Novel Square
Chapter 175
Estrella listened to Jason’s inquiry with a calmness that seemed to come naturally to her. “If you’re worried, let’s go to the hospital tomorrow for a checkup, okay?”
The calmness in Estrella’s voice only seemed to stir something in Jason. “We need to talk,” he said.
“Fine, let’s talk at the town hall,” Estrella replied without missing a beat.
At the mention of the town hall, Jason, without another word, snapped his phone shut. This was the second time he had sought her out on his own initiative. The last time he came over, it was to apologize for something he’d blurted out in a moment of anger. Yet, she was relentless, and he thought to himself, Screw it, I’m not putting up with this anymore.” With extreme irritation, he tossed his phone onto the dashboard and started the car with a scowl, making a sharp turn and leaving without looking back.
Estrella hadn’t been back to Sandalwood Oasis for a while now, and with all the drama, she still wanted a divorce. Jason was nearing his breaking point. He had thought she would cool off after a while, and when he came over to offer an olive branch, she would gracefully accept it. Instead, she seemed to have made herself quite comfortable on her high horse. If she didn’t want to make up, that was just fine by him. He was tired of trying
anyway.
Upstairs, Estrella exhaled sharply as she saw Jason hang up the phone. Her heart rate accelerated. Jason was astute, guessing that she might be pregnant amidst the chaos.
Her right hand gently touched her belly, relieved that the baby was too young to show any signs. Otherwise, the Nelson family would never allow them to split up.
The following morning, as Estrella readied herself to leave, she was startled to find Jason leaning against her front door, looking utterly dejected. “What’s wrong with you, showing up here so early in the morning?” she said, taken aback.
She took a closer look at him. In the 23 years she’d known him, she’d never seen him look so disheveled, with stubble on his chin and upper lip, and numerous cigarette butts littering the ground. Even when Holly had passed away, he hadn’t looked like this.
Disdainfully rolling her eyes at him, Estrella said, “We’re heading to the town hall, right? Since I have promised you a divorce, I’ll see it through. A phone call would have been enough to let me know.” If there was such a lack of trust between them, what was the point of continuing this charade?
After she spoke, Jason’s already haggard face seemed to darken even further. He approached her, grabbed the back of her neck, and ushered her into the elevator.
Estrella grabbed his wrist. “We are about to get a divorce. Don’t touch me,” she warned, then added, “Any past climax on my part was nothing short of charity.”
Jason was silent for a moment before asking flatly, “Didn’t you ever enjoy it?” Besides, he never said he was going to take her to go through the procedures.
“Sure I did,” Estrella replied with a hint of sarcasm. “But let’s not talk about money. I don’t hold much dear, except for cash.”
As Jason coldly shot her a glance, he maintained his grip on the back of her neck and pulled her closer into his embrace.
Estrella stumbled into his arms, and as she reached to pull his hand away, Jason noticed the bandage still wrapped around her ring finger. His heart clenched for a moment before he let go of her neck and took her hand instead.
They stood motionless in the elevator until it reached the ground floor. Jason held onto her hand without letting go, prompting Estrella to ask, “What are you trying to do, Jason?” At her question, Jason didn’t step out of the elevator. Instead, he turned to face her and asked bluntly, “Do you want to charge a fee? Ten thousand? A hundred thousand?”
He then took out his wallet, slid a bank card into her other hand, and said casually, “The PIN is 123456. That should cover your fee
After speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he opened the elevator door and pulled Estrella out with him.
Estrella’s temper flared. She threw the bank card at the back of his head, exclaiming, “Jason, when will you ever be done with this?”
The card hit his neck and fell. Jason stopped, turned, and picked up the card, realizing that Estrella was becoming increasingly stubborn and difficult to handle.
Their eyes met. Sensing Estrella’s displeasure, Jason didn’t lash out. Instead, he simpl took her wrist and led her outside the building.
Once outside, Jason opened the passenger door of the car and ushered Estrella in. A Jason had pushed her into the car, Estrella didn’t bother with the seat belt. Instead, sh crossed her arms and turned to look out the window.
Since she wouldn’t even grace him with a glance, Jason leaned in and fastened the sea belt for her. As he did so, he looked at Estrella and said, “There are some things I don’t know how to tell you, but
there’s nothing going on between Holly and me.”
Hearing this, Estrella laughed mockingly. “Nothing going on, yet you can do all that for h even trampling my family’s interests. If there is anything between you in the future, what’l be left for me then?”
“That will never happen,” Jason replied.
Estrella turned away again, prompting Jason to gently pinch her face, forcing her to look at him. “I went too far with what I said the other day. I apologize.”
But Estrella was fixated on something else. “Did you bring the documents?”
Jason let go of her face abruptly. “So everything I just said was pointless to you?” He rummaged through her bag and, and to his dismay, he pulled out her documents.
His expression darkened. “What are you playing at, Estrella?”
“Always ready to finalize the paperwork,” she responded nonchalantly. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.
Jason was so infuriated he could barely breathe. With a cold glance, he started the car and drove off with her.
As Jason fumed, Estrella felt a sense of satisfaction. She wasn’t a child to be pacified with a few sweet words. He really had some nerve to think it would be that easy.
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Jason thought about the documents in Estrella’s bag, and his face grew even gloomier. The entire drive was silent.
Recalling how close they used to be, with Estrella clinging to him every night, Jason’s expression grew even more sour. Damn it, he thought, women are so heartless, turning on you faster than flipping a page.
When they reached a crossroads, Estrella noticed that he didn’t turn right towards the town hall but continued straight ahead. She reminded him, “Jason, the town hall is to the right.”
Jason threw her a casual glance, “Who said I’m heading to the town hall?”
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Estrella, feeling annoyed yet amused, retorted, ‘If you’re not going to there, then what are you doing at my doorstep so early in the morning?”
Jason ignored her and kept driving. It was then that Estrella began to catch on to his intentions. He suspected she was pregnant and was taking her to the hospital for
confirmation.
When Jason parked the car at the hospital’s parking lot, Estrella crossed her arms an refused to get out. Jason walked around the car to the passenger side, opened the do and, leaning on the frame, he bent down to look at Estrella, “You’re not getting out?”
Estrella was firm, “Let’s hit the courthouse first and make it official, then I’ll come for the check-up.”
Jason couldn’t help but chuckle, “So, I should divorce you first, and then let you monopolize the baby? As if I’ve worked my tail off just to hand you everything on a silver platter.”
Estrella, clutching her purse, smacked him with it, “Jason, you’re shameless, even more than I am. Besides, it’s not like you don’t work hard with other women. After knowing each other for so many years, what’s the big deal if you give my a baby? It’s your duty.”
Jason raised an eyebrow, “So, you are pregnant?”