Chapter 17

Last year, when Estrella had called him, he distinctly remembered the moment. He was in the middle of a meeting and had asked Drew to call her back. She said it was nothing. Then he had to leave on a business trip.

Seeing Jason’s face turn sour, Jesse glanced at Estrella and said, “Estrella, you should get some rest. I’ll swing by later to check on you.

The moment Jesse left, Estrella faced Jason’s icy silence with her usual grace. “Come on, lighten up. With a low-maintenance wife like me, you should be counting your blessings.”

She added, “But lay off the small talk about Jesse. There’s a lot you don’t know, and you’re just picking at her scars by bringing it up.” Strangers had no right to speak of it, and even less so the man by her side.

Estrella’s nonchalance was met with Jason’s hand suddenly gripping the back of her neck, pulling her close, “Estrella, do you even care at all?” As he looked down at her, considering her stubborn nature-how she would learn from her mistakes and never make them again-Jason felt a twinge of fear. He worried that one day he might become the obstacle she chose to avoid.

At his question, Estrella chuckled, “How could live if I didn’t care?” She then scolded him playfully, “Here I am, sick, and you came empty-handed, only to give me attitude. Shame on you, Jason.”

With a few teasing words, Jason slowly let go of her neck. His hand gently caressed her face as he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me about something so big?”

Any other woman would have held onto it, brought it up time and again, but Estrella never mentioned it, not even once.

Wearing her hospital gown with its simple stripes, she shrugged it off with a smile, “It’s all in the past, and I wasn’t really hurt.”

The more she downplayed it, the more Jason felt a thorn in his side. No matter their relationship’s strains, he was still her husband,

Estrella tried to remove his hand from her face but Jason pulled her closer, causing her to stumble slightly into his embrace.

As she looked into his eyes, which seemed to hold a deep affection, she wrapped her arms around his neck and teased, “Figured it out, have you? Ready to have kids?”

Jason retorted, “Is that all you think about?”

Estrella, on her tiptoes, nudged his forehead with hers, coaxing, “Let’s have one. Life’s so dull otherwise.”

She was still naive like a child

15:22

deciphered.

“Jason.”

“Mhm?”

open and Kristin’s voice burst in,

let go

a moment, she asked uncertainly, “Are you two fighting or

but instead asked, “Kristin, you came to see me?”

Kristin forget her own, and she replied, “I rushed over as soon as Bryce told me

reassured her, “It’s just food poisoning. A couple of days on IVs and I’ll be fine.”

a nurse came in with her medication.

with Estrella, while Jason busied himself peeling fruit for them. As

of concern, “She’s

that Serene girl out of

a slice of orange, “There’s nothing between Serene and me, Mom. Why can’t you let it go?”

feel upset or uncomfortable, and I don’t want her to suffer.

Jason’s

orange

his mouth and looked back at Estrella on the bed.

other women. And let me tell you, son, that Serene isn’t as

have those

bear to transfer her away? And last time,

to say that my advice was pushing her towards trouble. Now I think I underestimated that Serene girl.”

15:22

Chapter 17

to Kristin. “Was it you who told Estrella to give the check

thought Estrella wouldn’t do that. He assumed she was purposely trying to annoy him, but, it turned out

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