Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Estrella glanced up to see a sleek black sedan roll to a stop in front of her, the rear window sliding down to reveal Korey calling out to her from the backseat. A smile broke across her face as she greeted him. “Hey, Korey.”

Korey nodded affirmatively and offered, “I’ll give you a ride home.”

When Estrella hesitated, not moving towards the car, Korey elaborated, “I’m heading to Sandalwood Oasis. It’s on the way.”

Clearly, he was well-informed about Estrella’s recent goings-on.

w open the With Korey insisting and his secretary having already stepped out to courteously open door for her, Estrella felt obliged to get in.

Once inside, Korey chuckled, “It’s been a while, Estrella returned the smile, “Yeah, it’s been ages.”

Two years ago, before she and Jason got married, Korey came to the Dorvold family to propose, and she turned him down.

When Korey was transferred away from Ravenwood, he had asked to meet up one last time. At that moment, she had been vacationing with Jesse. So, their parting stretched over two long years.

As they started to move, Estrella shifted the conversation to Korey, asking, “So, are you back for good or just on vacation?”

“I’ve been transferred back. The official notice should arrive any day now.”

“You must have been promoted. Congratulations in advance.”

The secretary, noticing Korey’s good spirits that evening, turned to Estrella and said, “Ms. Estrella, Mr. Korey has been promoted to mayor.”

Estrella burst into laughter. “I guess I’ll have to start buttering you up, Korey.”

Korey laughed along, “If you really did, I’d be over the moon.”

“Don’t get annoyed by me, though.”

However, Korey had Estrella pegged just right; she was never one to cozy up to people, regardless of their power or position.

Meanwhile, in the hospital.

As the doctor finished treating the wound on Serene’s forehead, she turned to Jason with an embarrassed apology, “Jason, I’m sorry for the trouble and for wasting your time 15:23 again.”

Jason didn’t engage with her apology, simply asking, “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Serene shook her head no.

“Then I’ll take you home.”

Throughout the drive, Jason’s expression remained impassive, as if he were sitting next to a puff of air.

Clinging tightly to the seatbelt, Serene watched him for a moment before venturing to speak, “I don’t know what’s gotten into my mom lately. Her condition seems to be getting worse, and the episodes more frequent. Luckily, Vincent’s been staying at a teacher’s place these days, or he would’ve been terrified by today’s incident.”

Serene’s injury was the result of her mother’s latest bout that evening. With Drew handling her mother’s situation, Jason had no choice but to accompany Serene to the hospital. Gripping the steering wheel, Jason glanced at Serene and suggested, “Have you considered hospitalization?”

He was referring to a psychiatric facility.

Serene shook her head, “No, I’ll take care of her myself.”

Jason reminded her, “Your last check-up wasn’t great. You might feel more at ease if she is taken to the hospital.”

After a heavy sigh, Serene said, “If we send her there, she might never come out. She might never live a normal life again. I’d rather care for her myself. I believe she’ll get better.”

With that, Jason dropped the subject.

As silence fell between them, Jason’s phone suddenly rang. Thomas’ voice came through, “Jason, Korey’s back in town.”

The news of Korey’s return visibly soured Jason’s mood. Then Thomas added, “I just saw him pick up Estrella.”

Jason’s reaction was palpable. He ended the call and angrily tossed his phone onto the dashboard.

Startled, Serene asked from the passenger seat, “Jason, what’s wrong?”

Ignoring her, Jason floored the accelerator, dropping Serene off at her place within minutes.

She got out, and before she could even say goodbye, Jason sped off.

Left behind, Serene watched his car disappear with a poignant sense of loss. It had to be about Estrella.

15:23 Having known Jason for over a decade, Serene had never seen him this upset over anyone else, unless it involved Estrella.

Right. There was also another woman. A formidable one.

It wasn’t until Jason’s car had vanished from view that Serene, after lingering outside for a while, turned to head back home.

Twenty minutes later, Jason returned home with a stony expression. Marie looked at him in surprise, “Sir, didn’t you leave, with Ms. Estrella? Why are you back early and alone?”

Jason’s mood worsened. “Estrella’s not back yet?”

“No, not yet.”

With that, Jason loosened his tie, fished a cigarette and lighter from his pocket, and headed upstairs.

Standing by the bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling window, smoking and staring into the night, he stewed over the call with Thomas.

As he reached for his phone to have Drew check on Estrella, the bedroom door swung open.

Spotting Jason at home, Estrella asked in surprise, “You’re back?”

Despite Jason having left her earlier, Estrella wasn’t holding any grudges. Jason, on the other hand, was not so forgiving. He stubbed out the remaining half of his cigarette and asked coldly, “How did you get back?”