Chapter 16 A Romantic Evening
Finished
The events of that night had been too overwhelming, leaving Estella’s mind in a haze. She trailed silently behind Jonathan, too stunned to speak.
Jonathan drove her home.
As they arrived, Estella noticed him heading toward the stairs. She gave him a puzzled look.
Jonathan explained, “There was a sudden power outage in the neighborhood tonight, so the elevator isn’t working.”
Estella nodded and followed him up the stairs.
Jonathan turned on the flashlight on his phone and walked ahead of her.
Seeing that Estella didn’t seem well, he kindly reminded her, “If you’re feeling tired, you can hold onto my sleeve.”
Estella met his sincere gaze, nodded, and reached out to grab his shirt sleeve.
He glanced at her, then climbed up first.
Estella followed behind him, feeling an inexplicable sense of security.
The two reached the sixth floor.
Estella finally let go of his sleeve, took out her key, and prepared to open the door.
“Estella,” Jonathan called.
She turned around and asked what was wrong.
Jonathan asked, “Are you afraid of dogs?”
Estella looked at him, puzzled, not understanding why he was asking.
Jonathan said, “If you’re not afraid, I can have Bailey keep you company.”
Seeing that she didn’t say anything, Jonathan opened the door, and a Labrador came out, jumping into his arms.
He gently held the dog and said, “It’s very gentle. If it sleeps next to your bed, you won’t have nightmares tonight. But it’s afraid of the cold, so you can let it sleep on the carpet.”
Only then did Estella realize how much Jonathan cared for her.
Her eyes reddened. “Thank you.”
Jonathan spoke a few words to the Labrador, and the golden–haired dog immediately jumped down and rubbed against
Estella before sitting by her feet.
Estella really liked pets.
But since Nathaniel didn’t like them, she hadn’t kept any cats or dogs.
Now that she had such a well–behaved dog keeping her company, she immediately felt at ease.
She thanked Jonathan again.
Jonathan wished her goodnight and waited until she and Bailey were inside before leaving.
Estella, afraid of the dark, was still shaken from almost being attacked by Hunter earlier that night.
However, with Bailey sitting quietly by her feet, she felt much less scared.
She lit a candle, then grabbed a small bowl to pour water for Bailey.
Bailey was very well–behaved. Wherever Estella went, it followed her.
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Chapter 16 A Romantic Evening
At night, it slept by Estella’s bed, watching over her.
Finished
Estella had thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but as soon as she closed her eyes, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
The next day at the office, Lillian asked with concern. “I heard you almost had an accident last night?”
Estella didn’t go into detail about what had happened, simply asking calmly, “Why was the dinner venue suddenly changed?”
Lillian lowered her voice. “We don’t know either. When we arrived at the private room, Ms. Isabelle suddenly suggested at different place, and Jocelyn said she’d tell you instead of me. I wanted to call you, but Jocelyn took my phone.”
Estella gritted her teeth. This was definitely Isabelle and Jocelyn’s doing!
She would make them pay for this sooner or later.
At lunch, Selene excitedly said, “Hunter got what he deserved!”
Estella was confused.
Selene continued, “Hunter turned out to be a freeloader, relying on his wife’s family connections to start a company in Javerton. He used his little bit of dirty money to cheat behind his wife’s back. Apparently, she caught him red–handed and kicked him out. Several interns who had been harassed by him teamed up to sue him. He’s probably going to prison.”
Estella didn’t expect such an outcome.
Who could have helped me? Was it Jonathan?
She remembered that when she went to return Bailey to him this morning, he had said, “You don’t need to worry about Hunter. I’ll handle it.”
She hadn’t realized he wasn’t just saying that.
Selene, noticing she was silent, nudged her elbow.
“Hey, I heard Mr. Bennett is your neighbor? Lana told me. Mr. Bennett has quite a background. His family is well–known in Kingston. He likes challenges, so he started his own business in Javerton. The way he acts around you shows he’s different from others. Have you considered him?”
Estella’s face turned red from what Selene said.
She stirred her coffee and sighed, “Mr. Bennett is a good person. How could he possibly like me?”
“Why wouldn’t he?” Selene pinched her cheek. “Look at your face, your figure. What kind of man wouldn’t like you?”
Estella’s face grew even redder.
However, she was realistic. “But I’ve been divorced. He surely wouldn’t like me.”
Selene wasn’t convinced. “Girl, you’re too old–fashioned. Many women who marry rich men are in their second or third marriages. You’ve only been married once. It’s nothing unusual.”
Estella laughed at her but didn’t continue the conversation.
In the afternoon, Estella sat in her seat, deep in thought for a long time before finally sending Jonathan a message. “Mr. Bennett, tomorrow night is Christmas Eve. Are you free? I’d like to invite you to dinner.”
It took Jonathan over ten minutes to reply. “Okay.”
After sending the message, Estella was about to mute her phone and focus on her work when the ringtone suddenly sounded.
It was an unfamiliar number.
She walked into the hallway to answer it.
“Hello.”
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3:20 PM P P
Chapter 16 A Romantic Evening
“Estella.” The familiar male voice was Nathaniel’s.
Estella felt a strong urge to hang up immediately.
A
But Nathaniel spoke quickly. “Don’t hang up. I want to offer you a new job. How does that
that sound?”
Finished
He had learned from his assistant about what happened the previous night.
Freezing Estella’s account had been his attempt to force her into begging him.
He didn’t want her to get into trouble.
But in truth, he knew he was in the wrong. He felt he had to call her, smooth things over, and make amends..
However, it was him who was struggling to adjust these past few days.
“I’m planning to invest in an art center. You’d be in charge. How about it? Think of it as compensation for last night. I’ll also have someone unfreeze your bank account.”
He
He believed that, after everything Estella had endured, she would surely be tempted.
After all, no one would choose to stay as an employee when they could be an employer.
But Estella wasn’t swayed. She scoffed and replied, “Nathaniel, do you think you can slap me first and then offer me a sweet deal to win me back? Do you think I’m some dog you can train? Let me tell you, I will never come back!”
She immediately hung up and blocked the number.
Nathaniel, realizing he had been hung up on, scowled and angrily smashed his phone.
I’ve given Estella so many chances, but why isn’t she coming back? Does being Mrs. Hartwell not compared to the struggles she’s facing outside?
His assistant, Whitney, stood there, unsure of what to do, looking at him.
This phone had been borrowed from her and her colleague, and now that Nathaniel had smashed it, she had no idea how she could possibly replace it.
Nathaniel simmered with anger for a moment, then calmed down and turned to his assistant. “Do you know how to convince a woman to come back home?”
Whitney was stunned.
Mr. Hartwell has only ever cared about Ms. Isabelle. So why, all of a sudden, is he so fixated on his ex–wife?
She thought for a moment before replying, “Mr. Hartwell, if you truly want Mrs. Hartwell back, maybe you could give her some gifts?”
Nathaniel suddenly recalled that, in the three years he had been married to Estella, he had never once bought her a gift.
He realized that he had been unfair to her. No wonder Estella was upset and refused to return.
He nodded. “That’s a good idea. There’s a jewelry auction tomorrow, right? Go and buy the two most expensive pieces.”
Whitney quickly made a note of the schedule.
Nathaniel then asked, “Is there anything else?”
Whitney hesitated. “What do you mean?”
“Is giving gifts the only option?”
Whitney thought for a moment. “Women really care about important holidays. Mr. Hartwell, tomorrow night is Christmas Eve. How about booking a restaurant and having a romantic evening with Mrs. Hartwell?”
