Chatper 122

Chapter 122 Jason scooped Estrella up in his arms and headed for the bathroom after her gentle reminder.

Exhausted, Estrella lay sprawled across the bed, her thoughts racing. They’d been having sex for quite some time now, and by all accounts, there should have been some sign of pregnancy. Plus, her period was due any day, yet there was no sign of it.

The usually carefree Estrella felt her heart leap to her throat at the thought. Could she be...?

The possibility of being pregnant sent Estrella’s mind into overdrive, plotting out their future in rapid succession.

Jason sat beside her, noticing her unusual silence. “Asleep yet?” he asked, pinching the back of her neck.

“Not yet,” Estrella turned to face him.

“Come, sit with me,” Jason patted the space beside him.

Reaching for some clothes, Estrella was met with Jason’s teasing objection. “Seen it all before, haven’t I?”

“Can’t a girl be cold?” Estrella shot back with a glare that couldn’t hide her vulnerability.

Jason chuckled at her defiant look, and she dressed and sat up.

As Estrella tied her hair up with a scrunchie, she knew it was time to have a serious talk about their future.

Jason lit a cigarette, but he promptly snuffed it out at Estrella’s sidelong glance. “Estrella,” he began, then fell silent.

Yawning, she teased, “If you’ve got nothing to say, I’m off to sleep.”

Just as Estrella was about to lie back down, Jason’s stern gaze had her sitting up straight again. “Alright, alright, I’m sitting,” she grumbled internally. Was she supposed to play the doting wife without so much as a “please?”

As she sat up, Jason pulled out an exquisite little box from the nightstand and offered it to her. Estrella didn’t take it right away, staring at him instead. She knew Jason wasn’t the romantic type. There had to be a reason for this sudden gift, or else her nerves would get the better of her.

When she didn’t immediately take the box, Jason explained, “I’ve had this ring for a while now, just waiting for the right moment to give it to you.”

With that, Estrella understood. He was offering a belated wedding ring. Though they’d been getting along, it didn’t erase their past. After the wedding banquet was canceled and 1/3 09.12 they were left with a marriage certificate, Estrella spent that night alone in the Sandalwood Oasis. Šince then, she hadn’t once dreamed of rings, wedding photos, or ceremonies. All those dreams had faded the day she was left behind.

Staring at the box, Estrella teased with a laugh, “What, I wasn’t good enough before?”

Jason’s expression darkened, so Estrella quickly grabbed the box. “I’ll take it. Who am I to say no?” She wasn’t one to quarrel or embarrass anyone unless pushed too far.

Taking the box from Jason, Estrella didn’t open it right away. Instead, she turned to place it on the nightstand.

“You’re not going to look?” Jason asked.

Opening the box, Estrella admired the ring. The diamond was no ostentatious rock but a tasteful, well-sized diamond set in a simple platinum band. The craftsmanship was uncomplicated, but the taste was impeccable, and the value was undeniable.

As she gazed at the ring, memories of their shared past flashed through her mind like scenes from a movie.

–

“Jason, my leg hurts, carry me.”

– “Jason, I didn’t finish my homework. What do I do?”

– “Jason, slow down! I can’t keep up!”

– “Jason, your car’s backseat must be really comfy, huh!”

– “Jason, who do you think you are?”

– “Jason, we’re even now.”

– “Don’t ever think about having my kids.”

Estrella mused that if Holly were still here, she wouldn’t be part of the picture. Yet, fate had a way of intertwining their lives once more through the words of fortune tellers.

As the past receded, Estrella looked at the ring and smiled. “It’s beautiful.”

Staring at the ring on her finger, Estrella felt a pang of irony. This marriage, her relationship with Jason, even this ring-everything felt like she had forced it into existence.

Landon had been the one to propose the match to the Dorvold family. Though Jason had agreed, his two years of silence had given Estrella the impression that she was nothing but a shameless woman. In truth, when he had slapped her, she had braced herself for a life without him.

“Nice,” she said. As she was about to put the ring aside, Jason took it and the box, catching her off guard.

2/3 08:43 He then took the ring out, grasped her left hand, and slid it onto her ring finger. The fit was perfect, and Estrella’s hands were slender, complementing the ring as if they were made for each other. She had no doubts about Jason’s taste in aesthetics.

With a ring suddenly adorning her finger, Estrella felt a bit out of sorts, as if she was truly a married woman now and no longer free to flirt with abandon.

Feeling the weight of the ring, Estrella’s hand trembled, and Jason released her. “Remember, you’re a married woman now.

Don’t forget it,” he said.

Estrella simply smiled.

So, this ring was like a little nudge for her to remember who she was when she was out and about. To keep her from hanging around places like massage parlors, huh?

Swiveling her head towards Jason, Estrella smirked and said, “Pot calling the kettle black.” Both of them were cut from the same cloth, neither in a position to throw stones.

With that, Estrella lazily slipped under the covers, tugging the duvet to cocoon herself. Jason slid into bed behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Estrella glanced back at him and muttered a dry “Thanks.” She quickly added, “But don’t expect anything in return, okay?”

Two years into their marriage, and this was the first gift she’d ever received from Jason.

“It kind of stings,” Estrella thought. Probably, no wife had ever felt as awkward about it as she did, so she figured she’d let the whole idea of reciprocating slide. Besides, the ring had come too late to mean much of anything now!

“Jason, where the heck is your hand wandering off to now? Haven’t you had enough? What, did you pop some pills or something?”