Chapter 76
Estrella’s surprise had barely registered when Korey’s sedan rolled to a stop beside her. “Are you here on business too?”
Estrella nodded, “Yeah, just gathering some info from the locals for a case.”
Korey offered a casual smile. “Since we’ve bumped into each other, let’s grab dinner together.”
Before Estrella could respond, a sleek black Maybach pulled up beside the sedan. The front window slid down leisurely, and Jason’s voice floated out, “Sure thing! I’ve already
made reservations.”
Upon hearing Jason’s familiar voice, Estrella turned to see him resting both hands on the steering wheel. There was a cigarette between his fingers, and his gaze was icy as it landed on her. He had the look of someone who caught his wife cheating red-handed.
Korey spotted Jason and chuckled, “Jason’s here too.”
Jason took a drag of his cigarette and replied nonchalantly, “Yep! Tagging along with the wife on her work trip.”
After extinguishing what remained of his cigarette in the ashtray, Jason’s indifferent eyes met Estrella’s. “Get in.”
Seeing this, Estrella glanced back at Korey and said, “I’ll see you later, Korey.”
“See you in a bit,” Korey said before instructing his driver to follow Jason’s car.
Inside the Maybach, Jason turned to Estrella with a sarcastic edge. “You sure seem cozy calling Korey by his first name.”
Estrella retorted, “I had no idea he was here. We just ran into each other, okay? Don’t
overthink.”
Estrella didn’t want any tension during the dinner with Korey. She didn’t want others to notice any
discord between them, even though their rocky relationship was hardly a
secret.
Jason lit another cigarette and kept silent.
Soon, they arrived at a charming local villa restaurant. Jason immediately ordered the waiter to bring two cases of beer and a bottle of hard liquor. After Estrella’s earlier explanation, he had yet to speak another word to her.
Estrella couldn’t tell if his silence stemmed from seeing Korey and being reminded of Holly or from Korey meeting her.
When Jason ordered such an amount of booze, Blake’s face turned pale. “Korey, your know you can’t drink.”
Korey just smiled. “I’m here to keep Jason company, even if it kills me.”
Jason chuckled at the remark. Estrella knew she couldn’t stop them, so she didn’t bother
to try.
As the waiter started to serve the food, Jason filled their glasses to the brim. There was so much to talk about, from the past to the present, and so much to drink..
Once they finished a case of beer, Korey was looking pale, so Estrella suggested, “Maybe that’s enough.”
Jason ignored her as if she hadn’t spoken and filled Korey’s glass once more. “This one’s for Holly.”
Hearing Holly, Estrella just watched him, saying nothing. She had thought Jason’s silence during the drive was due to a misunderstanding. Perhaps he believed she and Korey had secretly run off together. But it turned out he was just lost in memories of the past.
Korey glanced at the full glass Jason poured and then at Estrella. He f
more pressing than the memory of his sister who was no longer there.
her feelings were.
Estrella was not outwardly upset, just staring at Jason. Seeing this, Korey raised his glass. “Jason, the past is the past.” He wanted to encourage Jason to focus on his life. with Estrella, but it felt like he was highlighting the fragile state of their relationship. So he swallowed the words he’d been about to say.
Estrella snapped back to reality at Korey’s words and gave a cynical laugh inside. If Jason couldn’t let go of Holly, he shouldn’t have agreed to this marriage. Why got married and then played the part of the grieving widower? Wasn’t he just tormenting her?
With these thoughts, Estrella picked up her fork, too disinterested to engage. further.
By nine-thirty, after they had polished off two cases of beer and the bottle of liquor, Korey was a
as pale as a sheet. His brows furrowed in discomfort. Blake was sweating bullets at his side, and Estrella was on the verge of losing her temper when the dinner finally came
to an end.
As they parted, Korey made Jason promise to treat Estrella right. Jason merely smirked, “Don’t worry about my wife.”
Half an hour later, the car stopped at a hotel. Estrella was about to help Jason out when he coldly said, “Don’t bother.”
Estrella’s movements froze. Her expression locked in place. She stared at Jason for a long moment before slowly straightening up. Her face was impassive.
Once inside their room, Jason began to undo His shirt buttons with an edge in his voice. “Quite the planner, aren’t you?”
Tying her hair back with an elastic band, Estrella heard Jason’s taunt and responded coolly, “Had you been a day late, you might have caught us in the act.” He was convinced her trip was a cover for an affair with Korey, and she was done explaining herself. She just let him think what he wanted. She was tired of catering to him.
From now on, he could pine for whomever he wanted, care for whomever he chose. Estrella was done playing along. Two years had been enough for her.
Jason’s eyes turned icy as he locked his gaze on her. “So I ruined your plans?”
With her hair tied and arms crossed, Estrella leaned slightly against the nearby table, challenging him. “Jason, it seems you’ve been holding onto some resentment. Let’s cut to the chase. What’s the outcome you want? Just be clear about it.”
Clearly, he was the one who couldn’t move on, the one who didn’t want a real marriage. Yet he kept needling her. Estrella found it amusing.
His indifference tonight, along with his nostalgia for Holly while drinking with Korey, suddenly made everything seem pointless. No matter how much she tried, no matter how much she forgave, Jason would never really commit to a life with her. So why should she bother?
All Estrella wanted was an answer from Jason
Confronted by Estrella’s nonchalance, Jason removed his tie, his voice chilling as he laughed, “Have you secured a way out? Looking for an escape?”
Estrella, as relaxed as ever, barely moved as she leaned on the table. Her voice was indifferent, “Yes, I’m looking for a way out. So let’s say you’ve got something on me tonight. Do whatever you please.”
She threw caution to the wind, not even bothering with an excuse. Jason’s temper flai He strode over, pinching her face and lifting her off the ground. “Estrella, you think I’m some kind of saint? That I’ll just keep indulging you?”
As his fingers tightened on her face, a sharp pain appeared in Estrella’s stomach. She’d skipped breakfast, missed lunch while visiting Ryan’s neighborhood, and had barely touched her dinner due to a lack of appetite. Now, the hunger pangs were catching up. with her.
Her brow furrowed, and her hands clawed at Jason’s wrists, but her usual strength escaped her.
Jason, noticing her struggling with his grip, forced her to face him again. “Say it,” he demanded.
A sarcastic laugh escaped Estrella. “Jason, what do you want to hear?” She continued, “You think you’ve been so good to me? Well, I’d gladly pass up. Fine, I’ll admit it. I came here to have a fling with Korey. I’ve always been reckless, even tried to seduce you, Jason. When I conned your dad into making you marry me, you should’ve known what I
3/4
was all about, right?”
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