30 Days Till I Divorce My Husband novel Chapter 427

Estrella licked her lips with a hint of amusement and said, "Keith, the ball is really in Jason's court, not mine. You can't just force my hand like this. That wouldn't be very gentlemanly of you."

"How about I give Jason a call, have him come over, and you can try persuading him again to go with you."

Keith was at a loss for words. As he gazed at Estrella, he felt like he was punching a pillow. Here he was, plotting and fuming, and to her, it was just a breeze in the park.

After staring at Estrella for what seemed like an eternity, realizing that a hard approach wouldn't work, Keith let out a sigh and said, "Young lady, you're aware of the situation with Jason's parents."

"So, you must understand that Jason choosing to be with you, especially because you two have a child together, is something that's tearing him up inside."

"If you two were to get back together, every time he looks at you, he'd be reminded of his parents."

"You love Jason, and you wouldn't want to see him go through that kind of pain."

Keith's attempt to appeal to her emotions and reason seemed like a stretch, but Estrella found it somewhat endearing that this old man, clearly livid, was still trying to talk sense into her, to move her with compassion.

Most girls might have been swayed by Keith's moral argument, worrying about their future, worrying about Jason's feelings. But Estrella was tired of making concessions, of being the bigger person. Finally seeing a glimpse of happiness, she wasn't about to let go, to cater to the whims of this frustrating old man, to be morally blackmailed, to listen to his nonsense about what's best for them.

If he really wanted what was best for them, he'd bless their union, maybe throw in some cash, maybe gift them a few houses. That would be substantial.

The room was decorated in a classic style, with hardwood furniture everywhere, and a large wooden clock hung on the wall to Estrella's right. Estrella could clearly hear the ticking of the clock, and the scent of roses from the garden filled the air.

Looking at Keith calmly, Estrella said, "Keith, the situation you're describing might happen, Jason might be reminded of his parents when he sees me, but I believe that if he's not with me, he'd feel even worse."

"He's an adult, capable of weighing his options. He knows what he wants, so I don't need to worry on his behalf."

"Jason isn't a fool. He'll choose the path that brings him a bit more peace, a bit more happiness."

Keith's face darkened even more at Estrella's level-headed response. Clutching his cane tighter, Keith had to admit, even among men, few had her clarity of thought, her calm in the face of adversity. Their brief exchange only increased Keith's respect for Estrella, understanding why Jason was so taken with her. If she weren't Cole's daughter, if her father wasn't linked to the tragedy that befell his son and daughter-in-law, she would have been the perfect choice for the River family. But alas, she was Cole's daughter.

With a stoic face, Keith threatened, "Young lady, you're on my turf now. Aren't you afraid you won't be able to leave this house?"

"Doc Martin, it's been a while! Come in, come in," Keith greeted the Western doctor with enthusiasm, immediately getting to the point. "This young lady here is involved with my grandson. Would you mind examining her to confirm her pregnancy?"

"Of course, Mr. Keith, I'll do my best," replied the doctor, setting down his bag and approaching Estrella.

"Can I take a look?" he asked, ready to use modern medical techniques to ascertain her condition.

Estrella, amused by the situation, decided to play along. After all, keeping up the charade was crucial for maintaining their stance against Keith's skepticism.

As the doctor prepared his equipment, Edith couldn't help but comment, hinting at her doubts about the whole situation. Keith didn't even glance at Edith, his attention solely on Estrella as he said, "Since you're here, let's have old man Ted give you a quick check-up. If you're really pregnant, I won't make things difficult for you."

As Keith's words hung in the air, Estrella responded with a laugh, rolling up her right sleeve, "Sure, that saves me a trip to the clinic for a prenatal check-up tomorrow."

When it came to nerve, if Estrella claimed second place, no one dared claim first. Observing Estrella ready herself, the traditional healer, whom they affectionately called Old Man Ted, placed a soft cushion on the back of the chair and instructed, "My dear, please rest your wrist here."