Chapter <b>219 </b>
-CELINE POV-
The room was too quiet.
??
37
E56 vouchers
Iy on my side, staring at the pale wall. The machine near my bed beeped softly, steadily, reminding me that I was alive when I didn’t want to be.
My body felt heavy, like stone. My stomach hurt, but not as much as my chest. Not as much as the emptiness.
I had thought I would still feel her moving. That maybe it was all a mistake, and the doctor was wrong. But there was nothing.
Only silence inside me.
My throat burned. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. My voice had died the moment they told me I’d lost the baby.
The door creaked. I didn’t move.
Hunter’s footsteps came closer, slow and careful. He said my name softly, like he was afraid of breaking me. His voice used to bring warmth. Now it made me ache.
The bed dipped when he sat beside me. I shut my eyes tighter. If I looked at him, I might hate him. I might forgive him. I didn’t know which would hurt more.
“Celine,” he whispered again. “Please eat something. Please talk to me.”
My lips parted, but no words came. What could I say? That I med him? That I med myself? That I hated Mia so much my heart felt poisoned?
My body shook. Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, soaking the pillow.
His hand hovered close, but he didn’t touch me. He knew why. I had pulled away before.
Good. Let him feel what it was like to be unwanted. To be helpless.
My breath hitched. A sound escaped….half sob, halfugh. I didn’t even know which it was.
Hunter’s voice broke beside me. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Celine.”
I curled tighter into myself, wrapping my arms around my empty stomach. Sorry, couldn’t bring her back. Sorry couldn’t erase the picture of Mia’s cruel smile before she fell.
And worst of all, sorry couldn’t erase the truth: I had chosen this life. Chosen Hunter.
And because of that choice, my daughter was gone.
The weight of that truth crushed me until I wanted to disappear.
12:49 Wed<b>, </b><b>Sep </b>17
-VINCENT’S POV-
<b>37 </b>
<b>55 </b>vouchers
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, ncing at the woman beside me. ke sat with her arms crossed, lips pursed, ring out the window like she hadn’t spoken to me in days.
“Alright,” I sighed, “what’s the silent treatment for this time?”
She didn’t even look at me. “The florist.”
I blinked. “The what?<b>” </b>
“That little shop across my apartment.” She finally turned, eyes narrowing. “The one you slowed down in front of. Don’t y dumb. You were practically eye–fucking the poor girl through the ss.”
I snorted. “Jesus, ke. I was getting flowers.”
“Oh sure.” She rolled her eyes. “Getting flowers. That’s what we’re calling it now?”
I gripped the wheel tighter, trying not tough. “So you’re jealous?<b>” </b>
“Don’t tter yourself.” She flicked her hair back. “You just… You just made it very clear from the beginning that this thing between us is casual. I’m only giving you my time because you’re good in bed. That’s it.”
I turned sharply at a light, smirking at her. “So, yes. You’re jealous.”
Her silence told me more than words. The way her cheeks heated and she stared even harder out the window. I chuckled under my breath. ke scoffed but didn’t fight back.
After a beat, her tone softened. “Is Celine still not talking to anyone?”
I exhaled, some of my humor fading. “No. Not even Caesar. Not even Hunter. She’s… shut down. Thinks pushing everyone away will ease the pain.”
ke sighed, her hand tugging at her seatbelt. “God. Poor girl. She was glowing, you know? The day she told me she was pregnant… she was so happy. Like nothing could break her.”
“Yeah,” I murmured, my throat tight. “Hunter too. He was… softer. Different. Hopeful in a way I hadn’t seen before. And now…” I trailed off, the steering wheel groaning under my grip.
ke finished for me, whispering, “Now they’re both drowning<b>.</b>”
I nodded. “And if we don’t pull them out, this grief will eat them alive.”
****
The hospital loomed ahead, too white, too barren. I pulled into the parking lot, killed the engine, and for a moment neither of us moved.
ke touched my arm gently. “We’ll figure it out. We have to.”
<b>37 </b>
55 vouchers
Inside, I found Hunter hunched in a waiting room chair. He looked like hell. Dark circles under his eyes, beard unshaven, tie long forgotten.
The Hunter Reid who usually owned every room he stepped into now looked like a man who’d been hollowed out.
“Jesus, you look like shit,” I muttered, trying to keep it light.
He nced up. His lips tugged half–heartedly. “Thanks, Vincent. Really needed that confidence boost.”
ke nudged me with her elbow, shooting me a re, before she crouched beside Hunter. “How are you holding up?”
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Doctor thinks… therapy might help.” He almostughed at the word, but it came out choked. “Couples therapy. As if sitting in a room with strangers talking about it will fix…” He broke off, swallowing hard.
