At thew firm, Estre had just wrapped up the Glimmering Lake case and was clocking out when she


    saw Jason had already arrived outside. She reached for the rear car door, but it wouldn’t budge. When


    she tried the passenger door, she finally got it open.


    Jason said, “I just picked up Isaac. Mom said he’s noting with us tonight, so hop in


    the front.”


    Every time Estre rode with Isaac, she would sit in the back to keep Isaacpany.


    Estre got into the car. As he reached over to help her with the seatbelt, Jason leaned in and nted


    a kiss on her lips.


    Estre noticed he had a bit of a kissing addiction these days. Instead of pushing him away, she waited


    until he was lost in the moment and bit him hard before shoving him back.


    Jason clutched his mouth and inhaled sharply, “You little heartbreaker, not a bit of mercy in you.” He


    licked his lip and removed his hand, revealing fresh blood trickling from the bite.


    Estreughed at the sight, “Wow! I actually drew blood.”


    Starting the car, Jason said, “You’re responsible for this.”


    Estre replied nonchntly, “What are you going to do, bite me back?”


    Jason said firmly, “Stay with me tonight at Sandalwood Oasis.” As he spoke, he took her! hand.


    Estre chuckled, “In your dreams.”


    Her phone rang just as she finished speaking. It was a call from a viger at Glimmerin Lake, inviting


    her over for dinner.


    Estre agreed and said she would go there tomorrow anyway. So, they scheduled it for


    tomorrow.


    After the call, Jason took her hand again and kissed it gently. His lip was swollen from the bite, and the


    scar on his face, a remnant from the time he saved Estre and Keegan, stood out starkly.


    She tried to pull her hand free, but he wouldn’t let go, so she stopped struggling and let him hold it.


    When they reached the hotel, Estre was about to get out when Jason suddenly pulled her into his


    arms. Estre sighed. His clinginess had returned, and he was being overly affectionate.


    After being held for a bit, Estre said, “Jason, you’re off today.”


    10


    09:00


    Once she finished speaking, Jason held her even tighter and confessed, “As long as you don’t remarry


    me, I won’t be at ease. I am afraid someone might snatch you away.”


    Estre rolled her eyes at his melodrama. She quipped, “Is this what they mean by ‘life’s wheel turns’?”


    In those days, she spent every night alone in an empty house, desperately trying to have a child.


    Estre felt that she should chew him out a bit more.


    Jason was silent, and Estreughed, “If you’re scared now, how will you cope with the many days


    ahead?”Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    She threw his past words back at him, and Jason quickly admitted his fault, “Babe, I was


    wrong.”


    Ever since the fire incident seven years ago was brought to light, Jason had be extremely


    reflective and constantly doted on Estre.


    Unable to resist his feigned sorrow, Estre allowed him to hold her briefly, then said, “Quit it, Thomas


    and the others have already gone up. Don’t keep everyone waiting.”


    After adjusting her attire, Jason took Estre’s hand with an air of invincibility, as if the man who had


    been so needy in the car was someone else altogether.


    They entered the private room to find everyone still treating them as if they never divorced. After all,


    Jason didn’t want to split, and it seemed inevitable they’d reunite.


    Estre sat next to Jesse and epted some nuts she offered. When she saw Grayson approach to


    say hello, Estre asked, “Hey, Grayson, where’s your little sidekick?”


    Estre was referring to the young girl Grayson’s mother brought from their hometown years ago. The


    girl’s parents had met with misfortune, and with no one to care for her, Grayson’s mother had taken the


    sweet and pitiful girl in.


    It had been over a decade since the girl, just six at the time, came to the Ledford famil She’d be around


    eighteen now.


    Back when Estre and the others were still in school, she was just a kid, younger than Grayson, so


    the girl called Grayson “uncle.” The girl was named Angel.


    Grayson, responding to Estre’s question, smiled and said, “She caught a cold right after the winter


    break started and is resting at home.”


    Their group of thirty hadn’t been thisplete in a long time. Grayson favored Estre, so even if Holly


    was at home, he didn’t call her over.


    After the meal, Thomas had nned for some after-dinner activities. Jason wasn’t usually one for a big


    fuss, but he stayed by Estre’s side as she seemed to enjoy herself.


    Jason was attentive during the meal, leaving no chance for Bryce to show off.


    Now, Jason encircled Estre in his arms and rested his chin on her shoulder, sleepily murmuring,


    “Babe, I’m tired.”


    09:00


    He had been wanting to take her away for a while, to have their own little world, especially since she


    had been so formidable in court that day, which only intensified his desire.


    In response to Jason’s whining, Estre turned to face him, “With all this excitement, what’s making


    you tired? Go have a drink.”


    The girls nearby joined in, teasing, “Mr. Jason, who would’ve guessed you had such a tender side? I


    thought I was seeing things.”


    “Wow! Look at Mr. Jason getting all cutesy.”


    “Estre, the way Jason’s calling you ‘Babe’ has got my knees weak, and I’m not even the one he’s


    wooing. You two might as well head home.”


    “Hold up, Jason, word on the street is you and Estre called it quits. So what’s this all about, you


    cozying up to her? That’s a bit out of order, don’t you think?” One of the girls teased Jason, eager to


    see how he’d respond.


    Back in the day, he hadn’t exactly been the perfect gentleman to Estre. They weren’t about to let him


    win her back that easily.


    Jason straightened up, looked the girl in the eye and said, “That’s not true. I’d split with anyone but her.


    You’ve been fed a pack of lies.


    The crowd jeered, all in good fun, egging him on to treat Estre right from now on. Seeing that Jason


    was in high spirits today, Estre didn’t push him away or dampen his mood. Instead, she indulged him,


    letting him maintain his image.


    It was only when her phone buzzed in her pocket that Estre stepped out of his embrace and walked


    away to answer the call.


    Estre got up to take the call, and Jason’s expression tightened. Following suit, he up and went after


    her.