a gesture of care, “Time to
change shoes, Great-Grandpa.”
Keith’s heart swelled with warmth as Isaac handed him the slippers. Slipping his feet into them, Keith
scooped Isaac up, “What a sweet great-grandson I’ve got.”
Though well into his eighties, and usually attended by household staff, Keith found lifting Isaac
effortless, as if Isaac infused him with vitality.
Isaac giggled at Keith’s praise, hisughter as natural as if he had never been coached by
Estre on how to charm.
Holding Isaac close, Keith observed, “This child is so much like Estre, always smiling with such a
pleasant disposition.”
Amber rolled her eyes at Keith and took Isaac into her arms, “If he’s so sweet, why are you pushing
Jason to go on those silly dates?” Then to Isaac, she said, “Come on, honey, let’s leave him be and go
finish our stew with me.”
Amber, feeling the strain of carrying Isaac, set him down and led him by the hand. Keith muttered
aside, “Haven’t I dropped that subject? Didn’t I say it’s up to Jason to decide?” He didn’t quite feel right
sharing with everyone that he had just been to see Estre.
Across the room, Jason gave Keith a knowing look, thinking to himself that the only one who could
handle his grandfather was indeed his grandmother.
After finishing his stew, Isaac noticed the adults weren’t paying much attention to Keith, so he pulled up
a stool next to Keith and began to crack nuts.
Once he had a small pile, he ced them, mixed with his saliva, into Keith’s palm, “For you, Great-
Grandpa.”
Keith stared at the nuts in his palm and felt his eyes well up with emotion. Such a young child, and
already so sensible. Estre had truly given birth to a treasure, a child endearing to all.
Andtely, the more Keith saw of Isaac, the more Keith saw resemnces to Jason in
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Isaac. It seemed that genuine affection was reciprocated with a growing resemnce.
“Isaac, that’s plenty for me, don’t hurt your fingers,” Keith cautioned gently.
“Okay.” Isaac agreed, then sat attentively by Keith as he watched his favorite military history program.
Keith, seeing how considerate Isaac was, turned to Jason with a hint of pride, “Jason, this kid is more
thoughtful than you ever were. He’s cracking nuts for me, and you, you’ve never even poured me a
ss of water.”
Jason, exuding nonchnce, replied, “My kid’s respect is the same as mine.”
Keith scoffed, “You shameless thing, you’ve indeed found a pair of treasures.”
The treasures Keith referred to were none other than Estre and Isaac. Fortunately, Isaac was still
young, and if Jason treated him well, he would undoubtedlye to see Jason as his real father.
Jason just smiled in response.
After a while at home, Jason took Isaac back with him. When it was time to leave, Keith and Amber
were reluctant to see them go, fussing over Isaac and reminding Jason to bring him over more often.
Jason promised he would.
Bringing Isaac back was meant to foster a bond between Isaac and his
great-grandparents, to help them ept Isaac and Estre. And it seemed Jason’s purpose had been
achieved.
Half an hourter, Jason picked up Estre from the courthouse.
Estre hadn’t nned on stayingte, but after her chat with Keith and a call from Glimmering Lake,
she found herself caught up in work again.
Once in the car, Estre saw Isaac fast asleep in his car seat, covered with a nket. Jason had
proven himself capable and thoughtful in his care for Isaac, who had remained unscathed and healthy
even through the peak seasons for colds and flu.
Handing her a thermos bag, Jason said, “Isaad is here, and it’s gettingte. I figured you might not
want to go to a restaurant, so when passed by earlier, I packed a meal for you.”
“Thanks,” Estre said, epting the meal. She had been too busy to eat properly at lunch, and now,
starting the car, she began to eat.
Once satiated, Estre felt a deep sense of contentment. Life was busy, sure, but fulfilling, and with
someone to help with Isaac, her spirits were lifted.
As the car pulled up to the Dorvold family home, Jason stepped out to dispose of the trash. Estre
expected him toe back and help with Isaac, but instead, he sat down beside her.
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“What are you doing sitting here? We’re already at my ce,” she asked, turning to face
him.
Jason closed the car door and casually said, “How many days has it been since you sat with me, since
we talked? You’ve been so busy”
Realizing she had indeed been preupied, Estre admitted, “The case ising up.”
“I know,” Jason whispered. “So just sit with me here, that’s enough.”
He then took her hand in his, massaging it gently.
Estre nced at Jason, noting how time hadn’t left a mark on him, but rather, added to his allure.
After a moment, she said, “Thanks for taking care of Isaac these past days.”
Jason held her hand, his other hand cradling the back of her head, gently pulling her closer until their
noses touched, “If you really want to thank me, let me steal a kiss.”
Estre recoiled, instinctively shoving him back, but Jason leaned in close to her ear and whispered,
“Let me have a sniff.” With that, he nuzzled into Estre’s hair and took a deep
breath.
Estre rolled her eyes, “It’s just the smell of dinner, what’s so great about that?”
Jason’s nose brushed against her ear and down her neck as he murmured, “Babe, you’ve got this
special scent about you, it’s really nice” Unashamedly, Jason continued to nuzzle her corbone, taking
in her scent. He was intoxicated by her aroma, it was addictive to
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him.
“Jason, Isaac’s here, tone it down,” cautioned Estre.
If Isaac weren’t around, she might have bantered back and forth with him a little. But if Isaac woke up
and saw them like this, all hell would break loose.
Undeterred, Jason whispered against her neck “Isaac’s out like a light today.”
No sooner had he spoken than he pressed his lips to Estre’s corbone, his hands sliding up her
waist and pushing the fabric of her clothes aside, caressing her skin.
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