I looked at him. “And why not? You’re already here, wasting away in this hospital chair. If it’s the one thing that might bring her back to you, isn’t it worth trying?”
ke nodded firmly. “She won’t hear it from you right now. But maybe… maybe I can talk to her. She needs a friend. Not a husband. Not a man. Just someone to sit beside her and let her be broken for a while.”
Hunter’s jaw clenched, but after a moment he nodded. “Try. Please.”
“Good.” ke straightened and pointed at me. “And you? Don’t do anything stupid. Keep your dick in pants. This hospital is crawling with pretty nurses and I don’t trust you.”
your
I grinned at her retreating back as she disappeared toward Celine’s room. Hunter raised a brow. “So… you and ke, huh?”
I shrugged. “She’s not bad.” A smirk tugged at my lips. “And she fucks good.”
Hunter groaned, dragging a hand over his face. “You’re insane.”
We sat in silence for a while, just the sound of machines and distant footsteps echoing through the hall. Finally, I leaned forward.
“The ckwoods,” I muttered. “Tonight, it all burns. Shares are already copsing. By morning, they’ll have nothing left.”
Hunter’s gaze darkened. “Edward’s been calling. Causing a scene.”
“Want me to handle it?” I offered.
“No. Let him scream into the void. If he crosses a line, have him arrested. Disturbance of peace. But don’t waste time on his tantrum.”
I nodded, studying him. His fingers tapped against his knee, restless, but his face was unreadable. “And you?
12:49 Wed, <b>Sep </b>17
-CELINE POV-
The room was too quiet.
<b>37 </b>
55 <b>vouchers </b>
Iy on my side, staring at the pale wall. The machine near my bed beeped softly, steadily, reminding me that I was alive when I didn’t want to be.
My body felt heavy, like stone. My stomach hurt, but not as much as my chest. Not as much as the emptiness.
I had thought I would still feel her moving. That maybe it was all a mistake, and the doctor was wrong. But there was nothing.
Only silence inside me.
My throat burned. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. My voice had died the moment they told me I’d lost the baby.
The door creaked. I didn’t move.
Hunter’s footsteps came closer, slow and careful. He said my name softly, like he was afraid of breaking me. His voice used to bring warmth. Now it made me ache.
The bed dipped when he sat beside me. I shut my eyes tighter. If I looked at him, I might hate him. I might forgive him. I didn’t know which would hurt more.
“Celine,” he whispered again. “Please eat something. Please talk to me.”
My lips parted, but no words came. What could I say? That I med him? That I med myself? That I hated Mia so much my heart felt poisoned?
My body shook. Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes, soaking the pillow.
His hand hovered close, but he didn’t touch me. He knew why. I had pulled away before.
Good. Let him feel what it was like to be unwanted. To be helpless.
My breath hitched. A sound escaped….half sob, halfugh. I didn’t even know which it was.
Hunter’s voice broke beside me. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Celine.”
I curled tighter into myself, wrapping my arms around my empty stomach. Sorry, couldn’t bring her back. Sorry couldn’t erase the picture of Mia’s cruel smile before she fell.
And worst of all, sorry couldn’t erase the truth: I had chosen this life. Chosen Hunter.
And because of that choice, my daughter was gone.
The weight of that truth crushed me until I wanted to disappear.
…
:
<b>37 </b>
B55 vouchers
-VINCENT’S POV-
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, ncing at the woman beside me. ke sat with her arms crossed, lips pursed, ring out the window like she hadn’t spoken to me in days.
“Alright,” I sighed, “what’s the silent treatment for this time?”
She didn’t even look at me. “The florist.”
I blinked. “The what?”
“That little shop across my apartment.” She finally turned, eyes narrowing. “The one you slowed down in front of. Don’t y dumb. You were practically eye–fucking the poor girl through the ss.”
I snorted. “Jesus, ke. I was getting flowers.”
“Oh sure.” She rolled her eyes. “Getting flowers. That’s what we’re calling it now?”
I gripped the wheel tighter, trying not tough. “So you’re jealous?”
“Don’t tter yourself.” She flicked her hair back. “You just… You just made it very clear from the beginning that this thing between us is casual. I’m only giving you my time because you’re good in bed. That’s it.”
I turned sharply at a light, smirking at her. “So, yes. You’re jealous.”
Her silence told me more than words. The way her cheeks heated and she stared even harder out the window. I chuckled under my breath. ke scoffed but didn’t fight back.
After a beat, her tone softened. “Is Celine still not talking to anyone?”
