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Chapter 37
Thomas had barely finished his sentence when Jason chuckled with a hint of mischief, “Thanks! I definitely owe you one.” Without missing a beat, he added, “Bryce’s team is short-handed, and you seem like a perfect fit to jump in and get some exercise.”
At the mention of going over to Bryce’s domain. Thomas’ face turned ghostly pale. “Jason, are you returning a favor or seeking revenge? That place is just…”
Before Thomas could finish his lament, Jason had already dialed a number. “Drew, get everything ready for Thomas.”
Thomas felt like crying without tears. “Jason, what did I do wrong? I’ll change. I promise I’ll change, okay?”
“Is it because you haven’t smoothed things over with Serene yet? Then you better sweet-talk her yourself! And for the record, I already cleared the air with Estrella yesterday. She said she’s not pressuring you and that you two should sort things out on your own. She even called Serene back for you Estrella said she respects your choices.” As Thomas went on, Jason’s expression grew increasingly grim.
After Thomas rattled off his piece, Drew entered, looking seriously at Thomas. “Sir, your ticket has been booked, and Ben will meet you at the station.”
I
“Jason, where did I go wrong?” Thomas was on the verge of tears. He was too sophisticated for a fate similar to Bryce’s.
After being ushered out of Jason’s office by Drew, Thomas pulled out his phone and called Grayson and the others for help, but they could only tell him to take care of himself. In the end, Thomas had no choice but to call his mother for help.
On the other end of the phone, Thomas’ mother, while playing cards, said, “Thomas, I think Jason’s decision is excellent. You’ve been too impulsive lately, and it’s time for some real-world experience. Your father and I are grateful to Jason. Don’t worry about the family business; your dad’s got it under control.”
Thomas felt utterly abandoned.
Back in the office, picturing Thomas’ desolate expression, Jason finally exhaled a sigh of relief. Since when did he get drunk over Serene? And who told Thomas to spout nonsense in front of Estrella?
When he rememb
face darken
push
a’s generosity and her indifference that morning, Jason’s since Korey returned, her attitude had changed. She even s she looking for a way out of their marriage?
aive enough to think that, she had another thing coming.
ight in the evening.
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When Jason returned to Sandalwood Oasis with Serene, Estrella was descending the
stairs.
“Estrella, Serene greeted her eagerly upon seeing her come down.
“Ms. Estrella,” Drew, carrying Serene’s luggage, also greeted her awkwardly.
Estrella glanced at them indifferently, nonchalantly continuing downstairs, nonchalantly pouring herself a glass of water, ignoring everyone.
Seeing Estrella’s reaction, Serene took the initiative to explain, “Estrella, Jason said you’re not in a good mood and asked me to come keep you company.”
Serene knew all too well why Jason had her come over. It was clearly to smooth over the awkwardness.
Drew, trailing behind them, also felt the tension, completely at a loss as to what play his boss was staging.
Jason, however, remained stony-faced. “Why should you be afraid of her?” Then, turning to Drew, he ordered, “Drew, take the luggage to the master bedroom.”
“Ah! The master…” Drew didn’t finish his words before a cold glance from Jason silenced him. “Right away, Sir.”
As Drew passed by Estrella with the luggage, his eyes were full of sympathy. Alas, this might be the end.
Then Marie emerged from the kitchen, whispering, “Sir, the late-night snack is ready.”
Jason, expressionless, turned to Serene, “Let’s have something to eat first.”
Serene’s gaze lingered on Estrella, urging, “Estrella, have you had dinner? Join us for a bit!” Estrella paused her ascent, turned to Serene, and said, “Serene, since Jason has brought you back to Sandalwood Oasis, you must mean that much to him. Instead of figuring out how to deal with me, you might want to focus on securing your hold on him.”
When Jason wasn’t so brazen, she could still throw some harsh words around. Now that Jason had brought someone home, if she still acted like Mrs. Nelson, it would only
diminish her own standing.
After saying her piece, Estrella turned to leave but then added as a reminder, “Oh, and make sure to leave me enough evidence.” After saying that, she continued upstairs.
In the living room, Jason, with his hands in his pockets, wore a deeply unpleasant expression. Estrella’s reaction felt like punching a soft pillow to him- no impact.
Beside Jason, Serene stole a glance at him, and seeing he remained silent, she chose not to speak either.
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Half an hour later, when Serene followed Jason to the upstairs master bedroom and heard him suggest she spend the night there, she panicked. “Jason, this isn’t right! Is there a misunderstanding between you and Estrella? If there is, you should explain Women love to hear sweet nothings. They soften right up.”
Jason ignored Serene and moved to the bedside cabinet, shifted a vase, and retrieved a pinhole camera. He then methodically found several more hidden cameras around the
room.
As Jason tossed the pinhole cameras onto the coffee table, Serene’s face turned ashen white. She was frozen in shock.
In the second bedroom, Estrella, fresh from her shower, was interrupted by the frantic knocking of a young maid.
“Come in,” Estrella said calmly. The maid burst through the door to report breathlessly, “Ms. Estrella, Mr. Jason has found the cameras, and he’s removed them all.”
Estrella responded with composure, “I’m aware. You may go.”
Once the maid left, Estrella opened her laptop, and instantly, the live feed from the master bedroom appeared on her screen:
On the other side of the camera…
As Jason was buried in his work, Serene sat dazedly in front of the dresser, not daring to! sleep on the bed or touch any of Estrella’s belongings. Perhaps due to a restless night before, it wasn’t long before Serene, seated by the dresser, slumped over and fell asleep.
At the desk, Jason noticed Serene dozing off. He stared blankly ahead for a moment before setting aside his work. He grabbed a thin blanket, the one that neither he nor Estrella had used, and carelessly draped it over her.
Afterward, he turned and walked over to the bookshelf. Reaching up, he pulled down a book and gently flipped through the pages until he retrieved an old photograph from years past a group shot.
–
At her laptop, Estrella watched Jason’s every move. When Jason pulled out that photo, Estrella couldn’t help but pause. If her memory served her right, that photo must have been seven or eight years old.
Why had Jason kept it? And who in that photo meant so much to him? Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
Observing her room from an outsider’s viewpoint, and seeing the picture in Jason’s hand, Estrella suddenly had a startling realization. Despite the years they’ve been married, they had never taken a single wedding photo, not even a simple joint snapshot.
Jason continued to gaze at the photo, and after watching for a while, Estrella closed the surveillance feed and went to rest.
In the deep silence of the night, as Estrella fell asleep, a sense of unease lingered. Even in
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her dreams, she felt as someone was trailing her, spying on her.
A bout of sleep paralysis gripped her. When Estrella jolted awake, all she saw was a dark figure sitting on the couch, staring at her in the pitch-black room.
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