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Chapter 257
Jason’s voice was sharp with irritation, Estrella cringed under its weight.
She had lied simply to avoid Jason’s temper tantrum, not wanting to make a scene. Yet, here he was, well-informed of her whereabouts. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
Clearing her throat, Estrella was about to speak when Jason cut in with a frosty tone, “Estrella, if you don’t want me to turn the tables upstairs and want to save dignity for everyone, you’ve got two minutes to get down here.”
Estrella’s face soured. Why, she thought indignantly, should he have any say over her actions? They had already signed the divorce papers; he had no hold over her anymore.
Then she glanced at the man sitting across from her, who looked honest and reliable but not her type, so she used Jason’s call as an excuse to apologize to her date and slip out of the diner after hastily paying the bill.
Soon, she was in the open-air parking lot, Jason’s car already waiting. The anger was palpable even through the open car window.
Squinting at him, Estrella wondered what right he had to be upset with her. Their eyes locked, and Jason’s glare was practically lethal
When Estrella turned to leave, Jason blocked her path and pushed her into the car. The car door slammed shut, and with a stony face, Jason drove off. Neither spoke. In battles like these, the first to speak usually lost. Estrella was under pressure, in a bad mood, and she wasn’t about to back down from a fight.
After a tense drive, they reached Jason’s upscale apartment complex. He dragged her out of the car and into the elevator. Once they reached his duplex penthouse, he pushed her inside. Stumbling, Estrella turned and threw her purse at him in frustration, “What are you trying to do?”
The purse hit him and fell to the floor, where he casually kicked it aside.
“Explain yourself, Estrella. What were you doing just now?” Jason demanded with an air of righteous indignation.
Estrella chuckled dryly, “What, looking for a father for Isaac is interfering with you now?”
Her candid response nearly choked Jason. He had been less enraged when he thought she still showed some consideration by lying. Now, her casual admission made him want to kill the man she had been meeting.
Jason’s stare was red with fury, and Estrella retorted, “I’ve explained myself. Now, I’ll go back to my date.”
As she headed for the door, Jason couldn’t swallow his pride and grabbed her arm. “Do
think you can leave without my permission?” He threatened.
you
09:41
Estrella laughed off his threat and reminded him, “Jason, you can’t possibly be this forgetful. We’re no longer husband and wife. We’re divorced.”
Estrella’s words hit Jason like a punch to the gut, leaving him seething with both anger and resentment. Just a few days ago, he’d been threatening Holly not to do anything foolish, vowing to make her pay with her life if she dared. Estrella, on the other hand, was seemingly happy to move on and start dating. Frustrated and livid, Jason vented, “Are you taking me for granted, Estrella? Is this your way of mocking my feelings?”
Estrella, arms crossed over her chest, responded defiantly, “How am I supposed to feel about you? In what way have I mocked your feelings? After all, we’re both unattached. And it’s only a matter of time before I find a father for Isaac. I even discussed this with you.”
Estrella claimed she had given him a heads up about the situation, leaving Jason speechless. He silently drifted towards the large window, lighting up a cigarette for himself.
He remembered her talking about finding a father for Isaac, but he’d brushed it off, believing she was trying to rile him up. Or perhaps she was offering him an opportunity, a chance to step up and be Isaac’s father. The thought that she would actually go ahead with dating caught him off guard.
It dawned on him that Estrella had always been unpredictable.
As Jason smoked silently, his back to her, Estrella tried to open the room door, but found it was locked from the inside, and only he could unlock it.
She had fully planned to have a heated exchange with Jason, even expecting him to lose his temper. But his quiet retreat had taken her by surprise. Before she got in more than a few words, obviously expecting more of a reaction, he’d fallen silent.
The unexpected turn left Estrella somewhat deflated, and she decided to leave. After taking a moment to stare at Jason’s retreating form, she said, “Jason, this isn’t getting us anywhere. Open the door.”
Jason expelled a puff of smoke and turned to face her, his expression a mixture of resentment and bitterness. “Open the door for what? So you can run off to some date? Go running into the arms of another man?”
Despite Jason’s harsh words, Estrella held her peace. She simply watched him and retorted, “Let’s call it quits, shall we? Neither of us is a saint. I’m not blaming you, but you’re no angel yourself.”
Estrella’s words got under Jason’s skin. She could say whatever she wanted about him, but he drew the line at accusations about his character. Previously, he didn’t bother setting the record straight, choosing to let her rant. But now, he refused to allow those misperceptions to persist. When it came to matters of character and relationships, he prided himself on being above reproach.
09:41
With this in mind, he vehemently responded, “Don’t project your guilt onto me. How exactly am I no better?”
Staring right back at him, Estrella chuckled lightly. “Jason, don’t get too cocky. Wasn’t it you who said that everything done in the dark comes to light?”
She let the implication hang in the air before adding, “Holly visited the Sandalwood Oasis just a few days ago, didn’t she? Don’t bother denying it.”