I exhaled, some of my humor fading. “No. Not even Caesar. Not even Hunter. She’s… shut down. Thinks pushing everyone away will ease the pain.”
ke sighed, her hand tugging at her seatbelt. “God. Poor girl. She was glowing, you know? The day she told me she was pregnant… she was <i>so </i>happy. Like nothing could break her.”
“Yeah,” I murmured, my throat tight. “Hunter too. He was… softer. Different. Hopeful in a way I hadn’t seen before. And now…” I trailed off, the steering wheel groaning under my grip.
ke finished for me, whispering, “Now they’re both drowning.”
I nodded. “And if we don’t pull them out, this grief will eat them alive.”
The hospital loomed ahead, too white, too barren. I pulled into the parking lot, killed the engine, and for a moment neither of us moved.
ke touched my arm gently. “We’ll figure it out. We have to.”
<b>12:49 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep 17 </b>
<b>37 </b>
E55 vouchers.
Inside, I found Hunter hunched in a waiting room chair. He looked like hell. Dark circles under his eyes, beard unshaven, tie long forgotten.
The Hunter Reid who usually owned every room he stepped into now looked like a man who’d been hollowed out.
“Jesus, you look like shit,” I muttered, trying to keep it light.
He nced up. His lips tugged half–heartedly. “Thanks, Vincent. Really needed that confidence boost.”
ke nudged me with her elbow, shooting me a re, before she crouched beside Hunter. “How are you holding up?”
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. “Doctor thinks… therapy might help.” He almostughed at the word, but it came out choked. “Couples therapy. As if sitting in a room with strangers talking about it will fix…” He broke off, swallowing hard.
I looked at him. “And why not? You’re already here, wasting away in this hospital chair. If it’s the one thing that might bring her back to you, isn’t it worth trying?”
ke nodded firmly. “She won’t hear it from you right now. But maybe… maybe I can talk to her. She needs a friend. Not a husband. Not a man. Just someone to sit beside her and let her be broken for a while.”
Hunter’s jaw clenched, but after a moment he nodded. “Try. Please.”
“Good.” ke straightened and pointed at me. “And you? Don’t do anything stupid. Keep your dick in your pants. This hospital is crawling with pretty nurses and I don’t trust you.”
I grinned at her retreating back as she disappeared toward Celine’s room. Hunter raised a brow. “So… you and ke, huh?”
I shrugged. “She’s not bad.” A smirk tugged at my lips. “And she fucks good.”
Hunter groaned, dragging a hand over his face. “You’re insane.”
**
We sat in silence for a while, just the sound of machines and distant footsteps echoing through the hall. Finally, I leaned forward. <fn3cb2> Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel</fn3cb2>
“The ckwoods,” I muttered. “Tonight, it all burns. Shares are already copsing. By morning, they’ll have nothing left.”
Hunter’s gaze darkened. “Edward’s been calling. Causing a scene.”
“Want me to handle it?<b>” </b>I offered.
“No. Let him scream into the void. If he crosses a line, have him arrested. Disturbance of peace<b>. </b>But don’t
waste time on his tantrum.”
I nodded, studying him. His fingers tapped against his knee, restless, but his <b>face </b>was unreadable. “And you?
<b>12:49 </b><b>Wed</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>17
How are you coping?<b>” </b>
“I’m fine.”
I snorted. “Bullshit.”
…
His lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t answer. Just stared at his hands.
Then–he broke.
<b>1373 </b>
E55 vouchers
Right in front of me. He bent forward, covering his face with his palms, his shoulders shaking.
I froze. I’d known Hunter Reid since our first year of college. I’d seen him tear apart boardrooms, dismiss women like they were disposable toys, and manipte billion–dor markets with a flick of his hand. He was the untouchable one, the unshakable one.
But this… This wasn’t the man everyone else knew.
This was a father mourning a child. A husband terrified he’d lost his wife’s heart. A man crushed under the weight of a grief too big for him to carry.
I almost reached out. Almost touched his shoulder. But my hand stopped midair, useless. I had no idea how to fix this<b>. </b>
A voice cut through the silence.
“Hunter?<b>” </b>
Both of us turned.
Caroline stood at the door, suitcase by her feet, eyes wide. She stared at Hunter–the mess of him, the tears streaking his face.
The bag dropped from her hand as she rushed forward, falling to her knees beside him.
“Oh my God.” Her arms wrapped around him tight, like she could hold his broken pieces together by sheer force. “Hunter…”
And Hunter finally let himself cry.
Right there, in his cousin’s arms.
And for the first time since all this began, I saw him not as the Hunter Reid the world feared–but as a man who had lost everything that mattered.
11