fanqie novel
Chapter 63
Estrella nibbled on her food, casually remarking, “Serene isn’t that foolish. Her tactics are far more subtle.”
There’s nothing quite like the venom a woman can have for another, and Serene’s
intelligence lied precisely in her refusal to stoop to petty schemes. That way, Serene never gave anyone anything to hold against her, always appearing as the most pitiful and innocent party.
Jason remained silent, approached the dining table, and took a seat beside Estrella.
Estrella, who had always detested cilantro and bell peppers since childhood, found them unfortunately ubiquitous in restaurant dishes. Noticing Estrella’s untouched meat dishes, Jason poured her a glass of water and began picking out the cilantro, “If it still tastes too strong, just rinse your bite in the water.”
At his gesture, Estrella chuckled, “You’re quite attentive, remembering all these little quirks
of mine.”
Jason’s face was as expressionless as ever, “I’ve known you for 23 years.”
Estrella’s smile grew more pronounced, playfully nudging him under the table with her foot, “Tonight, I’m in your service, satisfaction guaranteed.”
Jason didn’t buy it for a second, “Quit bragging.”
After a few flirtatious teases, she’d usually leave him hanging. He wasn’t falling for it this
time, and Estrella might as well forget about bringing a child into the picture.
“No lies,” Estrella insisted, “I’m still thinking about motherhood, you know.”
Jason just said, “Just eat.”
Estrella added, “I’ve got something this afternoon, so I’ll head back to the firm first, okay? Have someone bring over those expense reports and filings.”
Jason gave a chuckle, “Took you long enough to get to the point.”
“You’re i
just worried I’ll take on those cases because of their connections to Korey. I won’t,
and that’s that.”
After Jason seemed to have softened towards her the night before, and considering what Drew had told her that morning, Estrella was inclined to give in to him a bit.
Estrella volunteered to pass on the cases related to Korey, and only then did Jason’s expression ease up. He picked up a slice of her favorite steak and placed it on her plate.
Meanwhile, at Erin’s suburban villa, he was gearing up to head to the office when Janie
11:30
came by.
“Erin.”
Erin frowned, “Mom, what brings you here?”
Janie stepped closer, her gaze fixed on him, “Erin, you said Ruby and those kids were in your hands. Where are you hiding them?”
After several days of stewing over it at home, despite Erin telling her to stay out of it, Janie couldn’t swallow her pride and had come to seek answers..
Erin replied calmly, “Why are you asking about this, Mom?”
Janie was visibly upset, “I’ve been thinking for days and I can’t let this go. I need to see Ruby. I have to vent this frustration.”
In front of her own son, Janie didn’t hold back, believing he had the right to exact revenge
on Ruby.
Yet Erin remained stoic, “Mom, I won’t hand Ruby over to you, and I don’t want to sully your hands with this mess. Please go back.”
Janie’s eyes instantly reddened with emotion, “Erin, I always treated Ruby like a sister, including her in all the good things. I can’t accept her betrayal.”
“I won’t do much, just a small cut across her face, then let’s see how she seduces men
after that.”
Erin stood firm, “I won’t give her to you.”
H
Knowing Janie’s temper and what she might do, Erin would never hand Ruby over.
Erin stubbornly refused to listen, and Janie stopped crying all of a sudden. “Erin, are you siding with her and your father? Don’t forget, she bore him two sons, sons who might claim your and Paula’s inheritance.”
Erin said unaffectedly, “Dad doesn’t have anything left.”
Janie pressed, “You really won’t hand her over?”
Erin, hands in his pockets, was about to respond when Hunter hurried in. Upon learning Janie was looking for Erin, Hunter had rushed over, fearful that Erin might give Ruby up to
Janie’s wrath.
Seeing Hunter, Janie’s demeanor shifted instantly, “How could you still show your face here after what you’ve done to your son?”
Janie looked ready to devour Hunter with rage, while Hunter glanced at her indifferently. before turning to Erin, “Erin, the company shares have been transferred to you and Paula. The business is now yours to command. Isn’t it time to let Ruby and your brothers out?”
11.30
Hunter’s insistence on calling the twins his brothers darkened Erin’s expression further.
Hunter didn’t even give her a second glance as he demanded Erin to surrender someone to him, and even insisted Erin acknowledge the twins as brothers. Janie, full of fury, lunged at Hunter. “Hunter, how
could you still sleep at night? After all these years I’ve dedicated to our family, this is how you repay me? Can you honestly tell yourself that this is how I deserve to be treated?”
Erin had compelled Hunter to give up his shares, and now Hunter spared no courtesy for Janie, especially with the divorce on the horizon.
As Janie charged at him like a harpy, Hunter brushed her off impatiently, “Janie, don’t act as though you’ve sacrificed so much. Yes, you bore me two children. But aren’t they also yours? Would you not have to bear children if you married someone else?”
“Hunter, you…..” Janie’s hand trembled as she pointed at him, struggling to catch her breath.
Hunter continued unapologetically, “All these years married to me, have I ever made you earn a penny or lift a finger for work? Haven’t I provided for you? Don’t paint yourself as
the victim.”
Erin had demanded all shares from Hunter, and while Hunter was resentful, he dared not
vent on Erin and instead unleashed on Janie.
Speechless from Hunter’s words, Janie never expected to hear such things from him, to be portrayed as someone he had merely supported.
Pale-faced and livid, Janie was left speechless by Hunter for a long time until she finally turned to Erin with tearful eyes, “Erin, do you see? This is your father.”
Erin remained silent.
Hunter, ignoring Janie, simply said to Erin, “Erin, where are Ruby and
my
children?”
Hunter’s tone suggested as if Erin and Paula were no longer his children.
Even though Erin’s heart seethed with rage and dissatisfaction, he didn’t lash out at Hunter with even a hint of his fury. Instead, Erin simply looked up at the bodyguard pacing the second-floor hallway and commanded, “Release them.”
Donning a sleek black suit, the bodyguard heeded Erin’s instruction, opened the door, and called inside, “Ms. Ruby, you’re free to go.”
In the living room below, Hunter looked up at the stairs and saw Ruby with disheveled hair, disarrayed clothes, and bruises on her body and face. Dried tear streaks marked her face. as she emerged with two children. Hunter’s expression changed instantly, his mind exploding in an instant.
In that moment, witnessing Ruby’s disarray, Hunter’s thoughts raced to the worst possible
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