Chapter 14

Meanwhile, back at the house.

Estrella, having just wrapped up her shift, walked through the door to find Marie practically bouncing with excitement. “Ms. Estrella,” she gushed, “Mr. Jason called earlier. He said he’ll be coming home later tonight.”

Marie was well aware that it was a roundabout way for him to let Estrella know he was coming without having to call her directly.

Handing her bag over to Marie, Estrella smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll head upstairs and freshen up a bit.”

After pampering herself with a long shower and slipping into her newly purchased

pajamas, she waited and waited. Yet, Jason was nowhere to be seen. As the clock ticked

close to eleven and Jason still hadn’t arrived, Estrella lost all interest in working. In frustration, she tossed the case files on her desk, picked up her phone, and dialed Drew. “Drew, what’s going on with Jason? Wasn’t he supposed to come home?”

Calling Drew was a last resort for Estrella because ever since ‘that incident, Jason had stopped taking her calls. Any communication had to go through Drew, which was a bitter pill for Estrella to swallow.

On the other end, Drew spoke with measured words. “Ms. Estrella, he is tied up with some matters.”

After a brief pause, he continued, “He probably won’t make it back tonight. You might as well not wait up.”

When Drew confirmed Jason wouldn’t be returning, Estrella ended the call abruptly. It was one thing not to come home, but another not to even notify her. Giving hope and then dousing it with a bucket of cold water-what was he playing at?

With a huff, she tossed the phone onto the desk and ran her fingers through her long, dark hair, feeling a burning frustration within.

away. Time was also

and called Bryce. “Bryce, you’re back,

thing, give me three minutes,” came the reply from the other end.

Jason’s cousin and Estrella’s classmate was unequivocally on her side through thick

news that made Estrella’s expression turn cold,

15:21

her lips. She had thought she could keep Jason

the hospital room.

in his pockets, glanced over at Serene, who was yet to come around. Checking his watch, he noted it was nearly midnight, and his expression

Ms. Estrella called a

“Mm.”

head back. I’ll

As she struggled to adjust, her pale face reddened around the eyes, when she

she choked out a single word, “Jason.”

grew even sterner at Serene’s awakening.

Serene, you’ve been so careless. If we’d found you any later, you might not have been

herself on trembling arms, she sobbed to Jason, “I’m sorry, Jason. I didn’t mean

“I won’t make foolish

had nearly overdosed on sedatives. If not for the timely discovery by Drew’s arranged

distraught Serene and spoke softly, “Your life won’t be so difficult

a nine-year-old brother. The burdens of life were undeniable, but

his arm, looking up at him with hope. “Jason, you won’t abandon me, will you? You’ll help me,

pocket, but he didn’t pull away from her grip. Instead, he looked down and assured her, “If there’s anything you need, you can go directly

dry. You can come to me with anything.”

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