SWNOVELS Chapter 275
Chapter 275
As Jason’s words fell, Holly’s expression darkened. “Jason, what are you implying?” she snapped.
Jason watched her closely, his gaze fixed on her eyes, as if trying to latch onto any clue that might reveal itself in her reaction.
After the fire seven years ago, Holly ‘died’, and Jason didn’t think much of it. However, three years ago, Holly suddenly came back to life. Now, not only had she come back from the dead, but she was also using that evidence as a bargaining chip. Jason had no choice but to think harder about the situation. The myriad thoughts from that morning’s hospital visit suddenly cleared as he faced Holly. After confronting Jason, Holly retorted, “You’ve lost it, Jason. You’re so obsessed with Estrella that you won’t even accept the truth staring you right in the face.”
Calm in the face of Holly’s agitation, Jason said with a composed voice, “The fire wasn’t Estrella’s doing. If you want the truth, you could cooperate with me, follow the leads.”
He paused briefly before adding, “If you’re unwilling to work with me, I can’t help but suspect the whole thing and investigate further.”
If the victim wasn’t willing to come forward or cooperate, it pointed him in a new direction for his inquiry.
“Jason, you… you… Holly stammered, pointing at him, too enraged to finish her sentence. She had intended to use a soft approach to keep him by her side during their meeting today, but instead, she had stirred up a hornet’s nest and provoked Jason into voicing his suspicions of her.
Glancing indifferently at the bottle of Merlot on the table and the scented candles Holly had lit, Jason let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Holly, do you really think I’d fall for these petty tricks?” He had noticed something off about the wine and the candles from the get-go, but had put off confronting her about it because they had more pressing matters to discuss.
Jason had faced too many temptations, with countless women throwing themselves at him, many more cunning than Holly. He had never faltered before, and why would he succumb to her ploys now?
Jason left without a backward glance, the door closing behind him with a resolute click.
Left alone, Holly slumped into her chair, staring at the closed door, feeling utterly drained. More than Jason’s final taunt, she fixated on his earlier words. Why? Why did he believe in Estrella so staunchly, even with evidence laid out before him?
Meanwhile, at the Dorvold family estate
Chapter 275
After Jason’s departure, Autumn had taken Isaac to the room she shared with Cole, and Estrella had uncharacteristically retired early.
“Jason, it wasn’t on purpose. I didn’t mean to burn you alive. It was just a moment of anger,” she murmured restlessly in her sleep.
“Jason, Jason…”
“Why? Why the hell did you hit me?”
Estrella’s brow was furrowed tightly, her forehead slick with sweat as her dreams tossed and turned in chaos. She dreamt that she set fire, that she burned Jason to death, that she regretted and felt sad while holding Jason’s lifeless body, and that she had an argument with Jason.
Suddenly sitting upright in bed, Estrella’s breathing was ragged, filling the quiet room. Her mind replayed the scenes from her nightmare, overwhelming her with a mixture of emotions, especially the vision of Jason-pale and lifeless in her arms, unresponsive to her cries and apologies.
With her heart still racing and her forehead beaded with sweat, Estrella reached for her phone. It was 2 a.m.
As she contemplated the recent care Jason had shown her and Isaac, and how the video evidence from that fire had invaded her dreams, she dialed Jason’s number.
He answered quickly, his voice gentle as he asked what was wrong. “I just dreamt about the fire,” Estrella confessed, her voice pained. “The images from the video kept coming up
in pieces.”
Without hesitation, Jason said, “Don’t worry, I’m on my way,” and hung up.
Estrella agreed and sat up, trying to piece together the events surrounding the fire when her phone rang again.
“I’m at the door,” Jason’s voice came through.
“I’ll come out,” Estrella replied, wrapping herself in a thick robe before heading outside.
When she opened the front gate, Jason was there, wearing a long, charcoal coat over his pajamas.
As soon as Estrella stepped outside, Jason took her wrist and pulled her into his. embrace. “Are you cold?”
“I’m okay,” she replied.
“Let’s talk in the car,” he suggested, and she didn’t argue.
Once inside the vehicle, Jason took Estrella’s hand in his, gently kneading it as he patiently waited for her to speak. Encouraged by his touch, Estrella looked at him and said, “Maybe
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Chapter 275
it’s because I’ve been thinking too much. The video just got into my dreams.” She added, “I even dreamt that I burned you alive.”
After a pause, Estrella continued, “Damn it, I can see now that if you really had died in that fire, I would have been racked with guilt.”
As Estrella admitted her potential guilt, Jason caressed her face and pulled her closer to kiss her on the lips.
Caught off-guard by Jason’s sudden affection, Estrella didn’t push him away but instead. closed her eyes, giving in to the moment. Their kiss deepened, and Jason’s hand found its way to Estrella’s waist, tenderly stroking. Forehead against forehead, nose to nose, he whispered against her lips, “How about we drive to Waterfall Acres to talk?”
Waterfall Acres was the place where they had houses closest to the Dorvold family. Estrella had a house there, and so did he