30 Days till I Divorce My Husband (Estrella and Jason)

Chapter 28

Jesse rubbed her nose with a wry smile, brushing off the concern as she said, “Got into a

scuffle this afternoon.”

“With who?”

“It’s over, Estrella. Let’s not dig into it.”

“Jesse, don’t make me investigate it myself.”

Estrella’s temper was something Jesse was all too familiar with. She might seem all sunshine and rainbows on a regular day, but if you crossed a line with her, you’d be in for a rude awakening.

“I ran into Paula today. She brought backup, and I was outnumbered.”

As soon as Jesse finished her sentence, Estrella was on her feet, heading for the door. Jesse grabbed her arm urgently. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Estrella’s face was a storm cloud as she snapped, “You expect me to sit down for dinner when you’re beaten up like this?”

Jesse held on tighter, trying to calm the storm brewing within Estrella. “Estrella, it’s done, and it wasn’t all Paula’s doing. Don’t do anything rash.”

Estrella saw there was more to the story. She reined in her anger and sat back down. “Fine. I won’t. Just tell me everything.”

They settled back at the dining table, and Jesse began recounting the story. “A few days. ago, I got into it with Melinda. Guess she couldn’t let it go and teamed up with Paula.”

Melinda was Jesse’s stepsister. Jesse’s mom had passed away when she was just a toddler, and her dad had quickly remarried Damita, who was pregnant at the time. Damita never took a liking to Jesse and would often take advantage of her husband’s absence to berate and mistreat the child.

After a particularly nasty incident in middle school, Jesse had changed. Her father, under the constant influence of Damita’s whispers, had grown colder towards her. Life as a Manning wasn’t exactly a walk in the park for Jesse.

was grim as she asked, “Are you hurt anywhere else? Did

Took a few kicks to the gut, bleeding

knew Paula must have ambushed Jesse on purpose, taking advantage of her less favored status in the Manning family to strike at her –

15:24

Chapter 28

you sure you’re okay?”

worry. I’ll take care of myself. Otherwise how

those two?”

fine, then I trust you,” Estrella said, ladling out chicken soup for Jesse. “Eat up, and next time, don’t be a hero. If

“Yeah, I know.”

wanting to stoke her fiery nature. The Manning family’s involvement and the

dinner, as they approached the crossroads in their cars, Estrella warned, “Jesse, call me the instant anything

will, don’t

go home and rest up.”

hesitated before adding, “Estrella, let’s just let

I’ll listen

might have agreed verbally, but as soon as they parted ways, her foot slammed down on the accelerator, speeding towards the Lamont residence. If she let this slide, Paula would

wasn’t about to play

Estrella, our young lady isn’t home. Perhaps you could come back another time?”

Estrella, I must ask you to leave.”

attempts, they couldn’t stop Estrella from barging into the Lamont’s

a servant began, but Estrella cut them off with a glare, her hands deep

this than Paula, in her loungewear, descended the stairs, clearly annoyed. “Estrella, what’s all this racket about? Is this the kind of manners you

a side table and

wall, sending Paula into

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