Chapter 43

After a brief exchange, she hung up, grabbed her car keys, and headed out the door in at hurry.

Jason had just parked his car downstairs in Serene’s old apartment when she emerged with something in a bag.

“Jason!” Spotting him, Serene scampered over

Jason glanced at the ajar car door. “The bag’s inside,”

Bending down, Serene retrieved the bag and then shut the car door. “Vincent’s buried in homework, and Mom’s been pretty stable lately,” she said.

Jason just nodded, noncommittal.

Serene carried the bag over her shoulder. When she looked up at him, her eyes were shining with unspoken words. Jason, with his hands buried in his pockets, spoke with a calm edge, “With the family situation under control, maybe it’s time you started thinking about your own life, huh?”

Serene let out a sigh of resignation. “Vincent’s still a little guy, and Mom’s just stable for now. I don’t have the energy to entertain any personal distractions.”

Then, with a start, she added, “Jason, don’t get it twisted. My being single has nothing to do with you! Don’t you dare feel pressured on my account. I’ve got my own plans,

my own

life.”

As she rattled off her explanation, her words tumbled out faster. Despite her denial, she couldn’t fool herself. She had fallen for Jason. From the moment she laid eyes on him, he had her heart. She feared if she wasn’t single, she’d lose even the right to like him.

Jason just said, “I’m not overthinking it.”

Relieved, Serene handed him the bag. “These are homemade dumplings Vincent and I whipped up. You and Estrella should give them a try.”

Jason shrugged. “We don’t cook.”

Undeterred, Serene grabbed his hand and pressed the dumplings into his palm. “Just take them. Have Marie boil them or something.”

added, “Vincent made me promise to give

stopped refusing. He turned and placed the pie in the

late, Jason. You should head back

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Chapter 43

my

“No problem.”

W

car vanish into the night,

*++

up to the train station in her Audi. As soon as she stepped

a hug. “I’ve

eyed him critically. “What happened? Why did you come back in the middle of the

hair, faded clothes, and unhealthy complexion, had it not been for his voice, Estrella

him off. “It’s all my brother’s doing. Can you believe it? After I got everything sorted for him, after you

parents don’t know I’m back. I don’t even know how I got my hands on a train ticket. I only trust you and Jesse. Please,

eyed him skeptically. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on staying

I go? I’ve been exiled

sighed. “Clean yourself

Audi when he took a step back, appalled. “This car? When have I ever settled for anything

him playfully. “You came on a slow train, but

by Estrella’s tough tone, Bryce scurried into the car.

but since her identity was a secret at

from head to toe, almost bringing back the old Bryce, finally agreed to

Estrella

sell him out before asking, “Estrella, you got anything to eat here?”

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