Jason imed he fell ill on a business trip, saying that he came to see her straight after getting off the
ne and even stopped by the grocery store to pick up some provisions. Estre took a closer look at
him. Indeed, hisplexion was off, and his eyescked their usual sparkle.
For a moment, Estre felt a twinge of pity and asked him, “So, what’s up with you? Why have you
been getting shots for six days straight?”
Jason stared at her with a detached air and said, “I’m not going to die from it, so let’s not change the
subject. rify your own situation first.”
He had the demeanor of someone who had caught his partner red-handed. Estre scratched her
head, frowning, and replied, “What’s there for me to rify? Isn’t this whole mess stirred up by your
granddad and your uncle? If they hadn’t cut off Bryce’s ie and drained every drop of gas from his
car, would he be so desperate as toe to me?” As she spoke, Estre eyed Jason suspiciously and
asked, “Jason, you didn’t have a hand in this, did you?”
At Estre’s questioning, Jason felt a twinge of guilt, shoved his hands into his pockets, and avoided
her gaze as he said, “I was away on business. I knew nothing about it.”
He didn’t have the heart to tell Estre that he was indeed involved and deeply so. The sabotage of
Bryce’spany was his doing, otherwise, Keith and the others wouldn’t
have been so efficient.
Nor did Jason reveal that he helped Keith for two reasons: one, as long as Bryce remained unmarried,
he would constantly hover around Estre, which Jason didn’t like. And two, if Keith and the others
were preupied, they wouldn’t meddle in his and Estre’s affairs, meaning no one would pressure
him into speed dating.
All in all, Jason had his own little schemes in mind.
However, it hadn’t urred to him that his ns would backfire. After Bryce was dealt with, instead of
surrendering to his family, he sought refuge with Estre.
Jason couldn’t bear to look at her, and Estre grew even more suspicious, pressing on, “Jason, this
seems like something you would do. And why can’t you look at me?”
Jason cleared his throat. “My eyes are sore.”
Remembering how pitiful Jason had looked earlier-iming he was sick and had been getting
injections-Estre didn’t press about Bryce. Instead, she asked, “What about you? What’s going on
with these injections?”
Jason turned away, his gaze falling softly on her as he asked, “Have you really never considered
getting together with Bryce, never thought about settling for second best?”
09:25
Estreughed helplessly and said. “What do you mean ‘settling for second best’? As a divorced
woman with a son, I am the ‘second best’ myself.”
Estre didn’t quite respond to his question, and Jason just kept looking at her silently.
Estre tried to pacify him, “I’ve never thought about it, not once. Besides, Bryce is no different from
Jesse in my eyes,” she muttered disdainfully, “What is on your mind all day long?”
If it hadn’t been for Jason’s sudden appearance, his long-winded exnations for his anger, and his
efforts to cook for her and Isaac, she wouldn’t have bothered with his misunderstandings.
Although Estre was slightly annoyed, Jason felt a sense of relief. It felt like old times, with Estre still
considering his feelings and willing to cajole him.
After Estre exined, the two fell silent again. Then Jason confessed, “I got sick from missing you,
and I ended up on a drip for a few days.”
Estre couldn’t help butugh at the absurdity. “Your stories are getting more borate.”
Estre’sughter prompted Jason to reach out and gently pinch her cheek. “Heartless and ungrateful,”
he teased.
Just as Jason was about to lean in for a kiss, there was a noise at the door. Both turned to look, and
Estre suggested, “Go check the door.”
Jason, expressionless, heeded her request and opened the door. Immediately, they saw Bryce and
Isaac eavesdropping, with Isaac still barefoot.
As Jason opened the door, both Bryce and Isaac tumbled against his legs. Jason looked down with
distaste at Bryce and Isaac. Bryce was again involving his son in foolishness.
Isaac, clutching Jason’s leg and looking up into his eyes, blurted out, “Daddy!”
Jason’s mood liftedpletely, and ignoring Bryce, he scooped up Isaac, “Let’s go, son. I’ll make you
some food.”
Isaac, beaming in his arms, said gratefully, “Thank you, Daddy.”
At the doorway, Bryce remarked under Estre’s gaze of disdain, “Jason hasn’t been doing too badly
lately.”
Bryce’sment was barely finished when Jason’s voice followed, “Bryce,e here.” With that, he
instructed Bryce to help out in the kitchen.
Isaac was settled with a ss of milk and seated on a chair by the kitchen door to watch him cook,
then Jason busied himself with the meal.
Isaac was a model of good behavior, sitting still for two hours as Jason had instructed. He pped
enthusiastically with each dish Jasonpleted, proiming, “Daddy’s so
Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.
09:25
*********ed bbc show of support and said, ‘Jason,
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Cakanth. Are you sure this son of mine was found’
* 2**** skew
med sloping his lips. He knew well enough that Jason was Nav not be taken lightly Any slip up, and
Estre MXR Nee of them to sort out their rtionship
XXXX4And called Estre to eat His tone still carried traces of
NNNNNN cot up from the bed. As she sat down at the dining
SANAWAR RAWAN as eve but even worse towards Bivce. Jason
****************potting his disdain palpable in every nce. At
wy w in Jeserved
Was reserved for Isaac
Sebest to breathe too loudly silently eating their meal while
WARNING JAWA for AWAO
42, 0xo her slumber, he headed to the master
Exle Axaning casually against the doorframe,
When Jason down the bathroom doo Estre couldn’t help but tease him with a $30ax Whee Asad se
something new? Don’t be shy on my ount.”
Jason simply gnored the A short whileter, he emerged freshly showered, to find
Ning with me crossed over her chest leaning forward slightly. She (oked at him with grave short and
asked Still mad?