Chapter 132

Chapter 132 “I’m gonna pop by the boss’ office and let him know I’m heading out early.” If it wasn’t for Kristin’s call, Estrella would’ve totally spaced on the whole thing.

On the other end, Kristin said, “Jason’s gonna pick you up later. You guys can head back together.”

“Cool,” Estrella chuckled. “If I bump into him, we’ll ride back together.”

After hanging up, Estrella quickly said her goodbyes to Logan and left.

The car had barely started when Jason’s call came through, “I’m downstairs.”

On her end, Estrella replied, “I’m almost at the old house.”

With a click, he hung up, knowing all too well she had done it on purpose.

In her Audi, Estrella nonchalantly tossed her phone on the dashboard after the call dropped.

“Estrella, you made it!”

“Hey, Estrella.”

“Estrella!”

As soon as she stepped into the yard, Kristin greeted her with a beaming smile, and the older folks of the Nelson clan warmly called out her name.

Smiling and exchanging pleasantries, Estrella walked in to find Thomas, Grayson and her parents had already arrived. After mingling a bit, she found a spot in the yard to sit and browse her phone.

Keith and Amber’s casual family gathering always featured chefs from top-notch hotels cooking up a storm at home. It was a tight-knit affair, with only close friends and relatives attending – not just anyone could snag an invite!

“What’s up, Ella? What game are you playing?”

“Ella, that looks super fun!”

Lounging in a deck chair, engrossed in her phone, Estrella was soon surrounded by a group of kids.

“I’m gaming! Just wait till I lose this round, and you can have a turn,” Estrella said, her fingers flying over the screen as she played Snake.

That was when Kristin approached. “Estrella, hasn’t Jason come in yet?”

Estrella glanced up, “I took off early with the boss’ approval. He’s trailing behind.”

11.33 After her response, Kristin had a sinking feeling – the couple must’ve been at odds again. They’d been getting along so well recently, hadn’t they?

The last spat between Estrella and Jason had slipped under Kristin’s radar.

With the place bustling, Kristin refrained from prying, but she suspected Jason was at fault, likely due to something involving that Serene girl.

Estrella wanted kids and had always been easygoing. Kristin figured the trouble couldn’t be Estella’s fault.

As Kristin mulled over the potential cause of their argument, Jason strolled in, unfazed. He cast a brief glance at Estrella, swarmed by children, then headed straight inside without a greeting.

From the sidelines, Kristin was watching. The more she observed their cold war, the more convinced she became that they had indeed had a falling out.

As dusk fell and a chill set in outside, Estrella led the kids indoors without acknowledging Jason, acting as though he were a stranger. Jason, meanwhile, was engrossed in watching Thomas Grayson and others play cards, his gaze never straying toward Estrella. With the kids now monopolizing her phone, Estrella stood up to fetch some snacks from the kitchen. Kristin quickly followed.

“Hey,” Estrella greeted her with a smile as Kristin approached.

“Estrella, are you and Jason fighting?” Kristin, ever the straight shooter, went straight to the point without beating around the bush.

Estrella replied with a light laugh, “Just a little spat.”

Having long picked up on the facade of happiness, Kristin joined Estrella and began helping her wash some grapes. “Weren’t things fine just a while ago? Didn’t you say you were trying for a baby? What happened for you two to stop talking all of a sudden?”

Before Estrella could answer, Kristin continued, “I could tell you two had a tiff the moment you didn’t come in together.” She added, “Estrella, how’s the baby situation? Having a child could resolve a lot of the tension between you. Sometimes, a child can be the peacemaker in a marriage.”

The talk of children brought Estrella’s grape-washing hands to a halt. For other couples, a child might’ve been a peacemaker, but for her and Jason, Estrella wasn’t so sure. If anything, a baby might’ve just amplified their issues.

After a pause, Estrella turned to Kristin. “Mom, Jason’s been... using contraception.” Estrella decided to spill the beans about Jason, not wanting to end up holding the bag. Besides, laying out the situation for Kristin could prepare her for the reality that she and Jason might not last much longer.

When Estrella revealed that Jason was taking preventive measures, Kristin felt like her brain was about to explode. Once she grasped the gravity of what had happened, her temper flared. That no-good son of hers was actually taking precautions behind Estrella’s back.

With a stormy expression, Kristin crushed the grapes in her hand, recalling how Jason had sweet-talked her about having Estrella get pregnant by the year’s end and making her a grandmother the following year. It was all just a stalling tactic.

How could she have given birth, to such a brat?

1.

How could he go behind Estrella’s back like that? How did Estrella feel? Where did that leave her dignity? She’s a woman, for heaven’s sake!

At that moment, Kristin didn’t need to ask whether the childbearing issue was the root of their argument and why Estrella had come to the old house alone.

Kristin tried to steady her tumultuous emotions, gearing up to console Estrella and concoct some excuse for Jason, when Estrella spoke in a subdued tone, “If Jason doesn’t want to, let’s not push him. It’s not easy for him either.”

That set Kristin off. “I don’t care about what he finds easy! I care about what makes you and me feel at peace.”

She couldn’t fathom Jason’s casual attitude. After all, wasn’t she the daughter-in-law they had finally welcomed with open arms?

Others like Korey would give anything to be in his shoes!

The nerve of Jason!

After venting her frustration, Kristin turned back to Estrella and probed, “Hold on, Estrella, what did you mean by what you just said? What’s this ‘if Jason doesn’t want to, let it be?”

Estrella faced Kristin and explained, “Jason and I have both tried our best in this marriage. If we push it further, I’m afraid the conclusion will be even less amicable, possibly leading to more strain.”

They had known each other for 23 years; parting on good terms seemed the best choice rather than ending up in a situation too awkward for both families to bear.

At Estrella’s words, Kristin panicked. “Estrella, can’t we give it another shot? I’ll talk some sense into Jason. Don’t be so negative. What if those predictions turn out to be true? What then?”

Kristin would never have brought up the matter of fortunetelling if Estrella hadn’t made her stance clear. Deep down, Kristin knew all too well that those prophetic words influenced a significant part of Estrella’s reason for marrying Jason.

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