Hunter hurriedly left the room and crossed the stairs, glancing at Isabella, who remained seated on the sofa with her head down, covering her face. Her body trembled as if she were crying.
"Honey... What happened?"
Isabella quickly stood up, looking at Hunter as he approached. Memories of his kindness and stories from his past filled her mind, making her even sadder because her mother and brother had misunderstood him.
"Hey... What happened? Why are you crying?" Hunter cupped Isabella's cheeks and gently wiped her tears with his thumbs. But instead of answering, she embraced him tightly, leaving him even more confused, especially since neither Elisabeth nor Loraine were around.
"Okay... Calm down now. I'm here," he whispered, stroking her hair.
For a while, Isabella stayed silent, comforted in Hunter's arms. When she finally pulled away, he guided her to the sofa, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
