abcnovels
Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Chapter 68
Jason's face was a picture of exasperation. Gripping Estrella’s wrists with both hands, he remarked with a smirk, “Trying to mooch off me again, huh? Having a bit too much fun at my expense?”
Estrella wriggled her right hand free and playfully smacked his shoulder. “Can't there be at little trust between us?”
Jason wrapped his right arm around her waist, pulling her close. “Looks like someone’s more spirited in the morning.” He whispered teasingly into Estrella’s ear,
which was enough to make her face turn a shade of pink.
As Jason held her by the waist, Estrella was about to retort when suddenly, the bedroom door burst open. “Estrella, you're still not up? Taking the day off work today?” They both turned sharply, to find Kristin bustling in.
At the doorway, Kristin froze at the scene before her. After a moment, she regained her composure. “Oh, Jason’s home! Carry on, you two, carry on.”
With that, Kristin closed the door behind her, leaving the couple to themselves. She thought Jason hadn't been home for a while, so she came to find Estrella, intending to discuss a plan to quickly get pregnant.
Once the door clicked shut, Estrella couldn’t help but let out a giggle at Jason’s reaction. “Jason, it’s not that I’m not keeping my promises. It’s just that your mom’s here.”
Jason gave Estrella’s bottom a playful slap. “Get off.” With Kristin in the house, their intimate moment was over. It was time for breakfast.
Jason’s mood, which had been on the rise, was doused, eliciting Estrella’s sympathy. She consoled him, “Tonight, then. I’m not working late today.”
After a lingering kiss, he finally let her go.
Moments later, they made their way downstairs where Kristin sat with an embarrassed. look on her face, not expecting Estrella to so boldly tackle Jason. It seemed the issue lay with her son, not with Estrella.
“Here you are.” Kristin greeted them with a smile, then added, “I’ve brought some tonic for Jason. Make sure he finishes it, Estrella.”
Glancing towards the kitchen, Estrella saw an array of supplements for libido — Kristin was certainly a caring mother. “Sure thing,” Estrella agreed with a grin.
Jason looked peeved. “Mom, don’t you have anything better to do?”
Kristin's eyes
widened in mock surprise. “Indeed, | have too much free time, which is why
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you need to hurry up and give me a grandchild to look after.”
Jason's expression soured. “If you keep barging in like you just did, you can kiss your dreams of being a grandmother goodbye.” Kristin’s concern was palpable. “Did | scare you that much?”
“As if | wasn’t having enough trouble,” Jason muttered.
Kristin looked remorseful, while Estrella tried to smooth things over. “Mom, it’s not as bad as you think.”
“Estrella, | know you're just trying to save dignity for Jason,” Kristin said, taking Estrella’s hand. “You'll have to bear with it a bit longer, dear.”
“Family doesn’t keep score,” Estrella replied nonchalantly, though she was nearly laughing on the inside.
Amidst their banter, Jason nudged Estrella with his foot. Kristin's displeasure was evident. “You've got issues, and you don’t even let Estrella talk about them. Just take care of yourself and don’t let Estrella down.”
Jason rubbed his temples. One Estrella was enough of a headache; his mother’s meddling was the last thing he needed.
“Let's eat,” Kristin suggested, mistaking Jason’s grimace for embarrassment. She ushered the young couple to the table for breakfast.
After a hearty meal at home, Jason offered, “I'll drive you.”
Estrella accepted with a laugh. “Sure.” It wasn’t often that Jason volunteered, and Estrella
wasn't one to refuse.
Seeing the couple get along, Kristin felt a wave of relief — her hopes for a grandchild seemed more promising.
Once the car started, Estrella couldn’t help but chuckle at the morning’s mix-up. Jason shot her a look of disdain and she quickly composed herself. “It’s no big deal. We've got plenty of time.”
In twenty minutes, they arrived at the law firm, and after a bit of playful banter, Estrella stepped out of the car. Watching her until she disappeared from view, a faint smile played on Jason’s lips.
Later, at the office, Estrella’s teasing texts about arrangement that evening brought a smile to his face. He didn’t reply, but he was clearly enjoying the flirtation..
Since she had promised Jason that she wouldn’t work overtime tonight and had flirted with him online all day, Estrella packed up her things and left the office, as evening approached and it was time to finish work.
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11:30 “Ms. Estrella, our boss would like a word,” a group of men in flashy outfits surrounded her just as she reached her Audi. The ringleader opened the door of a nearby car. “Ms. Estrella, if you please.”
Encircled by several burly men, Estrella had little choice but to get in the car. “I'll just home and let them know,” she said calmly, reaching for her phone. Before she could dial, her phone was snatched away. “Don’t worry, Ms. Estrella. Our boss just wants to talk. It’s nothing serious.”
Before she could protest, she was pushed into the car and sandwiched between two hulking figures. The car then took off.
An hour later, they pulled up to a luxurious private villa. Estrella was ushered out of the car and into the opulent residence. The villa’s interiors were a spectacle of opulence, straying into the territory of gaudiness with even some gold-laden ornaments adorning the walls.
As Estrella stumbled from a forceful nudge, suddenly, footsteps echoed from the staircase above.
Lifting her gaze, Estrella caught sight of Jo’s ex-husband making a grand descent down the stairs, adorned in an outrageously flamboyant floral robe.
Witnessing his men shoving Estrella, the man bent down, slipping off his designer loafers
and hurling them at the offender. “Show some respect to Ms. Estrella,” he bellowed. “Who/ gave you the nerve to lay hands on her? Tony, drag this fool out and trim his fingers by a couple.”
“Boss, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. My apologies to Ms. Estrella,” the subordinate pleaded. But the man, unimpressed and rolling his eyes in irritation, waved dismissively, signaling for the brute to be taken away. Estrella smiled faintly at the situation and said, “Richie.”
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