As Jason spoke, Estre’s temper dissipated like steam from a piping hot pot roast. Her hands fell from
his waist, and with a twinge of surrender, she muttered, “Fine, you have
your way.”
Estre braced herself for the inevitable, and Jason pinned her beneath him with a smirk, “Estre,
after this, you won’t be able to leave the bed tomorrow.”
Unfazed, Estre retorted, “And you think you’ll be hopping out of bed? As if you’re getting
the better end of this deal.”
Jason couldn’t help butugh at her spirit, sealing her protest with a kiss that spoke
volumes.
Later, much to her own chagrin, Estre found herself pleading for mercy. After all these years of
knowing Jason, it was in these moments of weakness that she’d wave the white g.
But Jason wasn’t satisfied. He demanded a promise of reconciliation, which Estre begrudgingly gave,
though he doubted her sincerity, using her of pulling his leg. Estre was livid, cursing under her
breath. It wasn’t until Isaac’s phone call came through that Jason eased up, reluctantly taking her
home.
Upon their return to the Dorvold residence, Autumn remarked, “You’re as elusive as your father ever
was, always out and about.”
“Mom.” Estre scooped up Isaac, who hade running, and after nting a kiss on his cheek, she
turned to Autumn, “It’s not as dramatic as you’re making it out to be.”
At that moment, Estre wouldn’t dare admit to spending the previous night at Jason’s, followed by a
day in his bed. Autumn would have her hide for that.
“Daddy.” Isaac clung to Estre before Jason took Isaac into his arms, giving Estre the chance to
head upstairs for a change of clothes.
Climbing the stairs, her legs nearly gave out, and Jason, pale as a ghost, rushed over with Isaac still in
his arms. Estre insisted she was fine and continued her ascent.
Autumn mused, “What kind of case has you so worn out you can’t even walk straight?” Then she
chastised, “I tell you to eat properly, but you never listen. Now look at you, running on empty.”
“Come down to eat once you’ve changed,” Autumn added.
Estre shot Jason a sideways re, which he smartly dodged, pretending
ig not to notice.
Isaac watched the silent exchange, and upon seeing Estre’s annoyance with Jason, he giggled
uncontrobly.
Jason felt amused and pinched the little chin that Isaac shared with Estre and asked, “What’s so
funny, munchkin?”
The question only made Isaacugh harder. Jason, charmed by Isaac’s joy, which so resembled
Estre’s childhood mirth, couldn’t help but join in.
Autumn was touched by the sight of Isaac’s happiness. She reflected on her own time. with the child,
realizing that Isaac had never seemed so joyful with her. Rtionships. were fickle, she thought. Isaac
was simply smitten with Jason.
Once Estre was dressed, they all gathered at the dining table for dinning.
Estre, exhausted from Jason’s teasing, devoured three tes of food, earning apuse from Isaac
and a stunned silence from Autumn, who wondered if a big case had soured her mood.
Estre simply said she was hungry, but when Autumn caught sight of the marks on her neck, her smile
vanished.
After dinner, when Jason had finished bathing Isaac and put him to bed, Autumn knocked on Estre’s
door with a pointed question, “You weren’t busy with a case today, were you?” Estre realized
everything when she noticed Autumn’s gaze falling on her neck. She thought, “Mom isn’t usually this
clever. Howe her intelligence suddenly surfaced today? It turns out I’ve given myself away.”
Estre responded with a hum as she touched her neck. “Have you and Jason mad Or considering it?”
Autumn probed.
A couple of days ago, she had talked about this with Estre, but that was when Ja seemed alright.
Now, seeing her daughter was indeed back together with him, Autu couldn’t help but reminiscence
about an incident from three years ago, which filled
with unease.
“There’s nothing like that, I simply failed to resist this time,” Estre confessed matter-of-factly.
Silence ensued from Autumn’s end,Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.
Noticing Autumn’s unwavering gaze upon her, Estre admitted, “At my age, it’s hard to resist all these
temptations. Besides, he’s not bad looking and he is quite good in that
particr aspect.”
With that affirmative confessioning straight from Estre, Autumn had nothing left to say She
merely reminded her, “Remember, your father strongly disapproves of Jason. He even told me to keep
a close watch on you, especially in regard to Jason. Don’t lose yourself again in the midst of all this
chaos. Given that your father’s against it, being with Jason won’t be easy”
Owing to Cole’s disapproval, Autumn had also followed suit, prioritizing her husband and daughter
above all else.
“Mom, I hear you,” insisted Estre, attempting to pacify Autumn. “You should go and get
some rest.”
With a muted thud, Autumn gently closed the door behind her, leaving Estre to sight. heavily.
Approaching the little bed, she bent down to give Mia a tender kiss and then picked up at book to
peruse while lounging in bed. Soon after, her phone ced next to the pillow. vibrated. It was a
message from Jason, reading, [Estre, I miss you.]
Estre chose not to respond. About ten minutester, Jason sent her a porno. “Darling, have you seen
this routine? Let’s try it next time.”
Jason’s video, was from a time when they were still married, something that Estre had left on his
computer. She once showed these to him too.
Finding Jason’s flirty messages amusing, Estre replied nonchntly, [I’m gonna report. you.]
Sure enough, after the warning, she actually reported him, not leaving even a bit of room for leniency.
In a short while, her Messenger waspletely silent – no more disturbances.
Until a whileter, her phone rang. It was Jason.
Estre picked up the call. On the other side, Jason sounded both annoyed and amused, “You really
did report me, huh?”
Jason was calling because his Messenger ount had been blocked and Drew was scrambling to
unblock it.
“You deserve it,” retorted Estre, utterly unapologetic.
Jason stood by a floor-length window, puffing on a cigarette. After exhaling a whirlpool of smoke, he
chuckled. “I ought to stop joking around. I leave for a business trip tomorrow. It’ll be a week before I
return.”
“Well, I finally get some peace and quiet,” responded Estre.
Puffing on his cigarette again, Jason softly suggested, “Christmasmences next month. You and
Mia should apany me to the old house and celebrate.”