Chatper 118

Chapter 118 “Absolutely, absolutely, I swear it a hundred, no, a thousand times over,” Estrella conceded with feigned enthusiasm, as Jason bent down to kiss her lips once more.

–

Only after Estrella’s repeated promises that she would never set foot in another massage parlor and would not so much as glance at another man did Jason reluctantly release her.

–

Once freed, Estrella stretched out her leg and kicked Jason, cursing, “You dog.”

As Jason made to move towards her, Estrella, how frightened, braced her right hand against his chest. “I was talking about myself. I’m the dog,” she declared.

Jason couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, and instead of reprimanding her further, he pulled her into his embrace.

On guard, Estrella heard him say, “Not gonna tease you,” but then he pinched her chin as a warning, “Remember the promises you’ve just made, Estrella. Don’t forget them, or crying your eyes out won’t help you next time.”

Instead of responding directly, Estrella playfully scraped him with her toenail.

“Hmm?” Jason raised an eyebrow.

“In my eyes, from now on, there’s no one but you,” Estrella assured him.

Satisfied, Jason hugged her tightly, and then asked, “Have you eaten tonight?”

Drowsily, Estrella replied, “Yeah, I have.”

“I’ll go downstairs and bring up some ginger tea,” he offered.

“No need. I’m not so frail,” she protested.

Regardless, Jason went downstairs and insisted that Estrella drink a large bowl of the fortifying ginger tea before allowing her to sleep.

The next morning, when Estrella woke up, Jason was already dressed and on the phone by the floor-to-ceiling window. After he hung up and saw Estrella awake, he approached and tenderly stroked her forehead. “Feeling alright?”

He was worried she might have caught a cold after leaving the massage parlor in shorts, despite the ginger tea.

“I thought I was looking at my dad for a second there,” Estrella joked groggily.

Jason pinched her cheek without a smile. “If you’re awake, then get up.”/

Estrella didn’t feel like getting up, but there was a case waiting for her attention. Therefore, 1/4 she stretched and got out of bed.

After a quick breakfast at home, Jason drove her to the law firm.

At lunchtime, Jesse and Bryce showed up to dine with her. From a distance, Bryce shouted, “Estrella, Estrella!”

As Estrella approached, Bryce opened his arms wide and embraced her tightly. Damn Jason and his possessiveness. The less he wanted others to touch Estrella, the more Bryce wanted to. Remembering Jason’s bullying, Bryce deliberately rubbed his face against Estrella’s shoulder.

Estrella pushed him away with a look of disdain. “Enough with the snot on my clothes.”

Bryce clung to Estrella, cursing Jason, “Jason is no good. I shivered all night, couldn’t sleep, haunted by nightmares...” He trailed off, choosing not to share the details of his dream with Estrella and Jesse.

Jesse, with her hands in her pockets and aloof, chimed in, “Your cousin’s here.”

At her words, Bryce immediately let go of Estrella and stepped back. “Estrella, I didn’t do anything, didn’t hug you, alright!”

Estrella kicked Bryce lightly in response. “No backbone.”

The trio was notorious for throwing each other under the bus.

Watching Bryce cower, Jesse couldn’t help but laugh. Bryce looked around, realized Jesse was teasing him, and playfully chased after her to settle the score. Soon, the three of them headed to the restaurant, laughing and joking.

As the waiter finished serving, Bryce began ladling soup for them when Estrella’s phone rang. It was Jason.

When Bryce saw Jason’s name flash on the screen, his hair practically stood on end. He held his breath, silently serving soup, and signaled Estrella to take the call.

“What’s up?” Estrella answered with mild irritation.

Bryce shot her a look, urging her to be more enthusiastic, not to be too cold toward his brother. Otherwise, he’d be the one to suffer. It seemed clear to him now. Whenever Jason was annoyed, Bryce bore the brunt of it.

Jason asked, “Where are you having lunch? Who are there?”

Estrella chuckled, “Checking on me?” ed, “Checking on me?”

Without waiting for her response, Jason switched to a video call.

When Bryce saw the incoming video, he darted under the table. Estrella and Jesse could only shake their heads at his antics.

211 Bryce finally settled, and Estrella answered the vide now?”

“You’re too much of a worry,” Jason retorted.

call. Pla “Have some shame! Who’s making you worried?” Estrella shot back. She then briefly turned the camera towards Jesse before briskly ending the call.

Estrella had just hung up when Jason texted her to tell Bryce that he had been spotted. She glanced up and saw the tableware set for two. With a swift kick under the table, she informed Bryce, “No use hiding. You’ve been found out.”

“But how? I didn’t even show my face,” Bryce protested.

Jesse glanced at him. “The tableware betrayed you.”

Bryce turned to Estrella, pleading, “You’ve got to help me explain to Jason that I was just here for lunch, not taking you out to meet men” Bryce felt his luck had been rotten this year.

Jesse handed him a drumstick. “Eat up!” Then, looking at Estrella, she hinted, “You and Jason seem to be getting serious... he seems.

–

Before Jesse could finish, Bryce chuckled. “No wedding, no photos, no ring – what’s ‘serious’ about that?”

Jesse’s face fell. Her tone was tinged with irritation. “Can’t we just have a normal meal and talk like civilized people?”

Bryce swiftly scooped up his fork and knife. “Eating, I’m eating,” he stated, diving into his plate.

“Estrella, don’t listen to his nonsense,” Jesse advised Estrella. “If Jason keeps up this attitude, the matters at hand...”

Bryce interjected, with a smirk on his face, “Men just chase the thrill, the novelty. Once that’s gone, who even know you?”

As Bryce’s words hung in the air, Estrella and Jesse simultaneously shot him a glare. Bryce’s knack for being a troublemaker was something they’d recognized since they were kids, and it was no surprise Jason took every chance to put him in his place.

Not that they were on Jason’s side, but Bryce never let anyone get a word in edgewise.

Meanwhile, in Jason’s office.

Jason had just d a video call with Estrella when there was a knock on his office door. He looked up, and his expression darkened at the sight of the visitor. Drew was supposed to handle this. How did she get through?

3/4 08:32 “Jason,” Paula greeted with a brighter smile than before, after finding Jason in his office.

Jason was cool and detached. “What do you want?” he asked, as Paula approached with a lunchbox in hand.

“Jason, I came with my brother on business. I thought you might not have had lunch yet, so I brought you something to eat,” she said, holding out the lunchbox.

Jason’s demeanor was frosty. He wasn’t known for being particularly warm to strangers, and even less so to women.

Of course, Estrella was the exception. She was the one who could drive him to the brink of madness, to the point of internal bleeding.

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