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Chapter 213
That evening, Keith remarked that it had been ages since the family had last gathered at home, so Kristin was roped in to round everyone up.
Jason had no desire to return, but Kristin played the guilt card, reminding him that Keith and Amber weren’t getting any younger, and that each visit could very well be the last. Reluctantly, Jason made his way back.
With a noncommittal grunt, Jason acknowledged the group, his response as muted as his enthusiasm for the reunion.
The looks he received made him uncomfortable. Past or present, he never took kindly to pity, and it was abundantly clear that the news about Estrella’s child had already made the rounds within the family.
“Jason, if things are truly unbearable, just get a divorce,” his aunt blurted out.
“Exactly, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Why fixate on one?” another chimed in.
else. It’s
Estrella should have at least finalized things before moving on with c downright disrespectful to sneak off, have a kid abroad, and drag the Nelson family name through the mud,” a cousin added indignantly.
“I used to like your wife, but she really crossed the line this time, bro. Let her go. Besides, there’s no way you can swallow your pride after this.”
Jason had specifically avoided coming home to sidestep these very confrontations, y here he was, unable to escape.
Surrounded by relatives quick to fault Estrella, Jason sounded cold as he interjected, issues between Estrella and me are my own fault. She’s done nothing wrong, and I’d appreciate it if you all stayed out of it.”.
His declaration didn’t sit well with his aunt. “Even if you were at fault before, it’s not like you committed murder or anything. You haven’t brought the child home. Look what Estrella has done now.”
Estrella had always been a family favorite until she returned with a child, tarnishing the family’s reputation in everyone’s eyes. They thought she went too far, even if she was having a disagreement with Jason. Têxt belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.
Seeing the tide turn against Jason, his uncle offered, “Why are you being so stubborn, Jason? Mr. Young’s daughter has taken quite a liking to you. She’s a decent girl, quiet and demure. It would be good for you-and the company-if you were with her.”
“You and Estrella just aren’t right for each other. It’s time to let go.”
“And besides, you two haven’t had kids after all these years. It’ll be a clean break.”
The sound of Jason slamming his cutlery on the table echoed through the room. “I don’t need your advice on my relationship. Nobody knows better than I do what went wrong between Estrella and me. And for the record, she’s only ever responded to the way I’ve
treated her.”
“Jason, my boy, why won’t you listen? Do you think we’re out to hurt you?” a relative. pleaded.
“That’s right, and since there’s no children involved, the divorce will be easier.”
At that moment, almost everyone in the Nelson family was on one side, overwhelmingly not supporting Jason and Estrella being together. They were all advising them to
separate.
Kristin, watching the unfolding drama, felt her eyes welling up. She had never imagined it would come to this. However, she couldn’t stand to hear them badmouth Estrella and said, “Enough, guys. I know more about Jason and Estrella’s life together than any
of you.
“Estrella was pushed to the brink, her heart broken, and that’s why she retaliated against Jason. As a woman, I understand her. Estrella has been more than enough all these
years,
and it’s Jason who failed to cherish her. We simply don’t deserve her.”
Kristin, too, was a woman and she understood Estrella’s pain, as well as the ire of Jason’s aunts after all, Jason was their beloved nephew.
But in this world, not all is black and white. Many things are not a matter of right or wrong. The marriage between Estrella and Jason was a matter of incompatibility more than anything else they simply weren’t suited to be husband and wife.
“Why are you defending her…”
“You’re usually so sensible, how can you…”
Bryce had been silent since stepping into the yard, and his parents were the only elders who hadn’t commented, knowing well of Bryces close relationship with Estrella and not wishing to cause their son pain.
Moreover, they were privy to more details about Estrella and Jason’s situation than the others, as Bryce would sometimes share bits and pieces-like the times Jason stood
trella up, or that he was oblivious to her hospital stay.
In all honesty, had it been their daughter in Estrella’s place, they would have demanded a divorce long ago and sought a better match without hesitation.
As the family’s remarks grew more outlandish, even using the fact that Estrella hadn’t given the Nelson family an heir as a pretext, Bryce’s patience snapped. He slammed his cutlery down, “Will you all just stop?”
His sudden outburst startled everyone into silence, their eyes collectively turning to him. What had gotten into him? Bryce, typically meek and compliant with the family elders, was
08.04
now making a scene in front of everyone.
In their eyes, Bryce was still the same clueless kid who had lucked into success, riding on the coattails of the Nelson family’s good fortune.
Faced with their stares, Bryce smirked bitterly. “So Estrella had a child. So what? She is a person. Who among you raised her? Who’s to say that she has to give birth to Jason’s child?” he shot back. “It’s her
body, her choice.”
As Bryce spoke, his aunts retorted, “No one’s saying her child has to bear the Nelson. name, or that it must be Jason’s. But she should’ve gotten divorced first instead of carrying on with someone else while she is still married.”
“Bryce, your aunt wasn’t wrong. Back in the old days, Estrella’s antics would’ve landed her in the stocks.”
Bryce found his aunts’ words amusing. Then, with a swift turn of his head, Bryce set his gaze on Jason, his voice laden with accusation, “Jason, are you telling me Estrella never gave you a chance? She never carried your child?”
Bryce’s words hung in the air, and the room fell into a stunned silence. Everyone
exchanged bewildered glances, utterly lost.
Kristin’s eyes widened, fixated on Bryce as she asked. “Bryce, what on earth are you talking about? Spit it out!”
Ignoring Kristin’s probing, Bryce continued his interrogation, his eyes never leaving Jason. “Jason, put your hand on your heart and tell everyone here, do you deserve to have Estrella bear your child? Are you worthy of being the father of Estrella’s kids?”
“In the years you’ve been married to Estrella, have you ever lived up to the role of a husband? Have you ever truly treated Estrella as your wife?”