Chapter 42
The following morning, Estelle awakened to the brightness streaming in through the windows. As she opened her eyes and
surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings, memories of the previous night flooded her mind.
She turned her head, and she was the only one on the bed.
A sudden thought crossed her mind: Did Jonathan jump out the window and run away?
Nope, because she soon heard his voice.
Estelle looked in the direction of the sound and saw the man standing on the balcony with his back to her, talking on the phone.
Jonathan was wearing a bathrobe, his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and long legs were undoubtedly attractive even just
from his silhouette.
He was asking Millard, “How much longer is the agreement with the Macclain family?”
Estelle silently calculated to herself a little over a month.
–
On the other end of the phone, Millard gave him the exact number of days.
Jonathan’s voice was indifferent, “Contact the Macclain family, terminate the agreement early, and get the paperwork done in the
next two days.”
He thought it was simple: he had already given the Macclain family what they wanted. Although he had never met Ms. Macclain
and had no feelings for her, he had respected the marriage enough during his three years. abroad, not crossing any lines.
Now that he was back in his home country, the first time he was forced, and this time, for whatever reason, he had violated the
principle of loyalty in marriage, it was not right to keep delaying Ms. Macclain’s life.
As Estelle watched the man’s back, she couldn’t help but mutter, “What a jerk, just after sleeping with me, and now he wants to
divorce me!”
As she mumbled in annoyance, the man concluded his phone call and entered the room. Their gazes locked momentarily, his
demeanor composed while Estelle feigned composure of her own. “Do you have any spare pajamas I could borrow?” she asked
casually.
They weren’t in a hotel, with the room having a grayish-white tone and simple decorations. It looked like a temporary apartment
Jonathan used for resting.
Jonathan went out and quickly came back, holding a white shirt in his hand, “Someone will bring clothes over later, put this on for
now.”
“Okay, thank you!” Estelle nodded.
As Jonathan turned away, he heard Estelle rustling behind him.
After a moment, the girl spoke, “All done!”
He looked back and saw Estelle sitting up against the bed, wearing his shirt, which was so big and wide it almost swallowed her
whole.
She was bending down to fix the hem of the shirt inside the blanket. As she did so, he could see the red marks on her fair skin
through the wide collar of the shirt.
Jonathan’s gaze darkened, and he looked away, sitting on a sofa across the room.
When she was done, Jonathan smiled lightly. “Glad you’re not making a fuss.”
Estelle’s face flushed crimson at his remark, and though her heart was in turmoil, she managed to maintain her composure.
“Certainly not,” she replied, her voice steady. “I should express my gratitude to Mr. Lamont for his willingness to bear the cost.”
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Jonathan’s gaze intensified as he parted his thin lips slightly. “How long have you been plotting for this moment?” he inquired.
Estelle was taken aback, “What?”
“From the day we met at school, you following me, to the encounters we had, and even everything that happened last night, was
it all a coincidence?”
Jonathan’s tone had no accusation or coldness, it was just casual and normal, as if he were asking Estelle if Henson had been
behaving in class lately.
Estelle averted her gaze, deep in thought. She couldn’t help but acknowledge that certain things seemed too coincidental, such
as the events of the previous night. She found herself unable to provide a logical explanation for what had transpired.
Jonathan took her silence as confirmation and asked, “What do you want?”
Estelle looked up quickly, “I won’t make you take responsibility.”
Jonathan laughed, “Do you think I’m saying this to shirk responsibility?”
He got up and walked over to her, stopping right by the head of the bed. With his arms supporting him on either side of Estelle,
he leaned down and stared at her intently, “What do you want, little girl?”
Despite considering herself to possess good self-control, Estelle found herself completely captivated by the man’s alluring
demeanor. In a moment of vulnerability, she stared into his eyes, her mind going blank as she blurted out her genuine desires,
“I… I want a home. She wanted his Villa del Sol, and she was willing to negotiate the price!
Jonathan lowered his head, looking at her pink lips, and spoke softly. “You have a grandfather?”
Estelle nodded lightly.