Estrella couldn’t deny it-Jason’s proximity was intoxicating, his touch a magic spell. Every brush of his
skin sent unusual shivers through her. It had always been this way, from the beginning to now.
Her hands gripped his wrists as she swallowed hard, then turned to face him. “I’ve written the promise
not to mention divorce again. Don’t push your luck.”
Jason nuzzled her cheek. “Just let me hold you.”
Estrella fell silent, not pushing his hands away from her waist. She had been furious and resolved on
divorce when she found out he’d been secretly using contraception. So much so that she’d kept her
distance, ignoring him entirely.
But Jason’s antics tonight had almost disarmed her wrath. Despite his lack of
explanation, his actions were speaking volumes. He didn’t want kids out of fear she’d use him and
leave.
Wrapped in Jason’s warmth, she looked at him and said, “You’re the one who told me to pack up and
leave, and now you’re demanding promises from me. No consistency.”
He pulled her closer, kissing her cheek before whispering, “I told you to leave because you were only
thinking about having kids and not thinking about us.”
His breath tickled her ear, and her legs went weak. She retorted, “Oh, please. Who’s the one that’s
hardly ever home?”
It was rare for Estrella to dredge up the past, and it warmed Jason’s heart. He held her tighter.As the storm outside subsided, so did their turbulent relationship, returning to a semblance of peace.
Jason kissed her face, admitting, “My fault. I should’ve come home.”
His candidness left Estrella speechless. Indeed, spare those who concede. Besides, the quiet of the
night was ripe for intimacy, especially after signing such an agreement. Life’s always a mess. It’s never
smooth sailing. There are always problems.
They gazed at each other. Estrella suddenly sighed as she blurted out, “Jason, you’re… ready again.”
She could feel him pressing against her.
Without a word, Jason leaned in and kissed her lips. His kisses were soft. From their first kiss, Estrella
had found it comforting, enchanting. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
After a heated exchange of kisses, Jason scooped her up, her legs wrapping around his waist. They
continued like this until he gently laid her on the bed, enveloping her in his
09:34
arms.
With her hands still around his neck, she found his face addicting, not to mention his ability to earn
and… fuck.
He nibbled her gently, and leaning closer, she whispered in his ear, “Jason, I want…”
His laughter followed her request, and then he kissed her deeply.“Jason!” In the heat of passion, Estrella clutched the sheets. Her face flushed as she called out his
name.
“I’m here,” Jason replied, his voice tender.
Time passed, and as dawn approached, they finally rested. Snuggled in his arms, Estrella, with eyes
closed, muttered, “Damn, that promise was for nothing.”
Jason chuckled and kissed her forehead, letting her drift to sleep.
The next morning, Estrella arrived late at the law firm-a rare occurrence. Sitting at her desk, she
couldn’t help but muse, “Beauty does lead to trouble!”
But then again, Jason was quite the partner. Initially, he was all brute force, but he seemed to have
honed his skills.
Despite the emotional distance, their physical chemistry was undeniable-a rare connection that sent
electric shocks with every touch, every glance. Maybe that was the silver lining of their marriage-at
least they could find solace in each other’s arms.
“Estrella, write up a summary of your last case to share with the team,” Logan suggested.
“Sure,” she replied. “You need it by tomorrow? I’ve got to prepare for Lexi’s trial and visit the hospital
later.”
“By Monday morning, before our meeting, would be great.”
“Got it.”
After acknowledging Logan, Estrella plunged back into work. Following a quick lunch, she drove to the
hospital.Upon arrival, she found Zoey already there, eyes rimmed red from crying.
“Estrella,” Zoey greeted her, offering a glass of water.
Taking the water, Estrella glanced at Lexi on the hospital bed. “Still no change?”
noveldramaZoey shook her head, her voice weak. “Not yet she said, wiping away a tear. “She’s so young and
didn’t even have kids yet.”.
Estrella soothed her, patting her back. “She’ll wake up. She’ll be okay.”
09:34
Regaining composure, Zoey turned to Estrella. “Can we win? Can we make my brother-in-law pay for
this?”
Hope shone in Zoey’s weary eyes. Estrella took a deep breath and steeled herself. She knew about the
home surveillance, how Zoey was barred from gathering evidence by Lexi’s husband Nick, and how the
neighbors were tight-lipped, fearing trouble.
After a pause, Estrella said firmly, “If he’s guilty, we’ll win. The law won’t let him get away with it.”
Zoey nodded emphatically. “Absolutely! The law won’t let the bad guys get off scot-free, and I trust you,
Estrella, with all my heart.”
When it came to her old classmate, Lexi had complete faith. She trusted Estrella would go to the ends
of the earth to help them out.As Zoey spoke, she glanced again at her sister still unconscious, and felt her eyes welling up with
tears. She said, “Ever since my sister’s accident, my brother-in-law and his parents have barely shown
their faces. Mom’s also sick at home and full of regret for ever agreeing to this marriage.”
At that point, Zoey took Estrella’s hand earnestly. “Estrella, we’ve got to keep our eyes wide open when
we get married. All the other stuff is secondary. The man’s character has to come first, no matter what.
Marrying a rotten guy is just not worth it. You’re better off on your own. At least you’d be safe.”
A few days ago, she had the doctors give her sister a thorough check-up, and they discovered a lot of
old injuries, even a once-broken rib. These were things Zoey couldn’t bring herself to tell her parents in
detail, fearing it would just be too much for them to bear. Because of all this, Zoey was almost certain
her sister had been suffering from domestic abuse.