Chapter 16

Before he could finish, Estrella’s phone buzzed inside her purse. It was a client on the other end.

Without hesitation, Estrella picked up, “Hello, Danny.”

As soon as she answered, Danny launched into a tirade of complaints, going on and on without end.

Drew’s intended words got stuck in his throat, unsaid. But what really got to him was Estrella’s constant referral to Jason as “your boss.” It struck Drew that the gap between her and Jason was widening by the minute-she didn’t even use his first name anymore.

Over ten minutes later, they pulled up to the law firm, and Estrella, still on the phone, managed a quick thanks to Drew before dashing upstairs.

That evening, Jason returned to Sandalwood Qasis, while Estrella was out of town on business. For the next three days, Jason kept coming home, but Estrella was away on business in Silverbrook. She didn’t come back once during that time. Jason got a taste of

what it was like to be home alone.

It wasn’t until Saturday afternoon, when everyone else was off, that Estrella returned from Silverbrook. She went straight to the office to catch up on work. The life of a lawyer often meant no regular hours.

Buried in case files, Estrella lost track of time. Her mom called at dusk, inviting her for dinner, but Estrella was too swamped even to eat.

Clutching her freshly organized documents in one hand and pressing the other to her stomach, she ignored the twinge of pain that had started during her train ride home.

However, following that, her stomach pain grew more intense than before, making her unable to straighten her waist. She felt weak all over, with cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

discomfort any longer, she grabbed her phone and

over, scolding her, “How on earth

the doctors diagnosed severe gastroenteritis. They admitted her and hooked her up to an IV.

stern face, “Everyone else is resting, and here you are, working yourself sick. Do you own the firm? Is all

15:22

Chapter 16

else am I supposed to do when

how things between Jason and Serene were getting out of hand, and how the office gossip had reached her ears, Jesse lost the heart to scold Estrella further. We all needed an outlet for life’s frustrations.

hospitalization, but by the next

Estrella for hours. Estrella placated her parents with a story about eating something bad while on business, then gently ushered

Jesse chuckled,

see

pocketed her hands, her smile tinged with envy. Jesse often wished for that kind of attention from her mother,

open again. To her surprise, it was Jason. “What are you doing here? Not busy today?” she asked,

“What would I be

His tone wasn’t like the old days. After a moment, she turned

Jesse,

polite request, along with her initial surprise, made it seem like Jason

a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and offering it

staring coldly at Estrella and demanding, “Estrella,

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