Novel Square
Chapter 168
When Holly was supported back into the house, she immediately saw Korey. He was walking over from the French window side, his expression not looking very pleasant.
“Hey, Korey,” she called out to him.
Korey cut to the chase, “Did you meet with Jason today?”
“Yeah. I had a little chat with him,” Holly confirmed.
At her response, Korey’s expression darkened even more. “Holly, Jason and Estrella are married now.”
Korey’s reminder made Holly chuckle, “I know that. I only met with Jason to clear up why I appeared out of the blue. He’s just a friend to me. And what about you? Don’t you have friends? Or do you not consider Estrella a friend in your heart?” Korey’s words made Holly feel like he was being hypocritical.
With his hands buried in his pockets, Korey stared at Holly, his expression unchanging because he knew she wouldn’t be as level-headed as he was.
After a long silence, Korey finally said, “Now that Jason and Estrella are married, your past with Jason is irrelevant. You don’t owe him any explanations. The best blessing you could give them is to stay out of their life.”
Holly’s already back, so what more was there to justify? No matter how she might try to explain, it all just reduced to the fact that she staged a spectacle back then.
Jason’s current wife was Estrella. Whether the whole sham of Holly faking her death. years ago was true or not, it’s not something he ought to concern himself with anymore. It’s all water under the bridge.
Right or wrong, Holly’s deceit was part of the past. At this point, Korey could only hope that Holly would keep a safe distance from Jason.
Holly had considered coming back home half a year ago, but Korey had been against it. Eventually, though, he couldn’t stand against their parents’ wishes.
In Korey’s mind, since Holly had chosen to fake her death, she should have made it permanent and never returned. After all, medical care was superior abroad, and it would be best for her and Jason to never cross paths again.
However, she insisted on coming back, and Korey had to consider that her fake death years ago and her sudden reappearance were part of her own scheming…
Holly watched him and asked, “Am I really your sister, Korey? Can’t you trust me at all?
And do
you have so little faith in Estrella that you think she can’t keep Jason?”
Korey, his hands still in his pockets, didn’t reply. Finally, he said indifferently, “I have
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something to attend to. I’ll leave first. Mom and Dad will be back later.”
With that, Korey left without waiting for a response, his car disappearing into the distance while Holly watched from the window until she could no longer see the taillights. Then, she turned and headed upstairs.
At Sandalwood Oasis, Estrella was blissfully unconcerned about Bryce’s tattling earlier that day. She carried on as usual.
That evening, after finishing her dinner alone and preparing to rest, Jason came home. Hearing him enter, Estrella lifted her gaze and casually asked, “Back already?”
“Yeah,” Jason replied, wrapping her in his arms and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Why are you still up?”
“Waiting for you,” she said, with a hint of affection in her voice.
Soon after, she caught a whiff of a delicate jasmine scent, unmistakably Holly’s signature fragrance. It had been Holly’s favorite, and she had even had a custom perfume made. It was a scent exclusive to Holly.
After a moment of closeness, Estrella suggested, “It’s getting late, you should shower.”
Jason listened to Estrella’s words and hugged her even tighter. They say men feel the most guilty when they’re unfaithful and try hardest to appear devoted in front of their wives. Estrella didn’t know if Jason was in that state now.
Eventually, at Estrella’s behest, he reluctantly gathered his clothes and headed to the
bathroom.
In the bedroom, as soon as Jason had stepped into the bathroom, Estrella swiftly grabb a fresh set of clothes and slipped into the opposite bathroom. Compared to the fragrance of jasmine, Estrella preferred the scent of gardenia flowers.
When Jason emerged and didn’t find Estrella, he went looking for her and almost bumped into her as she stepped out of the neighboring room. “Finished?” she inquired calmly.
“You’d already showered, hadn’t you?” Jason asked, puzzled.
“I spilled something,” Estrella replied nonchalantly.
Jason sensed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint it. Estrella, feigning tiredness, declared she was heading to bed and climbed in.
Jason followed suit, but in the days that followed, he became increasingly busy, coming home later and later, sometimes not at all. Estrella didn’t call to ask. Such behavior was nothing new to her. Once you’ve experienced something like this, its recurrence doesn’t shake you as much.
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Besides, she had already achieved her goal.
That morning, Cole had just returned from a meeting when his assistant hurried over with news, “Chairman, Mr. Jason from Nelson International is here.”
“Jason?” Cole questioned.
“Yes, he has come over.”
Hearing the confirmation, Cole quickened his pace back to his office. It was unusual for Jason to visit the company. What could have prompted this sudden appearance?
When Cole pushed open the office door and entered, Jason set down the financial magazine he was flipping through, getting up from his seat.
“Hello.”
“Jason, what brings you here today?” Cole inquired, nodding to his assistant. “Brew Mr. Jason a pot of our finest coffee, please.”
The assistant promptly set out to prepare a fresh pot.
Soon after, a steaming cup of coffee was placed before them. Cole, with a warm smile, poured the dark liquid into Jason’s cup and asked, “So, Jason, what’s on your mind today?”
Taking a sip of the rich brew, Jason replied at a leisurely pace, “I came by to discuss the project in the New District of Silverbrookwith you.”
At the mention of the project, a subtle change flickered across Cole’s face, and a twinge concern echoed in his chest. The New District of Silverbrook was the jewel in the crow for Nelson International, yet the Innovative Solutions Inc. was vying for it as well.
Cole’s thoughts immediately went to the Innovative Solutions Inc., owned by Holly’s unc essentially a legacy of her maternal grandparents’ empire. Holly, for her part, was currently working there.