Chapter 13 Name Your Price
When the car stopped in the hospital’s underground parking lot, Estella woke up.
Enduring the dizziness, she asked, “Mr. Bennett, are we there?”
“Yeah, I’ll help you out.”
He leaned in to unbuckle her seatbelt. A crisp, pleasant scent filled her nose.
Estella’s heartbeat inexplicably quickened.
Jonathan’s looks and demeanor were exceptional among men.
Unlike Nathaniel’s coldness, Jonathan had a refined and scholarly elegance.
Finished
After entering the hospital lobby, Jonathan used the self–service machine to register her for an emergency consultation, then accompanied her to see the doctor and get examined.
Estella felt embarrassed.
“Mr. Bennett, thank you so much for tonight.”
She had originally planned to bring him a meal as a thank–you, but now she owed him another favor.
Jonathan’s voice was deep and gentle. “No worries. It’s only natural for neighbors to help each other.”
After reviewing the test results, the doctor prescribed headache medication and advised Estella to exercise regularly to improve her physical condition.
On the drive back, Jonathan suggested, “Our community has a gym and a swimming pool. Ms. Hayes, you should make time to work out.”
Estella hummed in acknowledgment. “I’ll start exercising more.”
Before marrying Nathaniel, she had been in good shape, going to the gym three times a week.
But after getting married, she had given up her personal space to take care of him. She barely had time to sleep, let alone
work out.
“We should go together sometime. I can introduce you to a trainer,” he said casually.
Estella didn’t refuse. “Alright.”
When they reached her door, Jonathan suddenly said, “How about we have dinner together? I can heat up the food.”
Only then did Estella remember that he hadn’t eaten yet. She felt even guiltier.
“I’m really sorry for taking up so much of your time. You’re busy with work too, right? I’m really sorry.”
Jonathan chuckled, his eyes soft. “I have to work overnight anyway. This didn’t take up much time.”
He took the meal she had brought and entered her home.
He didn’t close the door completely, leaving it slightly ajar.
Estella handed him a new pair of disposable slippers.
Jonathan reheated the food and placed it on the table,
Noticing that Jonathan was doing all the work, Estella felt even more self–conscious.
Noticing her unease, Jonathan said warmly, “I just heated the food. That’s nothing compared to you cooking an entire meal.”
They ate in silence.
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Chapter 13 Name Your Price
Estella’s cooking was quite good, and the flavors suited Jonathan’s taste.
Finished
He praised. “If you cook in the future, could you make an extra portion for me? I’ll pay you, just name your
price.”
Hearing that he liked her food, Estella quickly said, “No need. If you want some, making an extra portion is no trouble at all.
She already owed him a favor, giving him dinner was nothing.
“Ms. Hayes, if you won’t let me pay, then I won’t trouble you.”
He didn’t like taking advantage of others.
Seeing his serious expression, Estella had no choice but to agree. “Alright. Just let me know in advance if you want anything specific.”
“Okay, it’s a deal.”
After finishing the meal, Jonathan cleared the dishes, washed them, and poured her a glass of warm water, reminding her to take her medicine.
Once she took the medication, he got ready to leave.
Before stepping out, he reminded her again, “Ms. Hayes, don’t forget to exercise.”
Estella found Jonathan’s attentiveness almost excessive, but she smiled. “Alright.”
Jonathan returned home and continued working.
His study window faced Estella’s bedroom window.
When he noticed her lights turn off, his fingers on the keyboard paused.
He glanced at the night outside, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Estella entered the office and immediately noticed that her colleagues were looking at her strangely.
Lillian leaned in and asked, “Estella, what’s going on between you and Mr. Hunter? Everyone in the group chat is talking about it. Take a look.”
She sent Estella a screenshot.
Estella took one look at it and trembled with rage,
“Who posted this?”
Lillian subtly gestured toward Jocelyn.
Estella grabbed her phone and walked straight toward Jocelyn.
Jocelyn was sipping her coffee. Seeing Estella storming over, she remained unfazed.
“Estella, is something wrong?”
Estella held up the screenshot and asked, “Did you post this?“”
Jocelyn glanced at it and sneered. “So what if I did? You got involved knowing he had a wife, and now you won’t let anyone talk about it?”
Hearing her admit it, Estella took a deep breath before saying, “Step outside. I need a word with you.”
Jocelyn didn’t believe the delicate and soft–spoken Estella could do anything to her, so she got up and followed.
They stepped out of the office and into a blind spot where the security cameras couldn’t reach.
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Chapter 13 Name Your Price
Without hesitation, Estella grabbed Jocelyn’s hair from behind and slapped her twice.
Jocelyn tried to fight back, but Estella twisted her arm, making her grimace in pain.
Finished
Estella had practiced taekwondo for a while as a child. Though she never took it seriously, it was more than enough to handle Jocelyn,
Gripping Jocelyn’s hair, she warned, “Say one more word of nonsense, and I’ll tear your mouth apart! Jocelyn, remember this, don’t ever mess with me again!”
Jocelyn was stunned by the ferocity in Estella’s eyes. She weakly nodded. “I… I got it.”
Estella let her go and returned to the office.
On the way back, she ran into Selene.
Selene patted her on the shoulder and grinned. “Looks like you didn’t need my help after all. Nice work, Estella.”
She gave her a thumbs–up.
Estella simply smiled and said nothing.
When Jocelyn reentered the office, her face still bore the marks of the slaps. Everyone looked at her with complicated expressions.
Humiliated, Jocelyn took two days off after requesting leave from her supervisor.
Because of what Estella had done, no one dared to gossip about her being a homewrecker anymore.
Estella had assumed Hunter would back off after that, but to her surprise, a few days later, he was still waiting for her after work every day.
Thinking it was time to set things straight, she agreed to meet Hunter at a nearby cafe.
Hunter, assuming her attitude had softened, was all smiles. His eyes lingered on her beautiful figure.
Estella sat down, ready to reject him outright.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Nathaniel and Isabelle at a table nearby.
Isabelle looked surprised.
She whispered to Nathaniel, “Nate, isn’t that Estella?”
Nathaniel’s gaze darkened as he looked over at her.
He had sent his assistant to search for her for half a month, and now, he unexpectedly found her here.
And she was on a date with another man.
Well, she really is something.
Estella ignored them and said to Hunter seriously, “Mr. Hunter, I think I need to make myself clear…”
“Hold on,” Hunter interrupted. He took out a card and smirked. “Ms. Hayes, hear me out first. If you’re willing to be with me, I can give you everything, except a title. I’ll give you 13,000 dollars a month as an allowance. All our dates will be on me. If you agree to have my child, I’ll transfer a house to your name.”
Estella let out a self–mocking laugh.
13,000 dollars? So that’s the going rate for mistresses these days.
Back when she was Nathaniel’s wife, she hadn’t even gotten that much.
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Without hesitation, she refused. “I have no interest in being your hidden lover, Mr. Hunter. Stop bothering me.”
Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Is the price too low for you?”
Finished
He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. Smirking in disdain, he said, “You sure drive a hard bargain. But I do like your looks. Name your price.”.
Send Gifts
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