Chapter 43

Chapter 43 After a brief exchange, she hung up, grabbed her car keys, and headed out the door in at hurry.

Jason had just parked his car downstairs in Serene’s old apartment when she emerged with something in a bag.

“Jason!” Spotting him, Serene scampered over Jason glanced at the ajar car door. “The bag’s inside,”

Bending down, Serene retrieved the bag and then shut the car door. “Vincent’s buried in homework, and Mom’s been pretty stable lately,” she said.

Jason just nodded, noncommittal.

Serene carried the bag over her shoulder. When she looked up at him, her eyes were shining with unspoken words. Jason, with his hands buried in his pockets, spoke with a calm edge, “With the family situation under control, maybe it’s time you started thinking about your own life, huh?”

Serene let out a sigh of resignation. “Vincent’s still a little guy, and Mom’s just stable for now. I don’t have the energy to entertain any personal distractions.”

Then, with a start, she added, “Jason, don’t get it twisted. My being single has nothing to do with you! Don’t you dare feel pressured on my account. I’ve got my own plans, my own life.”

As she rattled off her explanation, her words tumbled out faster. Despite her denial, she couldn’t fool herself. She had fallen for Jason. From the moment she laid eyes on him, he had her heart. She feared if she wasn’t single, she’d lose even the right to like him.

Jason just said, “I’m not overthinking it.”

Relieved, Serene handed him the bag. “These are homemade dumplings Vincent and I whipped up. You and Estrella should give them a try.”

Jason shrugged. “We don’t cook.”

Undeterred, Serene grabbed his hand and pressed the dumplings into his palm. “Just take them. Have Marie boil them or something.”

With her bag slipping, she readjusted it on her shoulder and added, “Vincent made me promise to give these to you. They’re fresh out of the oven.”

Jason stopped refusing. He turned and placed the pie in the backseat of his car.

Serene smiled. “It’s getting late, Jason. You should head back to Estrella. And hey, thanks 1/3 12:48 Chapter 43 for bringing my bag.

“No problem.”

W After watching Jason’s car vanish into the night, Serene turned and walked back inside.

*++

At the same time, Estrella pulled up to the train station in her Audi. As soon as she stepped out, Bryce came barreling toward her, a whirlwind of emotion, “Estrella! Estrella! I’m here!”

Estrella turned at his voice, and Bryce enveloped her in a hug. “I’ve finally made it back to Ravenwood, back to you!”

Pushing him off, Estrella eyed him critically. “What happened? Why did you come back in the middle of the night? And look at you.... you’re a mess.”

With Bryce’s disheveled hair, faded clothes, and unhealthy complexion, had it not been for his voice, Estrella wouldn’t have recognized him.

Mentioning his appearance only set him off. “It’s all my brother’s doing. Can you believe it? After I got everything sorted for him, after you agreed to the divorce, he double-crossed me. He’s banished me!”

When his thoughts turned to Jason, he became wary. “Estrella, my parents don’t know I’m back. I don’t even know how I got my hands on a train ticket. I only trust you and Jesse. Please, don’t betray me.”

Estrella eyed him skeptically. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on staying at my place.”

Bryce pleaded, “Where else would I go? I’ve been exiled because of you.”

Estrella sighed. “Clean yourself up first.”

With an “okay,” Bryce was about to get into the Audi when he took a step back, appalled. “This car? When have I ever settled for anything less than a million-dollar? You want to shake up my world even more?”

Estrella kicked him playfully. “You came on a slow train, but now you’re fussing? Get in.”

Threatened by Estrella’s tough tone, Bryce scurried into the car.

Estrella-owned several limited edition luxury cars, but since her identity was a secret at the law firm, she drove something modest.

After sprucing up Bryce from head to toe, almost bringing back the old Bryce, finally agreed to take him to her spacious apartment.

Estrella Once inside, Bryce reiterated to Estrella not to sell him out before asking, “Estrella, you got anything to eat here?”

2/3 12:48 Chapter 43 Estrella, lounging comfortably, responded, “No one’s been living here. Where would food come from? I’ll order takeout.”

Before long, a feast of barbecue delights arrived. Changing into her loungewear, Estrella rolled up her sleeves and joined Bryce in the feast.

Biting into a skewer of lamb, Bryce asked between sips and mouthfuls, “Estrella, how have things been with my brother lately?”

Chewing on her own skewer, Estrella replied nonchalantly, “Same, same as before.”

Bryce bit down hard on his food. “Why on earth did you fall for him? Aside from his good looks, a bit of smarts, some cash, and a decent physique, what’s so great about him? Why are you torturing yourself over this guy?”

Estrella looked up. “Are you trying to talk me into a breakup or into staying with him?” Bryce spat out in disgust, “Talk you into staying? Jason’s a rotten apple. I swear all the Nelson family’s vices are embodied in him. I’d be thrilled if you left him.”

As Bryce ranted on, Estrella continued eating, just handing him a lemonade when he ran out of steam.

After a tirade that exhausted him, Bryce finally paused to summarize, “Look, there’s no way I’m gonna be okay with you sticking it out with my brother.”

Estrella, exhausted by the rant, conceded, “Fine, I’ll leave him, okay? Save your sermons.”

As her words hung in the air, Bryce squinted at her with suspicion. “Wait, something’s up. Did my brother stand you up again?

Did you guys have another fight?”

Estrella froze. Was she that transparent? Was her mood so blatantly obvious that even Bryce could see it? She took a sip of her iced tea as a deflection. “Isn’t that just par for the course?”

Bryce wasn’t convinced. “No, there’s something different about you today.”

Estrella chuckled, teasing him, “Well, you are smart today.”

Bryce dropped the irreverence, propped his right foot on the chair, and faced Estrella squarely. “Out with it! What’s really going on?”

Bryce’s sudden display of earnest masculinity prompted Estrella to reveal, “Your brother went to the cemetery today.”