Chapter 13

Chapter 13 For some reason, Jason felt like those words were aimed at him, like she was telegraphing her own feelings in a roundabout way. She was trying to say that she’d put in the effort, she’d been committed, and if he was even considering a divorce, he better be ready for Estrella to take the gloves off and fight tooth and nail for what she deserved.

“Ms. Estrella, I get the logic, but I just can’t swallow it. He just dusts off his hands after the divorce and marries some young thing in the blink of an eye. And me? What about all my years of youth, and everything I’ve done for this family, and for him?” she raged over the phone. “Am I supposed to go find myself some young stud now?”

Estrella replied with a chuckle, “Why not? Jo, you can snag a young one too.”

The woman on the other end of the line burst into laughter, “Ms. Estrella, you’re a breath of fresh air, a real comfort. I love talking to you.”

Estrella quipped back, “I’m just picking up tips from your experiences, Jo.”

Jason’s expression darkened. It seemed Estrella was using these divorce cases as -practice, hustling to build an empire for some young gun in her future.

“Ms. Estrella, you’re young, and you don’t understand. Me and my husband, we met in our twenties, back when he was...”

The woman on the phone was ready to pour her heart out, and Estrella listened intently, feeling a crick in her neck, so she sprawled on the bed with the phone clutched to her ear. Lying down, she covered the mouthpiece and whispered to Jason, “Client’s going through a tough divorce. I need to comfort her.”

Jason gave her a nonchalant look and went back to his book.

The client talked and talked, from how she met her husband thirty years ago, to how she supported him through their struggles, their children, and everything.

This went on from early evening until nearly midnight, and Estrella dozed off unknowingly on the bed while the middle-aged woman kept on about her hardships.

Jason, however, stayed awake, nearly driven to the brink of madness. At that moment, he profoundly appreciated Estrella’s stoicism and brevity. Otherwise, he felt he might actually lose his mind.

The vintage clock on the nightstand struck twelve, and the woman finally took a deep breath, “Ms. Estrella, thank you for listening all night. It’s late, and you have work tomorrow. Get some rest.”

Jason picked up Estrella’s phone and responded with a flat “Hmm.

15:21 The woman, too caught up in her own emotions, didn’t realize she was speaking to a man and after a few more words with Jason, finally ended the call.

With a flick, Jason tossed the phone aside, staring at Estrella who had fallen asleep on the bed. He remembered how she came home earlier, arm in arm with him, smiling and teasing, “Jason, let’s make a baby!”

Jason’s mood soured at the thought. Every time she dangled the possibility in front of him, and just when he showed a hint of interest, she’d leave him hanging.

Annoyed, when Estrella’s leg accidentally brushed against him, he kicked her away without thinking.

He turned off the lights and laid down silently beside her. Estrella, like a kitten, snuggled into his arms, mumbling, “Jason, you jerk. Don’t...”

Every time she got to the crux, Jason couldn’t make out the words, but he knew they weren’t good.

“Jason.”

“Here.”

He answered her softly and pulled the blanket over her.

The night was serene. The glow from the bedside lamp was a rare warmth in the room as Jason’s thoughts drifted to the past.

– Jason, you’re worse than me.

Without all this, or the Nelson family, would we have even come this far?

That one time, he had slapped Estrella. The first and only time he ever raised his hand to a woman. He’d never imagined that he could ever come to hurt Estrella.

The past was too painful to dwell on. Jason switched off the small bedside lamp and closed his eyes.

The next morning, as Estrella woke up, Jason was already dressed by the window, tying his tie.

Seeing that Jason was ready to leave, Estrella, still groggy, muttered, “Jason, we need to make up for last week.” She had intended to get down to business the previous night but somehow had fallen asleep without realizing it Jason didn’t respond and left the house.

Downstairs, Drew and the driver were waiting for him. In the car, Jason took the documents from Drew and asked without emotion, “What happened last night?”

Drew reported, “Ms. Serene’s mom had an episode last night, but it’s handled now. Her brother’s got her staying with a teacher temporarily.”

15:21 He continued, “Ms. Serene’s not doing too well either.”

“Keep an eye on her.”

“Will do, Sir.”

“And Sir, the legal transfer is complete. Justice Guardians LLP will handle the company’s legal affairs from now on.”

Jason looked disdainful, “Estrella only handles divorce cases. What does she know about corporate law? From now on, all legal matters go through me.”

“Understood, Sir,” Drew acknowledged.

Back at the villa, Estrella got ready and headed straight to the courthouse. She had a divorce case, another one Jason would scoff at.

Aside from the Nelson International projects, her caseload was nearly all divorce or petty civil matters.

Even though she had reminded Jason to come home that evening, he didn’t seem to take it to heart. Estrella waited at home until bedtime, but Jason didn’t show up. And for the following days, he didn’t return, effectively letting the issue expire.

On that Friday evening, after sharing a hearty meal with Grayson and the other execs at a swanky downtown steakhouse, Jason was all set to be chauffeured back to Sandalwood Oasis. That was when Drew, his face a mask of sheer panic, rapped urgently on the car window. “Sir,” he blurted out, breathless, “Ms. Serene’s in trouble.”

_____ 15.21