Estrella paused mid-stride, turning to Jason with a quizzical look. “So, did you know that Jesse
swapped her juice with Rachel? The juice you had the waiter toss was actually
fine.”
Estrella and Jesse had seen it all. The tricks Rachel was playing were nothing compared to the ruthless
games they’d encountered nearly a decade ago.
The brief exchange between Jason and Estrella left Bryce reeling in shock. Suddenly, he felt like the
only fool among them, utterly clueless.
And in truth, he was just that-a complete fool.
Shivering, Bryce stammered, “Estrella, hearing you and Jasono talk like that gives me the chills. Maybe
we should steer clear of these places.”
He knew Ella and Jason were tough cookies, but he wasn’t nearly as hardcore. What if someone took
advantage of him? He was still a virgin, after all.
Jesse snorted with disdain.
Bryce defended himself with conviction. “Estrella, I’m not being a scaredy-cat here. Take tonight, for
instance. You’re a looker, and what if someone really did take advantage of you? Plus, this is Jason’s
turf. What’s he gonna do? Lay down the law or let it slide?”
Estrella retorted, “I am a married woman. A little hug or a pat on the back doesn’t mean I’ll lose a piece
of flesh. Besides, come morning, if he doesn’t recognize me and I don’t recognize him, no harm done.”No sooner had she finished her sentence than she yelped in pain. “Ow, ow, ow! Jason, put your gorilla
strength to better use. Let go already.” She wrestled his hand away, her grip firm and defiant.
noveldramaJason, still irked by her earlier comment, pulled her back forcefully. “Estrella, you let someone else try
that and see what happens.” If any guy ever touched her, he’d lose his
hands.
Estrella teased him, “You had your chances, but you didn’t use them. So I might as well give someone
else the-” She was cut off mid-sentence as Jason, pinching her chin, leaned in to seal her lips with a
kiss.
Jesse and Bryce, too embarrassed to witness more, beat a hasty retreat. Those lovebirds had no
shame, putting on a public display of affection at their age. They had seen enough. After a heated
moment, Estrella managed to free herself, and seeing that Bryce and Jesse had vanished, she shot
Jason a kick and stormed off. Jason dusted off the spot where she kicked him, chuckling as he
followed her.
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Before long, they arrived at the suite. Estrella saw Jason sauntering up, hands in his pockets. She
turned to him, puzzled. “Are there no rooms available?”
“None,” Jason replied, nonchalant.
Estrella scoffed at Jason’s shamelessness. With a look of utter disdain, she swiped her card and
opened the door to the suite. It didn’t matter if she locked him out-Jason had a key to every room in the
hotel.Kicking off her heels and shedding her coat and purse, Estrella barely had a moment. before Jason
wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder like a man both weary and
content.
Estrella glanced at him. “Lost all shame, have you?”
wish,” he
As Jason looked her way, his lips brushed against her cheek. “You were the one acting like a neglected
wife, saying I don’t hug or touch you. Tonight, you’ll get your said, his right hand boldly sliding under her
clothes to caress her.
Estrella objected to his forwardness, elbowing him sharply. “Think you’re some genie granting wishes?
Get your hand off.”
After she landed her blow, Jason released her, clutching his stomach and wincing. Turning to face him,
Estrella saw his pallor. She’d noticed his complexion was off at the bar, but the dim lights had obscured
how bad it was. Now she could see it clearly.
Gripping Jason’s sleeve, she asked tentatively, “Playing the victim?”
Jason looked up at her, almost laughing. “Only you would think that.”
Estrella poured a cup of water. “With your condition, you’re still trying to make good on promises?” She
was certain that if anything happened between them tonight, he wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in
the morning.
Before Jason could respond, Estrella handed him the water. “If you can’t handle it, don’t try to be a
hero. Who asked you to finish all that liquor?”Jason rubbed his stomach, and Estrella knew without asking that he must’ve hit the alcohol too hard
tonight, damaging his stomach lining. She suspected that he had been uncomfortable for a while. That
was why he hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol at the bar, sticking to her juice instead.
And why hadn’t he said something earlier? They could have come back to rest instead of lingering at
the bar.
Taking the hot water, Jason gazed up at her. “Feeling sorry for me?”
Estrella retorted, “If something happens to you I’ll have to visit the hospital to take care of you. I’m
feeling sorry for myself.”
Jason took the water. “Dammit, heartless.”
11:34)
“Maybe save your curses and conserve some energy,” she suggested.
After Jason had rested a bit, Estrella urged him to take a shower and get some rest.
As Jason headed to the bathroom with his clothes, Estrella remembered how he had downed his drink
in one go earlier that night. Reluctantly, she picked up her phone and called Drew. “Drew, Jason has a
stomachache
“Ms. Estrella, I’m on it,” Drew replied before hanging up and springing into action. Since Jason was
resting in Ms. Estrella’s room, he couldn’t call a doctor over or suggest a hospital visit. So, not long
after, Drew arrived with medicine, knocking on the door. After he set down the bags and closed the
door, he made to leave.Estrella, hopeful for a night alone, called out from the doorway. “Aren’t you taking him with you to the
hospital?”
From outside, Drew replied with a straight face, “With your care, Mr. Jason is sure to be fine. Ms.
Estrella, you should get some rest too.” And with that, he helped her close the door and was gone.
Jason sure had a knack for picking out a top-notch secretary and a stellar driver.
Drew had barely left when Jason emerged from the shower. Estrella glanced at the medicine on the
table. “Your secretary dropped it off.”
ப்
Jason’s pace slowed as he dried his hair, looking at the assortment of pills. “Estrella, don’t-”
A flicker of doubt crossed Jason’s mind, prompting a chuckle from Estrella. “Drew brought them over.
Who did you think it was?” She continued teasingly, “Bit disappointed, aren’t you?”
Hearing the medicine was from Drew, Jason relaxed instantly. “Disappointed about what? How did he
even know I had an upset stomach?” Sometimes, Jason really dreaded that pitiful, kind demeanor
Serene put on just for him.
Estrella replied, “Who else would tell him but me?” With that, she grabbed her clothes and headed to
the bathroom.
Inside the room, Jason let out a small laugh as he continued toweling off his hair, comforted by the
thought that Estrella still cared about him-and smart enough not to call Serene over. Despite the time
that had passed, the memory of Estrella asking Serene to look after him still irked Jason..
Half an hour later, when Estrella came out of the bathroom, Jason was already sprawled out on the
bed, asleep. Estrella tiptoed closer, peering at him and thinking that he must really be feeling under theweather.
She turned off the main light and lay down beside him, hoping to rest. But suddenly, someone wrapped
their arms around her from behind. With a gentle tug, Jason pulled her
11:34
close into an embrace.