001

Kehlani'sPOV

“Hey, what the hell are you doing here?” Hunter’s voice sliced through the air. 

It was sharp, cold, and annoyed like I was the one who had done something wrong.

He was standing by the door, his shirt half buttoned and his hair tousled in a way that looked too deliberate. 

His tall frame filled the doorway, blocking my view but the faint sound of rustling sheets behind him said enough. 

My throat tightened, and my heart was pounding against my ribs like it wanted to pop out.

“You know, I should be the one asking you that, Hunter. What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, crossing my hands on my chest to hide my trembling fingers. 

My voice cracked halfway through, and I hated it. I hated that even after everything I had heard and seen, he still had the power to shake me.

Titling his head, he narrowed his eyes as if I had just barged into his house and not some damn hotel room that reeked of betrayal and cheap perfume. 

“You followed me?” he asked, his tone half mocking and half amused. “Seriously, Kehlani ?” He laughed. 

Inside, I was crumbling chip by chip, like glass being ground under someone’s boot. But I couldn’t show him that. 

“I didn’t follow you,” I snapped. “I got an anonymous message. The sender said you are here with someone. I didn’t believe it at first but…” I gestured toward the half open door behind him.

With a trembling voice, I added, “Guess I was stupid for giving you the benefit of the doubt.” 

Hunter sighed like I had interrupted his sleep instead of catching him cheating. Then, slowly, he turned and buttoned the rest of his shirt. 

Every movement was deliberate, unbothered and arrogant. He was exuding the kind of calm that made me want to scream.

“Why?" I whispered, my eyes burning with tears. He was my first love and the only guy I had allowed in my space but he didn't regard any of that. 

“Hey, you’re overreacting.” He groaned, trying to touch me but I veered backwards. 

“Overreacting?” I echoed, laughter bubbling out of me. It was bitter and humorless. “You’re half naked in a hotel room, and there’s a woman in there. What am I supposed to do? Congratulate you?” I huffed, trying to keep my anger in check. 

Hunter didn’t even look ashamed, he just shrugged, running a hand through his dark hair. 

“Look, I’m a man and I have needs.” He groaned. 

 Now sounding even more dramatic, he groaned, "Come on Kehlani , I’m young. You don't expect me to be faithful to one girl forever.”

For a moment, I just stood there, stunned. I searched his face for any hint of guilt or flicker of regret but all I found was smug satisfaction.

That was the moment something inside me snapped.

Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped him. The sound cracked through the corridor like a whip.

Hunter’s head turned slightly with the impact, but when he looked back at me, he was smiling.

“Feel better?” he drawled.

Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You’re disgusting,” I whispered.

Seething, I turned and walked away. I didn’t even know where I was going, I just needed to get away from the man I thought loved me.

Somehow I made it to the elevator without faltering. The metallic doors showed my flushed face, wet eyes and smudged lipstick. 

When the elevator dinged. I stepped in, hit the lobby button, and tried to breathe.

But when the doors slid shut, all I could see was Hunter with his mocking smirk and his voice telling me I was overreacting.

By the time the elevator reached the ground floor, the tears had already spilled down my cheeks. 

With the world blurring around me, I walked out into the lobby. The chandelier lights looked like stars underwater. 

Digging my hand into my bag, I pulled out my phone, scrolled to his name, then stopped. 

What was I even going to say? That he had broken me? That he had won?

No, he didn’t deserve to know that.

Raising my chin, I wiped my tears, straightened my dress, and began to walk toward the exit but just as I raised my hand to hail a cab, something in me rebelled.

 This wasn’t enough, not after everything I had given him; my time, loyalty, and the trust. He had humiliated me and for what? To stroke his ego?

That instant, a sharp laugh escaped my lips. I must’ve looked insane, standing there in the hotel’s driveway, clutching my purse and trembling with anger but I didn’t care.

Before I could second guess myself, I turned around and marched back into the hotel.

If he wanted drama, I would give him one hell of a show.

The lounge on the ground floor was dimly lit, filled with the low hum of conversations and the clinking of glasses. 

My heels clicked against the marble floor as I scanned the room.

Spotting him was easy, I saw him sitting at the bar with a drink in his hand, looking completely unbothered, like our confrontation upstairs had been some minor inconvenience.

The sight made a bitter smile curl my lips and with mischief glinting in my eyes, I walked toward the nearest waiter and picked up a flute of champagne from his tray without asking. 

The golden bubbles shimmered under the soft light, pretty and deceptive, just like Hunter.

My heart was hammering so hard that it hurt and my pulse, it was thundering in my ears as I closed the distance between us.

He had his back to me and I was five steps away when I heard him say, “Who cares if she leaves, there are a ton of others out there.”

That did it.

All the pain, the humiliation and the heartbreak exploded inside me. I didn’t think, I just moved and in one swift motion, I lifted the glass and emptied it over his head. 

Stepping aside, I watched as champagne splashed across his back, dripping down his perfectly pressed shirt, and for a single, triumphant second, I felt powerful.

The glass he was holding hit the bar counter with a sharp clink.

And then a deafening silence.

Everything stopped.

The laughter, the music, the chatter all died instantly.

My chest heaved as I braced myself for his furious yelling and his predictable insults but instead, a low, unfamiliar voice cut through the silence. 

It was deep, smooth and commanding.

“Well,” he said slowly and dangerously calmly, “that’s one way to get someone’s attention.”

The tone alone sent a shiver racing down my spine. My stomach twisted as I staggered backwards. 

This wasn't because I was afraid of Hunter, it was because the voice wasn’t Hunter’s.

The moment the man turned, my breath caught in my throat and the world seemed to slow.

Trying to make sure that my eyes were not playing some tricks on me, I leaned forward to have a clear view of him. 

First, I saw the broad shoulders, the expensive suit now clinging to his frame from the champagne then the sharp line of his jaw, glistening under the golden light. 

And finally, those eyes.

They were a piercing shade of blue that seemed to slice through the dimness and straight into me.

He wasn’t Hunter, he didn't even look like him a bit and judging by the cold amusement curling his lips as he stared down at me, I knew I had just made a very big mistake.

“I’m…” I filtered off as his pair of blue eyes pinned me in place.