Chatper 128

Chapter 128 Estrella glanced at him, the discomfort of her monthly visitor painting her mood in shades of grey. “Aunt Flo’s in town, not exactly feeling chipper.”

Jason couldn’t help but chuckle. “Hang in there, and it’ll pass in a few days. I’ll make it up to you, with interest.”

His nonchalant demeanor hung in the air as Estrella simply watched him, words unspoken. Their eyes locked for a moment before Estrella, half-squinting, probed, “Jason, is there something you’re keeping from me?”

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stared at her for a long while before standing up to unfasten his tie and hang his jacket on the coat rack, asking, “What exactly are you referring to?”

Secrets and undisclosed truths were woven into the fabric of their relationship.

At his response, Estrella fell silent. What more could she pry from him if he’d already laid his cards on the table? It was better to dig up the dirt herself.

Jason turned to find Estrella turned away, silent. “Not hungry?” he asked.

With the back of her head to him, she replied, “No appetite.”

Truth be told, it was her spirits that were low. She thought she might’ve been pregnant, but a test dashed that hope, leaving her feeling as though she’d slept through the past days for naught.

Seeing her weighed down with thoughts, Jason didn’t tease her further. He changed clothes and retreated to the adjacent study.

As they prepared for bed, Estrella’s mood had not lifted. She was lukewarm in his embrace, a far cry from her usual fervor.

Days passed in this manner until Estrella’s cycle ended, and Jason’s touch reignited a spark within her. She even indulged him in trying something new. A couple of hours later, they lay in bed, spent.

Jason offered to fetch water to clean her up, but Estrella bolted upright. “I feel sticky all over. I need a shower.”

As she rose, Jason followed suit, but before he could speak, Estrella cut him off. “Don’t even think about joining me. Don’t push your luck.” With that, she dashed to the bathroom and locked the door behind her, In the bathroom, Estrella secured a sample in a box before stepping under the soothing cascade of the shower.

After her shower, she returned to bed, where Jason pulled her close. This time, she didn’t 1/3 09:15 resist and soon drifted to sleep in his arms.

The next morning, after Jason dropped her at the law firm, Estrella took a brief leave to visit the hospital. The matter that kept her up at night needed resolving. She sought to clear the fog that clouded her mind.

Later that afternoon, after accompanying Logan to meet a client, she returned to the office. A colleague called out, “Ms. Estrella, there’s a client in the lounge insisting on seeing you.”

“I’ll check it out,” she replied, striding in her sleek gray suit and heels.

Carrying two cups of coffee, Estrella pushed the door open to find a familiar face rising from the couch. “Estrella,” the woman greeted.

Estrella’s steps halted as she heard her name. She turned to face the voice, finding it vaguely familiar yet unable to place its origins.

Upon noticing the confusion on Estrella’s face, the girl clarified. “Estrella, I’m Zoey. We’ went to high school together, remember?.”

“Zoey,” Estrella suddenly connected the dots. “I knew there was something familiar about you. I just didn’t recognize you right away. It’s been years since we last met.” With a friendly chuckle, she came closer, extending a cup of coffee towards the young woman. Zoey had always been bookish, a bespectacled girl with unassuming single eyelids, leaving a fond impression on Estrella.

Zoey took the coffee from Estrella, smiled, and explained, “I had LASIK eye surgery, hence the change in appearance.”

Estrella settled down on a nearby couch, casually inquiring, “Are you here for legal consultation, or do you need to initiate a lawsuit?”

Cradling her coffee with both hands, Zoey fixed a solemn gaze on Estrella. “I have a ca that I want you to represent me on.”

With a nod, Estrella flicked on her digital voice recorder and opened her notebook. “Go on, she urged.

“Lexi, my older sister, married Nick two years ago. She’s a middle school English teacher and he’s a P.E. teacher at the same school. Despite being married for over two years, they’ve not had any children.

“Our families are quite average – my parents are accountants for some company, and my brother-in-law’s father has a regular job, while his mother is a homemaker.

“A fortnight ago, Lexi fell from her third-storey balcony. She was lucky; landed in a flower bed of the greenery below, saving her life. Still, she’s been in a coma since.

“My mother and I noticed these bruises on her while we were at the hospital. Lexi has always been one to suffer in silence, which leads us to suspect that she might’ve suffered 2/3 09.15 Chapter 128 domestic abuse.

“But Lexi’s in-laws insist they’ve never laid hands on her, attributing her bruises to the fall. Yet, those welts were clearly old, not recent.

“They claim that Lexi jumped following an argument. But Lexi would not just take her own life. It’s just not her.

“They have connections,” Zoey continued, fighting back her tears. “The local community committee and the police station have inspected the situation. Lexi never told anyone in our family about the alleged abuse, nor did the neighbors notice any such instances. They say we’re being overly sensitive and everyone’s just looking the other way.”

Tears welled up in Zoey’s eyes as she completed recounting the events. Gulping down her emotions, she managed to croak out a fervent plea, “Estrella, we plan to sue my brother-in-law. We believe he abused Lexi, leading to her subsequent fall.”

“Estrella, I’m certain Lexi wouldn’t take her life. If not for her sake, she would’ve considered our parents. She wouldn’t force them to bury their own child.”

Zoey lost her battle with her tears as she finished her plea. Her recounting of Lexi’s abuse and her current condition could barely stem the flow of emotion overwhelming her.