Web Fic
Chapter 212
Watching Jason sprawled across the table, unconscious and covered in blood, Kristin panicked. With shaking hands, she fumbled for her cell phone from her pocket and dialed 911. Before long, the ambulance arrived, and Kristin followed it to the hospital.
He had just recovered from a high fever two days ago, and now he was back in the hospital. This kid had always been healthy as a horse. What kind of bad luck had he stumbled upon lately?
When the doctor wheeled Jason out of the ER, he pulled down his mask and told Kristin, “The injury on his head is superficial. It looks worse than it is. He’ll be fine once he wakes up, though he should really cut back on the booze.”
Kristin nodded in agreement to the doctor, and together with him and the nurses, back to the hospital room.
she went
“If you
Beside Jason’s bed, who still hadn’t regained consciousness, Kristin lamented, couldn’t get Estrella out of your mind, why didn’t you cherish her when you had the chance? Why did you even start things with Holly in the first place?”
The incident Kristin referred to happened seven years ago. It was when Jason and Estrella had a heated argument that ended with Jason slapping Estrella. It had caused quite a stir. “I always told you, you can’t hurt a woman’s heart. Once it’s broken, it’s hard to mend.”
Though it pained her to see Estrella go, Kristin felt helpless. In Jason and Estrella’s marriage, Kristin had done all she could as a mother and mother-in-law. She couldn’t have their children for them,
though she would if she could, just to help them get through life.
“Jason, you’re awake. Do you feel pain anywhere else? And what happened to your head? How did you get such a nasty cut? There was so much blood,” Kristin bombarded him with questions the next morning as soon as Jason opened his ey
eyes.
Jason, already nursing a headache, rubbed his temples and winced, “Mom, I’m okay.”
Kristin’s voice escalated, “Okay? When I found you last night, you were out cold and had alcohol poisoning. Call that okay? Why can’t you take better care of yourself? Even if you’re facing big problems, you need to be in good health to solve them.”
Jason just rubbed his temples, not responding He knew the logic, but not everyone can maintain absolute rationality.
Kristin sighed, “Alright, alright, if you don’t want to talk, I won’t push you. Just promise me you’ll cut down on the drinking.”
“Yeah,” Jason muttered noncommittally, brushing off the night as just another episode of
getting plastered.
After pulling himself together, Jason received a work call and went to the office despite Kristin’s objections.
Kristin couldn’t hold him back and watched him go with a heavy heart. Why couldn’t these kids appreciate the good life they had?
а
Downstairs in the hospital, Drew came to pick up Jason, expecting him to show up for al routine check- in, but was surprised to see a bandage across his forehead.
“Mr. Jason, your head…” Drew started.
Before he could finish, Jason opened the passenger door and climbed into the car. Drew hurried around to the driver’s side and started the car. He gripped the steering wheel with. both hands, and when he sneakily glanced at Jason, he heard Jason ask him,
im “Did you find out anything about Estrella?”
1
“Yeah, Mr. Jason, I found something.” Drew replied cautiously, “Not long after Ms Estrella went abroad, she had a boyfriend.”
Drew’s voice grew softer as he talked about Estrella’s boyfriend.
Jason, adjusting his cufflinks, gave Drew a look that prompted him to continue carefully, “It’s just… the guy had a car accident not long after they started dating and didn’t make it.” At this point, Drew fell silent. Jason just stared at Drew until he finally asked in a cool. tone, “Estrella’s son, is he that man’s?”
Upon hearing Jason bring up Estrella’s son, Drew’s eyes widened in shock. How on ea did Mr. Jason find out when he himself hadn’t even reported back yet? It was the that Estrella had a son abroad that had kept Drew from telling Jason this.
very
Suddenly, their car swerved dangerously close to the neighbouring vehicle, and Drew swiftly righted the steering wheel.
It was clear to Drew that Jason’s injury and the hospital visit were somehow connected
the child.
With his hands tightly on the wheel, Drew nodded, “Yes, he is that man’s child, Mr. Jason. Ms. Estrella, she might have…”
Drew wanted to offer some words of comfort, but found himself at a loss. Nothing her could say would make the situation better.
Jason unbuttoned his shirt collar, his eyebrows knitting together even more tightly. Estrella hadn’t lied. The man was indeed dead.
He felt a surge of frustration with nowhere to vent it. Sneaking a glance at Jason’s grim face, Drew kept quiet, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Mrs. Estrella was tough. She walked away without looking back, started a life with another man and had a child without a second thought for Mr. Jason.
Meanwhile, at the Dorvold family home.
Estrella got herself ready, greeted her mom and Isaac, and headed out the door.
As she stepped outside, Bryce’s car was already waiting, honking for her.
Estrella climbed into Bryce’s car. “Hey,” she greeted as Bryce handed her breakfast.
Estrella smiled, “You’re getting more thoughtful every day.”
Bryce started the car and glanced at Estrella, asking, “You feeling better now?”
Estrella opened the breakfast bag, pulled out a pack of soy milk, and said with a smile, “I’m not as fragile as you think.”
Thankfully, recent weather had brought a welcome chill, making Estrella’s choice to wrap a scarf around her neck less conspicuous. It conveniently hid the red marks Jason had left the previous evening. Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Bryce’s voice broke through her thoughts. “So, Jason is still refusing to sign the divorce papers?”
Every time Bryce mentioned Jason, Estrella felt a headache coming on. She replied with a weary sigh, “When has he ever done the right thing? When has he ever made things easy for anyone?”
These days, Bryce was at a loss for words when it came to insulting Jason. Jason had never done a single good deed.
If Jason would just consent to the divorce with Estrella, then, at least, Bryce could chall up one good act in Jason’s life.
Bryce’s silence was palpable. Estrella, attempting to lighten the mood, said, “Don’t worry about it. If he wants to drag his feet, let him. It’s not like I’m in a hurry to get hitched to someone else.”
Bryce shot her a look and said. “Easy for you to say.”
Estrella hadn’t managed to get her divorce finalized, and Bryce seemed even more anxious about it than she was.
After another ten minutes or so, the car pulled up in front of the law firm. Bryce watched Estrella ascend the steps into the building before he started the engine and drove away.
Since the altercation last night, Jason had not come looking for Estrella. She was grateful for the brief respite-a few days of much-needed peace.