As Estre’s voice trailed off, Jason’s expression was a picture of aggrievement. He had brought her all


    the way back, and now she was talking about leaving?


    Filled with unspoken grievances, Jason jammed his hands into his pockets and turned away, silent.


    Estre deliberately teased, “You’ve hung around my doorstep plenty of times without an invite in.


    Guess it’d be awkward for me to lounge at your ce now, huh?”


    At that, Jason sneered and said, “My ce, your ce-you sure like to draw the line, don’t you?”


    Sandalwood Oasis was clearly their home after they got married.


    Estre shot back with a yful jab, “Gotta make something clear, right?”


    Her words had barely settled when Marie suddenly appeared, surprised to see Estre in the yard but


    quickly wore a beaming smile, “Ms. Estre’s back! I thought I saw car lights and heard your voice.


    Goodness, you really are back.”


    Before Estre could respond, Marie was pulling her into the house, “It’s chilly out here, Ms. Estre.


    Come inside right away.”


    Jason watched as Marie ushered Estre into the house, then followed them in, his own demeanor


    rxing now that Marie was there.


    “Ms. Estre, are you hungry? I’ll whip up your favorite sweet soup,” Marie offered, her face radiating


    joy, even more delighted than Jason.


    Estre gently held her back, “Marie, we just ate outside. Don’t go to any trouble.”


    Marie insisted, “Well, if there’s anything you fancy eating or drinking, you just let me know.” Her delight


    at seeing Estre was like weing her own daughter-inw home.


    Marie quickly added, “Oh, and Ms. Estre, we’ve kept your and Mr. Jason’s room tidy every day. In all


    these years, Mr. Jason’s been home every night except when traveling. Your clothes and personal


    items are still right where you left them. And every season, Mr. Jason has had thetest fashions


    delivered from the department store, just in case you came back with nothing to wear.”


    Estre couldn’t help but smile at Marie’s cleverness. Marie waspensating for Jason’sck of


    words with her own enthusiastic exnations.


    Turning to Jason, Estre quipped, “Jason, looks like you owe Marie a raise.”


    Estre remembered how timely Marie’s call had been thest time she and Jason had argued, so


    timely that Estre had felt embarrassed to continue the fight.


    Hearing Estre’s remark, Jason simply said, “Raise it is.”


    Marie, sensing the couple’s unease, quickly chimed in, “Mr. Jason, Ms. Estre, it’s getting


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    a response, Marie scampered off, leaving the living room in silence.


    Estre found it strange yet familiar to be back in a ce she’d lived for three years. Everything was as


    it had been; even Marie’sugh and the tone of her speech hadn’t changed.


    Pretending nothing was amiss, Estre saw Jason answer a call, and she held her peace until he


    finished. Once he finished the call, she stood up and asked, “Calmed down yet? If so, maybe you could


    take me back.”


    The mention of leaving darkened Jason’s mood anew. Abruptly pocketing his phone, he looked at


    Estre and said sharply, “What time do you think it is? Stop making a fuss.” Without another word, he


    guided her upstairs, his hand at the nape of her neck.


    “My son’s waiting for me at home.”


    “He was asleep by the time you hit the club,” Jason said, having checked with Autumn during dinner.


    Estre was bbergasted. So, he’d nned this all along. That was why he hadn’t touched a drink all


    evening.


    Once in the bedroom, after Estre had steadied herself from being softly tossed inside, Jason’s voice


    came coolly, “It’s not been half a year, and you’re already getting cozy with Korey? What do you want,


    Estre?”


    Estreughed at the question, replying, “After all these years, you still don’t know I’m the flirty type?”


    Jason was left speechless by her retort. After years without a fight, he’d almost forgotten how


    formidable Estre could be, and how she never held back in an argument.


    Seeing Jason at a loss for words, Estre stated, “This is a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other.


    Let’s not point fingers.”


    What could there be between her and Korey? Jason was just bothered by Korey’s past proposal, but


    that was Korey’s move, not hers to stop.


    Hearing this, Jason’s expression darkened, “How am I to me? Have I ever touched another woman


    besides you?”


    Estre’s mind raced for evidence against him when Jason himself continued, casually admitting,


    “There was that time I let Serene link arms with me. Yes, it was intentional. I did it to annoy you


    because you didn’t take me seriously. I’m upset that if mom doesn’t put pressure on you, you seem to


    forget I’m your husband, and you won’t even call me back home.”


    Hearing Jason’s exnation, it dawned on Estre-she’dpletely forgotten about the incident with


    Serene. But learning that it was all to provoke her, Estre scoffed, “Jason,


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    you’re so petty, always wanting to maintain your image.”


    With that, she was about to open the door to leave. Jason wasn’t having it. He stepped in front of her,


    firmly shut the door, and asked coldly, “Where do you think you’re going?”


    Estre looked at him, exasperated, “I’m thirsty Just going to grab a drink, maybe have a fruit tter.”


    Jason raised an eyebrow, with a hint of skepticism in his voice. “You, cutting fruit?” He shook his head


    and added with a mock sigh, “Forget it. If you slice your hand open, I would be worried.” After speaking


    with a hint of impatience, he went downstairs on his


    own.


    At the doorway, Estre couldn’t help but chuckle at his antics, remembering how he’d rushed to


    exin himself earlier to avoid her bringing up past arguments.


    ‘Typical Jason and his stubborn pride,’ she thought, amused.


    After her quietughter subsided, Estre grabbed a set of pajamas from the closet and headed to the


    bathroom for a shower.


    When she emerged a short whileter, she discovered a te of freshly cut fruit on the desk and a


    warm ss of milk sitting on a heating pad beside it. Jason was upied with his own things,


    seemingly indifferent.


    Estre, tying her hair up, approached him and decided to break the silence. “Still mad? Giving me the


    cold shoulder?”


    Without a change in his stoic expression, Jason pointed out, “Got the fruit for you. It’s on


    the desk.”


    Estre gazed at him seriously and said, “Jason, go take a shower. After that, we can y a little. Any


    way you want.”


    The moment the words left her mouth, Jason’s eyes lit up like fireworks. He turned to her and asked,


    with a hint of excitement, “Trying to butter me up?”


    All evening, that was exactly what he’d been waiting to hear.