Babel Novel
Chapter 237
As Estrella pushed open the hospital room door, Jason was standing by the large window, ending a phone call. He turned around, his voice steady as he noticed her arrival. “Hello
Estrella.”
Without a moment’s delay, Estrella set her purse on the cabinet and cut straight to the chase. “The fire seven years ago, was it really an electrical accident? If it was an accident, why did you tell Bryce to stop investigating?”
Her directness brought Jason to a halt, his gaze locking with hers. He hadn’t anticipated that after all these years, the inferno that had almost claimed his life, and Holly’s, would resurface, let alone be brought up by Estrella and Bryce.
Jason was taken aback, but Estrella pressed on, “Jason, do you have evidence? If you do, why haven’t you come forward? What are you hiding?”
Bryce had mentioned that Jason had instructed him to drop the case, so Estrella knew there must be evidence, possibly even footage that someone had tried to erase. Jason was deliberately concealing something.
This wasn’t like Jason at all. Given the seriousness of the situation and her own professional instincts, Estrella wasn’t about to mince words. She couldn’t keep things bottled up inside.
Jason’s expression darkened at her barrage of questions, confused by her sudden interest. “Don’t you know about it?” he retorted!
Estrella couldn’t help but laugh incredulously. “If I knew, would I be here asking you for evidence?”
Baffled, Jason bluntly asked, “You didn’t start that fire?”
“Me? Start the fire? Jason, what are you talking about?” As his words hung in the air, Estrella was staggered as if struck by lightning. The shock in her eyes was palpable. For years, Jason had believed that she had set that fire, hence his overt disdain. Was this why he had always been so cold to her?
In a split second, Estrella’s mind reeled with disbelief. “So, you refused to get married, to return home, to have children with me, and for years you despise me, all because you think I tried to kill you?”
Jason was at a loss for words. His attitude over the years did have a connection with that fire and also with the things those fortune-tellers had said, making him believe that she just wanted to marry him to have a child.
His silence only fueled Estrella’s rage. She yelled at him, “Jason, are you out of your mind? Couldn’t you have just asked me about it?”
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Her anger was palpable, her voice choked with emotion. It had been seven years since the fire, six years of a strained marriage. Even if their relationship had been rocky, there had
been a thaw over the later six months. Hadn’t it ever occurred to him to simply ask her
about it?
Now, the truth hit her like a ton of bricks. She had been accused of arson.
Fuming, Estrella glared at Jason. “Because of this, because you don’t trust me, we’re done for life. I will never reconcile with you.” Her body shook with anger, her hands clenched in fury. Jason had been so tight-lipped for years, hever hinting at his suspicions.
Estrella brought up reconciliation, and Jason’s expression darkened. “When did I say anything about reconciling with you?”
Hearing his defensiveness, Estrella laughed mockingly. “Oh, so you didn’t kiss me last night?” His complex gaze met hers, and for a moment, Jason was visibly awkward.
Sensing his discomfort, Estrella lashed out, “Jason, are you stupid? You kissed me and then slipped your tongue in. Did you really think I wouldn’t wake up?”
She hadn’t planned to confront Jason about this, but anger made her bring up everything that upset her.
As she spoke, Jason grew even more embarrassed. Clearing his throat, he awkward’ adjusted his collar. “You were awake that night?”
Estrella barely suppressed a laugh. “Of course.
Before she could finish, Jason’s hand shot out, tilting her chin up, and he leaned in to capture her lips with his own. Now that she knew, there was no holding back. Dignity be damned, Jason thought, as he let go of all restraint.
Jason had the audacity to publicly kiss her without a whiff of discretion. Estrella’s annoyance bubbled into rage, and she bit down on him hard in response.
Jason took a sharp intake of breath, but yet he didn’t flinch or let go of Estrella. Regardless of his injured arm and hand, he held her face gently within his grasp, deepening the kiss with heightened
passion.
When Jason pried her lips open without hesitation, Estrella fought back. No matter how much she struggled or hit him, he endured, choosing instead to deepen the passionate exchange. Everything else was put on the back burner; nothing else mattered in this moment. His mind was void of pressure. It was refreshing and lightening to realise that simply speaking one’s mind could be this liberating.
Before she could say anything, Jason released his hands from cupping her face, grabbed her wrists, and pushed her a few steps backward. Estrella found herself pinned against the wall, unable to move. Even though he was injured, and even though she had skills, she was still no match for him.
Jason kissed her passionately, unwilling to let go, as if he could consume her very being. Minutes ticked by-tén, twenty, thirty… and they were lost to the world, and to each other. Estrella was so consumed by his kiss that she lost all track of time, feeling a tingling numbness in her lips and tongue.
Her hands felt weak, held firmly in his grasp. When Estrella opened her eyes, there was Jason, still kissing her with such intensity, as if determined to make up for every kiss they had missed over the past three years in just one night.
Estrella stood still, watching him, and slowly, Jason’s kiss began to ease. Then, he too opened his eyes.
Their gazes locked, and seeing the earnest look on Estrella’s face, Jason freed his right hand to gently caress her cheek.
Estrella was still upset, though. She swallowed hard and started to say, “Jason, I—”
Before she could finish, Jason leaned in once more, parting his lips slightly, and captured her lips with his again.