Chapter 171

hapter 171 Estrella couldn’t help but let out a sardonic laugh as she set aside her book and turned to Jason, her eyes alight with a mocking glint. “Jason, since when do you have any right to ask my dad to drop a project?”

Before Jason could muster a response, Estrella continued, her voice dripping with indifference, “And what exactly does Holly’s latest job have to do with the Dorvold family?”

Her casual dismissal left Jason speechless, his mouth opening and closing without a sound.

As they locked eyes, Estrella calmly removed Jason’s hand from her arm, slid out of bed, and walked over to her desk. She picked up the two contracts and turned back to Jason. “Since my father promised you the project, then even if it sticks in my throat, I’ll swallow it. Get the paperwork done tomorrow. From here on out, let’s go our separate ways and never cross paths again.”

Estrella felt she was using all her composure and strength by not demanding the project back or lashing out at him. She considered the project a payback for the baby in her belly, and after this, she owed him nothing. Anything related to Estrella would have nothing to do with Jason. Whether it was Holly or Serene, he could keep up his entanglements with whoever he pleased.

Jason’s temper flared as he saw Estrella with the agreement. “Estrella, have you lost your mind? Don’t think you can threaten me with a divorce.”

She had lost her mind? Estrella’s amusement turned to anger at the accusation. She shot back with a sharp laugh, “Me? Losing my mind? Jason, you’ve really lost all shame.” Then she added, “What if I am threatening you? There’s no point in pretending here. Let’s just get this over with and move on with our lives.”

She knew all too well that the Silverbrook project was just the beginning. It wasn’t about not being able to beat Holly and Innovative Solutions Inc.; it was laughable to go-to such lengths for a man who didn’t have a place for her in his heart.

Serene or Holly, it seemed anyone mattered more to Jason than she did. But why should she, or any woman, hang her hopes on one man when the world was so vast? She -refused to play that game any longer. She had her pride, and she wouldn’t beg Jason to love her or stay with her, making their marriage seem like a debt she owed him.

Estrella’s mocking tone and her insistence on a divorce left Jason looking particularly sour. He stared at her for a moment before he said, “Forget about the divorce, Estrella. It’s not happening.”

Estrella chuckled, “Afraid of taking the blame? Worried about what people will say? Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. You don’t need to...”

1/3 14:37 She was cut off as Jason abruptly grabbed her face. “Have you become addicted to causing scenes, Estrella?”

Unable to contain her fury any longer, Estrella retorted, “Jason, we’ve known each other for years. Let’s part on good terms and save some dignity for one another.”

“What dignity do you want? Me asking the Dorvold family to voluntarily step back is already giving you the utmost dignity.

Otherwise, do you think your dad’s company would have had a chance if I had stepped in?” Jason spat out.

His outburst left Estrella utterly furious, realizing that in his mind, he felt she should be grateful that he hadn’t destroyed the Dorvold family.

Suppressing her anger, Estrella’ said with a sneer, “So, Jason, are you planning to go to war with my family over Holly?”

“Fine.” she exclaimed, pushing his hand away. Let’s see who’s more capable.”

With that, Estrella called her father Cole, her voice calm. “Dad, don’t pull out of the Silverbrook project. I’ll take it on.

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Cole said, “Alright, Estrella. Whatever decision you make, I’m behind you.” If his daughter couldn’t stomach the situation, they wouldn’t either. If things got ugly, so be it. Pride was at stake.

Seeing Estrella stir up trouble again, Jason was beyond frustrated. He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned to gaze out the floor-to-ceiling window.

Estrella, noticing his distraction, went to the closet and grabbed a set of clothes for going out. As she began to change, Jason approached and grabbed her wrist. “Can’t you stop throwing a tantrum?”

Estrella, slapped his face in retaliation, her anger boiling over. “Get out, Jason me.”

Jason’s cheek burned from the slap, his grip tightening on her arm as he pulled Refusing to yield, Estrella said, “I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have provoked you, agr this marriage, or been with you. Is that okay? Can I now make amends for you? Onc we’re divorced, you can be with whoever you want, openly and freely.”

Jason looked down at her and swallowed hard. “Estrella, all this over a single project?”

Estrella couldn’t contain her scorn. “Just a project? Yes, I’m divorcing you over a project. What else do you think you are to me, more important than money and benefits?”

“Jason, I’ve seen shameless people, but never someone as shameless as you. Nearly three years married, and what have you given me? What benefits have my family taken from you? What gives you the right to demand my father give up the project?

“If the company was under my wing, I wouldn’t mind going toe-to-toe with you, but my 2/3 14:37 ch dad? He’s your elder, your father-in-law. How do you have the nerve to ask him to step aside for Holly? Where do you think that leaves me, and where does that put my dad and the Dorvold family?

“You want to treat Holly well, I have no beef with that, but you’ve got no right to mess with my family’s legacy.”

When Jason dropped that bombshell about there was no hope for Dorvold Group if he had interfered, Estrella felt utterly done with the whole charade. Divorce seemed like the only option left-she couldn’t even bring herself to be angry anymore.

Jason was about to reply when Estrella cut back in, “Jason, being with you is downright exhausting, it’s like running a marathon for the heart and mind. We’ve been hitched for nearly three years now. How many times has your mom had me on a wild goose chase for infidelity? How often have you come back home, lent a hand to Serene, or paid a visit to my family? What have you actually given me?”

“I didn’t want to dredge up the past, but with the way you’re acting, I have to. Otherwise, you’ll keep thinking I owe you something.

“I’ll admit, I married you because of those fortune-teller’s words, but you haven’t exactly made these years a walk in the park.

Let’s just call it even.”

After a pause, Estrella added, “And now that Holly’s back, let’s find a day that works for you and get the paperwork done. Set me free, and set yourself free too.”

Her words clogged Jason’s heart with a mixture of emotions. He had thought she was scheming to marry him, and she wouldn’t let go so easily, but time and again, she had shown her willingness to drop him and their marriage like a hot potato.

As Jason stared at her in silence, Estrella grabbed a coat from the bed and her pajamas.

When she looked back at Jason, her hands twitched momentarily. Lifting he she noticed the ring he had given her still encircling her finger.