Chapter four

When Hunter woke up the next morning, sunlight poured through the windows. The room was too bright. Too late.

“Shit,” he muttered, bolting upright. His phone lay dead on the nightstand — the alarm never went off.

He glanced at me still sleeping, then cursed again as he threw the covers off and slipped out of bed. He should’ve left before dawn, like always.

As he tiptoed down the stairs, barefoot and shirtless, Mom’s voice rang out, stopping him cold.

“Hunter…?” Her voice faltered. “You’re… coming out of Chris’s room?”

Hunter froze mid-step.

“Auntie—” he started, but no words followed.

Mom’s eyes widened with confusion and disbelief. This had never happened in all these years. Not once had he been caught.

Thinking fast, I appeared behind him and stepped forward. “Mom, it’s not what you think. I asked Hunter for help with a last-minute college project. I panicked and woke him up.”

Hunter turned back to me, stunned by how calmly I was handling it.

“I totally forgot it was due today,” I added, offering a sheepish smile. “And everyone else was asleep.”

Relief flooded Mom’s face. “Oh, sweetheart… that’s fine. Just next time don’t pull Hunter out of bed like that, okay?” she laughed nervously. “Let me make breakfast for you both.”

“Thank you, brother,” I said, glancing back at Hunter with an icy smile.

Hunter’s jaw clenched. His expression turned stormy.

The moment Mom disappeared into the kitchen, Hunter grabbed my wrist and yanked me aside, his eyes narrowed. “What the hell was that ‘brother’ crap?”

I smirked. “Why? Did I say something wrong, brother?” I emphasized the word just to see his face twitch.

“Chris—”

“Let go of my hand,” I warned. “We’re on the stairs.”

Before he could answer, Alina’s voice called out from the front door.

“Hunter!” She waved sweetly and strolled in. “Don’t tell me you forgot — you promised me a shopping day!”

Hunter pulled his hand away immediately.

I stepped aside, unbothered. I grabbed my bag and headed toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Hunter asked, louder than necessary.

“College,” I said flatly.

Hunter always made it sound like he had a right to know my every move — even in front of the family. They just thought he was being protective.

“It’s pouring,” he said, grabbing his car keys. “I’ll drop you.”

Alina beamed. “Yay, road trip!”

We got in the car — Hunter driving, Alina beside him, and me in the back.

Halfway there, Hunter walked out at the fuel station. 

Alina turned toward me with a smug little smile.

“Christina,” she said, voice low. “I know everything about you and Hunter.”

I stiffened.

“That dirty little secret you two think you’re hiding? It’s disgusting. Calling him ‘brother’ by day and taking him in your mouth at night? You should be ashamed.”

My heart stopped. I turned to her, eyes wide in disbelief.

She leaned closer. “End it. While you still have some dignity left.”

Before I could respond, Hunter interrupted from the front seat. “You want me to drop you off, Chris?”

I nodded silently, jaw clenched.

Suddenly, Alina screamed and clutched her stomach. “Hunter… My appendix! It’s acting up again! The pain—oh my god, please—hospital! Now!”

Hunter panicked. “What?”

“The food here—ugh—it’s messing with my body. Please—just drive!”

He turned to me. “Chris, I’m sorry. I’ll drop you off here. I need to get her checked.”

I stepped out into the pouring rain without a word. Hunter sped off with Alina in the passenger seat, feigning agony.

I was soaked within minutes. But I didn’t care. I walked to the visa office, submitted my final documents, and waited.

“Congratulations,” the clerk said. “Your New Zealand visa will be ready by this weekend.”

I nodded, barely hearing him. All I could think was: Just a few more days. Then I’ll be gone. Forever.

By the time I got home, I was burning with fever. My clothes were soaked, my body weak. I collapsed onto my bed and didn’t even have the strength to change.

When I finally opened my eyes again, the room was warm, and I was dressed in clean, cozy clothes. A warm compress rested on my head, and beside the bed sat Hunter with a worried look on his face.

“Thank God,” he whispered, leaning in and kissing my lips. “You scared me. Take this medicine.”

I swallowed the pills silently.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he said, hugging me tightly from behind. “I should never have left you in the middle of the road. That was reckless.”

I wanted to believe him.

But his words from the club still echoed in my head:

“I never loved her, she was just a pawn in my revenge game.”

“Is Alina okay now?” I asked flatly, watching his face.

He blinked, surprised by my coldness. “Uh… yeah. She actually felt guilty.”

I nodded. “Great. I’m going to rest now.”

“Wait,” he said, brushing a strand of wet hair from my face. “I’ll get you some soup.”

As soon as he left, I lay back and reached for his phone, which buzzed on the nightstand.

His group chat with his friends was still open.

“Dude, why’d you leave Laurel’s party?”

“His stepsis got sick. He’s totally whipped.”

“Ugh, gross. He’s really playing house with that chick? I thought this was all about revenge?”

And then… Hunter’s reply.

“Relax. If Christina dies, my dad will go broke from medical bills. “Her gold-digger mom has been leeching off my dad’s money for years. I just can’t let her die yet.”

My stomach dropped.

So that’s what I was to him? A pawn? A liability he couldn’t afford to lose yet? 

He thinks my mom married his dad for money.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back.

This time, I wouldn’t cry.

This time… I’d leave before he had the chance to break me any further.