Chapter 25
In his mind, everything she’d worked for, all her careful maneuvering over the years, had been to secure her place in the Leon family.
He was certain she wouldn’t throw it away so easily.
But instead, she let out a soft, almost cheerful laugh
“Sure,” she said lightly. “Just don’t keep your beloved movie queen waiting.”
His expression froze. His voice dropped. “You’re seriously choosing now to get jealous over something so ridiculous?”
‘Yes, work has kept me busy lately. Maybe I have neglected her a bit,‘ he thought.
‘And sure, back in Zrefast, it was Phoebe who stepped in to help with the kids–naturally growing closer to them.‘
‘But none of that justifies Estela’s current behavior.‘
“Estela, enough. Stop making a scene. Be smart about this. Know your place–it’s for your own good,” he said, his voice low and heavy.
Estela felt another surge of frustration rise in her chest.
Thankfully, she had already submitted her design draft.
“Are you done?” she asked coldly.
“What?”
“I’m not going to see him. So stop wasting your precious time. Go back
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to whatever’s keeping you so busy.”
She ended the call without waiting for a response.
The phone rang again almost instantly–this time with even more aggression.
She blocked his number.
That tight, suffocating pressure in her chest finally cased.
As she scrolled past the flood of unread messages, one caught her eye- an unfamiliar contact.
X: [I want soup.]
Estela thought for a second.
‘That black profile picture… if I remember right, it belongs to Spencer,‘ she thought.
The timing of his message couldn’t have been more precise–it came in not long after she submitted her design project earlier today.
She sent a quick reply.
Estela: [Sure. Where should I bring it?]
His response came instantly.
X: [Hospital.]
‘So he is still there,‘ she thought.
The guilt hit her hard.
If something like this ever happened again, she told herself–she’d be the one to take the hit first.
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Shaking off the thought, she opened her food delivery app and ordered everything she’d need for the soup.
While she waited, she stepped out onto the balcony to get some air.
To her surprise, the blossoms in the garden had bloomed overnight. They were absolutely stunning.
One delicate petal drifted down in the breeze. Estela reached out and caught it in her palm. Somehow, that simple act seemed to sweep away some of the heaviness she’d been carrying in her chest.
“Hey! Who’s stealing my flowers?”
The old man from next door, who kept a garden of his own, came marching over with mock indignation.
Estela laughed. “Not me. This one came over on its own.”
“You cheeky girl,” he said with a chuckle. “Haven’t seen you in a few days–been away on business?”
“No, just working from home. Haven’t had time to come out.”
He was clearly disapproving. “Working yourself to death! Your company treating you like a machine or what? Still not thinking about meeting my youngest boy?”
Estela smiled, both amused and helpless. “I’m still waiting on my divorce. Wouldn’t be appropriate.”
“It’s just a date, not a marriage license. Who’s gonna call the cops?” the old man coaxed. “My son’s good–looking, successful–mark my words, there’s not a single young man in all of Trurgh who can top him.”
Just bringing up the topic clearly riled him up.
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‘Sidney has dared suggest that Spencer has a thing for married women? As if that would be enough to scare me off? Ridiculous!‘ he thought.
Estela felt like that part sounded oddly familiar.
But she couldn’t quite place where she’d heard it before.
The old man kept going, pitching his son like a proud salesman. Estela’s face was burning with embarrassment by the time the doorbell
rang.
Saved by the bell.
Her groceries had arrived. She quickly excused herself and went back inside.
‘Six years of marriage,‘ she thought as she carried the bags into the kitchen, ‘and I still ended up getting lectured into a matchmaking session. Unbelievable.‘
She shook her head, smiling despite herself.
Once the soup was simmering, she realized she had more than enough for a second portion.
She suddenly thought of Callie she’d met at the hospital a few days ago. ‘Is she still there?‘ she wondered.
Without even realizing it, her hands had already packed up the extra serving.
‘Why not bring both? If I run into her again, maybe it is meant to be. Besides… the man who took that knife for me last time hasn’t eaten nearly enough,‘ she thought.
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Chapter 25
1
At the hospital, Estela gave the room number at the front desk, just like last time.
The receptionist swiped her through with a direct elevator pass.
But as the elevator reached the ninth floor, it stopped without warning.
The doors slid open.
