Novel Square
Chapter 187
“So, Jason, you’ve got to sign the divorce papers. Once you do, you can live your life however you want. No one’s gonna meddle or try to stop you. Let Estrella go and give yourself a break, too!”
For years, Cole had seen everything between the young couple, and he’d lost all hope for their marriage. He even regretted listening to Landon back then, pushing for this union. His words left Jason feeling like he’d been dressed down without a corner to hide in.
Everyone kept saying he should let Estrella go, and let himself go, but when he and Estrella got married, not one person stood up to object.
Well, except for Bryce.
Jason kept his silence as Cole went on, his voice heavy with emotion. “Look, Jason, if there’s gotta be a right or wrong in this mess, it’s on me. I shouldn’t have agreed to this marriage in the first place, and I shouldn’t have let you two get together.”
“I just thought that you two have known ch other since you were kids, got along fine. Figured you’d work things out. But I never thought it’d come to this. If there’s no love lost between you two, then it’s best to part on good terms.”
Cole’s words would have been easier to take if he’d just yelled or blamed Jason, but instead, he took all the blame on the Dorvold family, and that made Jason’s face burn with shame even more. After all, it was Landon who brought in the fortune teller and came to the Dorvold family to ask for Estrella’s hand.
Estrella was right about one thing: she didn’t beg to marry him.
Even if Jason had doubts about Landon’s motives, even if he knew it was deliberate, the marriage was something he’d agreed to in the end.
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Noticing the worry in Cole’s furrowed brow, Jason stood up from his chair. “I’ll discuss things with Estrella when I see her.”
But Cole insisted, “Sign the papers, Jason. It’s for the best.” The sooner he signed, the sooner his daughter would be free.
Without a word, Jason left the study.
In his Maybach, Jason didn’t drive off immediately but just pulled over to the side of the road. Leaning his head back against the seat, he felt completely hollow inside.
He hadn’t asked about Estrella’s whereabouts because he could tell Cole wouldn’t disclose them. It was clear to him now that his marriage to Estrella was no longer supported by anyone.
With his eyes closed, all he could see was Estrella, tumbling in the yard, full of helplessness and despair. He’d known her for 23 years and had never seen her so
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vulnerable. And it was all because of him.
Should he sign the divorce papers Estrella left for him?
Having sat on the roadside for who knows how long, Jason still hadn’t come to terms with the situation. He started the car and headed back to Sandalwood Oasis.
At this moment, what he regretted and felt sorry about was that, after Estrella came back from her business trip, he hadn’t gone to see her and hadn’t contacted her all this time. He thought that not contacting her, keeping distance was their unspoken understanding. It was, indeed, an understanding so profound that Estrella’s life no longer seemed to need him. He had become superfluous, a burden to her.
He realized it had been over half a month since he had last seen Estrella. The last time was before her business trip when she tried calling him and he didn’t answer.
It wasn’t the first time she’d been hospitalized without him by her side. When she had that car accident the previous year, he didn’t even find out until much later.
Those who are loved take it for granted. He thought Estrella would
for a divorce. NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.
ever leave him, or ask
Memories flooded back, and Jason’s heart ached. He longed to see Estrella and tell her he was wrong. But since then, Estrella had been absent from Ravenwood for a long time, vanishing overnight from their lives. Internationally, however, she slowly rose to prominence as a renowned attorney known for her expertise and formidable presence-a legend in the legal world. Every case that passed through her hands was a victory, a testament to fairness and justice.
—
Three years later.
At the Ravenwood Superior Court, Estrella wrapped up another triumphant case. The opposing counsel and the judge both came over to greet her.
“Ms. Estrella, I learned quite a bit from you today.”
“Ms. Estrella, welcome back. Someone with your talent should serve their hometown and country, not stay abroad.”
“Ms, Estrella, do you plan to leave again?” asked a young judge.
After exchanging pleasantries, Estrella warmly smiled and said, “There’s still an environmental pollution case that needs attention. I’ll make further plans once it’s resolved.”
“Ms. Estrella, Ravenwood is in dire need of talents like you. We hope you’ll choose to stay.” “I’ll certainly give it a thoughtful consideration,” Estrella responded with a cheerful smile.
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She then headed to the parking lot and drove back to the Dorvold family home. As soon as she stepped inside, Isaac ran to her with open arms, “Mommy, mommy!”
Estrella’s face broke into a smile, and she scooped him up, “What tasty treat did my little baby have? Your face is all messy.”
“Strawberries,” Isaac murmured, then added with a smile, “Sweet.”
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Estrella laughed, hugging Isaac tightly and showering him with kisses.
Then, Autumn emerged from the kitchen, beaming. “Estrella, Isaac is the spitting image of
you as a child-not just in looks, but even the way he eats.”
Autumn then inquired about the morning’s case, “Did you win today?”
“Yeah,” Estrella confirmed.
Isaac wrapped his little arms around Estrella’s neck and gave her a thumbs-up, “Mommy, great.”
year-old. He spoke
Isaac, with his soft, rosy cheeks and sweet voice, was just about
slowly, still learning to string words together, his complex thoughts often reduced to single or double syllables.
“My babyis great, too,” Estrella said before planting another affectionate kiss on Isaac’s cheek. Ever since Estrella became a mom, she turned into a baby-loving maniac. Her own child was her delight. No matter how many times she looked at Isaac, she could never get enough. She’d smother her little Isaac with kisses, hundreds a day, and just the sight of him would make Estrella’s heart burst with joy. Isaac was her entire world of happiness and contentment.
No matter how exhausting her day was, the moment she walked through the door and la eyes on Isaac, it was as if Estrella had hit the refresh button on her life.
Before motherhood, Estrella wasn’t the type to fuss over kids, but having Isaac changed everything. Despite her young age, her eyes brimmed with the purest maternal love.
Autumn, witnessing this unbreakable bond, couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. “Isaac, you’re always cuddling up with Mommy” she said with a playful pout. “Your grandma loves you too, you know.
Don’t you want to give grandma some love?”
Isaac clung to Estrella even tighter, as if to show where his loyalties lay. From the moment Isaac was born, he was enveloped in Estrella’s world. The mother and son had been inseparable, not spending a single day apart.