<b>Chapter </b><b>38 </b>
-HUNTER’S POV-
Some days, I wake up knowing the world will test me.
Today is one of those days.
Charlotte was already pushing limits before noon, refusing to show up for a scheduled shoot, I called her orice. No answer. Twice. Straight to voicemail
The third time, she finally picked up, her voice dripping with fake innocence.
“Migraine,” she sighed. “I need rest, Hunter.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, pacing the hallway outside my office. “You need a reality check.”
Silence. Then a petnt whine. “You’re being dramatic.”
“I’m not your boyfriend, Charlotte. I don’t have to put up with this.” My jaw tightened as I nced at my watch. I didn’t have time for this. “Show up tomorrow, or don’t bother showing up at all.”
I hung up before she could spin another excuse. I didn’t need distractions. And yet, the moment I looked up, I found <b>one</b>.
Cole.
Standing casually in the hallway, hands in his pockets, that smug, self–satisfied smirk stretching across his face.
My patience was already a fragile thread. His presence? Thest straw.
“Follow me,” I said, not waiting for a response. Cole didn’t hesitate, didn’t even look remotely concerned. That irritated me more. <fnfe97> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(.</fnfe97>
My staff scrambled out of my way as I walked past. They knew better than to speak when I was like this. Cole should too. The door shut with <b>a </b>quiet <b>click</b>.
Cole sat before I even offered, draping himself across the chair like he belonged there. Like he owned the ce.
I leaned against my desk, arms crossed. “Drink?”
“I won’t be long.”
Trantion: ‘Let’s not pretend this is friendly.‘
Cole exhaled, stretching his legs out. “I assume this is about the estate renovations?<b>” </b>
tilted my head slightly, fingers tapping against the desk. That wasn’t why we were here. “I want to know when you’ll be done.” My voice was clipped, businesslike.
Cole studied me before responding. “I gave you a timeline.”
“Then stick to it.”
The tension shifted. Thickened. I could see it–the moment Cole realized this wasn’t about business. And still, he yed along.
“You’re this pissed over a few weeks‘ dy?”
I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temple before finally snapping.
“Stop ying with her emotions, Cole. And stop making her false promises<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>10:45 </b><b>Wed</b>, <b>30 </b><b>Jul </b>& O
That got a reaction.
Cole, who had been too rxed until now, paused mid–motion. His eyes narrowed slightly before something sharp–something dangerous–lickered across his face.
Then, slowly, he smirked.
<b>“</b>Nice words, cousin,” Cole murmured. “But this time she isn’t your property.”
The words dug under my skin. Not because he was right. But because of the way he enjoyed saying it. My grip on the desk tightened.
Cole watched, waiting for me to react. And when I didn’t, he took it further. His voice dropped lower, colder.
“Maybe that child looks so damn annoying like you…” he murmured. “But what I do with Celine? That’s my business.”
Something snapped. Cole turned toward the door–But he didn’t make it far.
A crystal paperweight flew past his shoulder, smashing against the office door. The sound was deafening.
Cole barely flinched. If anything, his smirk widened as he nced back at me over his shoulder.
Amused. Unbothered. He walked out without another word.
I ripped at my tie, trying to breathe. Trying to contain the feeling wing its way out of me. But I could still hear him. Looping in my head like a curse<b>. </b>
“What I do with Celine? That’s my business.“_
My secretary peeked inside, eyes wide with horror at the shattered ss on the floor.
“Sir<i>?</i><i>” </i>she asked hesitantly. I snapped my gaze to her. My expression is lethal.
“Get out.”
She disappeared instantly. I breathed out harshly, pressing my palms against the desk. I had to get a grip. But the only thing my mind kept screaming
was–Cole was wrong.
Celine wasn’t mine. But she sure as hell wasn’t his either.
I did try. Tried to get through the day pretending I wasn’t still thinking about what Cole said.
That smug bastard had moved on like the conversation never happened–like he hadn’t dropped a grenade into my already vtile thoughts.
“Maybe that child looks so damn annoying like you.”
The words had burrowed themselves deep, like a piece/l couldn’t dig out.
So, I did what I always do–I worked. I buried myself in meetings, barked orders, responded to emails I didn’t care about, and me together.
Almost.
But the moment I stepped into the house, all that self–control started to crack.
to hold <b>myself </b>
The staff lined up as usual, heads bowed in respect as I entered the grand foyer. <b>The </b>chandelier overhead cast <b>long </b>golden <b>shadows </b><b>across </b><b>the </b><b>marble</b>, the familiar scent ofvender and polished wood stayed in the air<b>. </b>
I barely looked at any of them. Except for her.
<b>10:45 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>30 </b><b>Jul </b>GOE
Chapter 38.
Celine.
She stood stiffly near the edge of the line, her head dipped, body taut like she
stare.
was bracing for something. Like she could <b>already </b>feel <b>the </b><b>weight </b><b>of </b>my
She wasn’t alone.
Caesar was beside her, his tiny hand curled around hers like she was his anchor. His eyes sparkled when they met mine, and before I could look away He smiled.
And waved.
Just like that. No hesitation. No fear. Something twisted in my chest. Something strange. I didn’t smile back. I didn’t wave. I just… stared.
Because Cole’s words came rushing back all over again. The eyes. The hair. The shape of his damn mouth.
Too damn familiar.
No. I looked away quickly, jaw locked, breath tight in my throat. I hated that the thought even crossed my mind. Hated it more than it stayed.
Celine must’ve sensed it–felt the shift in me—because her head lifted ever <b>so </b>slightly, her eyes catching mine for the briefest second.
Then panic.
She immediately turned, pulling Caesar behind her, shielding him from me like I was the threat. Like she was used <b>to </b>having to protect him from stares just like mine.
“Caesar, bow<i>,</i><i>” </i>she whispered urgently, bending to guide his little head down.
“I don’t wanna,” he whined. “It hurts, Mama.”
The word hit me like a punch.
Mama.
The maids beside them chuckled softly, trying to stifle it, but it wasn’t theughter that caught my a
attention.
It was the head maid, standing near the back, her eyes hard and disapproving as she stared daggers into Celine’s back.
Interesting.
Still, I said nothing. Not a single word.”
I moved past them without pause, withoutment. Without so much as a trace of expression.
But Celine must’ve felt it anyway. She always did.
My voice echoed through the foyer as I reached the base of the staircase. “Have the west wing prepped by tomorrow night<b>.</b>”
The head maid gave a quick nod. “Yes<i>, </i>sir. For whom shall we prepare-”
“She’sing to pay a visit,” I cut her off, not turning around. “Make sure everything is perfect. You know how my mother is.”
A ripple of suspense passed through the staff. <i>Of </i>course, they knew how Eleanor Reid was.
The kind of woman who didn’t visit unless she wanted something. The kind who could break a person with <b>a </b>look.
I didn’t stop to exin. Didn’t stop to acknowledge Caesar. Or Celine. Because if I did… if I looked at <b>that </b><b>boy </b><b>for </b><b>even </b><b>a </b><b>second </b><b>longer</b>, I <b>was </b><b>going </b><b>to </b><b>lose </b>thest grip I had on myposure.
<b>10.46 </b>wea, 30 <b>Jun </b>
And I couldn’t afford to do that.
Not now.
Not with hering. Not with Celine still looking at me like I was something she didn’t understand. Like I was something she should fear
So I walked.
I walked like I hadn’t felt anything. Like I hadn’t seen anything. But every step up that staircase felt heavier than thest.
Because no matter how hard I tried to shut it out- I kept seeing his eyes.
And they looked like mine.