Hunter took his phone from the table and then turned to Isabella, who was sitting on the bed with a confused expression. He clenched his teeth, still looking tense and breathing heavily, perhaps disappointed by his wife's rejection. But did he think his deceit wouldn't also be disappointing?
"I'm going to call my mom," he said.
Isabella's eyes widened as she got up from the bed. "Why? What will you do?" she asked in panic as she approached Hunter.
Hunter stayed silent while searching for his mother's contact until Isabella suddenly grabbed his phone.
"What are you doing?" Isabella asked angrily. "You're acting so strange! Are you going to tell her what you know about me?"
"That would be better," Hunter replied with a flat stare. "Then you'll tell her about my real condition... and then our marriage will have to end," he continued.
Isabella was immediately stunned, imagining if their contract marriage ended even before she received her first payment. It would make her sacrifices worthless and her family debts unpaid.
"I think that would be better than being a husband but also like a lover," Hunter said, glancing at Isabella. "Tell me, what do you call me? Do you call me 'husband' when you talk to your boyfriend, talk about me. And then call him 'boyfriend' when you talk to me while I'm your husband? It's like you're in a relationship with two men at the same time. It's disgusting and sounds crazy... And what do I get? Tell me what do I get?" he asked as he moved closer to Isabella, so close that he could hear her slightly labored breathing.
"Hunter..." Isabella shook her head and swallowed. "I... I..."
"You can't even find the answer!" Hunter hissed with an angry glare. "Then let's just get a divorce, and everything will be clear!"
"Hunter, please don't!" Isabella pleaded, holding Hunter's arm. "I don't want us to get divorced... You already know the reason I married you, right... So I beg you, let me be your wife according to the contract!"
Hunter exhaled harshly and turned his face away, clenching his teeth as if still furious.
"I will end my relationship with my boyfriend... As long as I'm your wife, I won't be his lover," Isabella said anxiously.
Hunter remained silent.
"Please don't be mad at me for this... Besides, it's not entirely my fault... I mean..." Isabella looked down in fear and released her hold on Hunter's arm. "I wanted to marry you because I thought I wouldn't have to fulfill my duties as a wife because you had limitations..."
"But now the situation is different, I'm normal, and I have desires!" Hunter said, glancing at Isabella. "I could tell my mom about your lie, claiming to be single all this time... If she knew you had a boyfriend, she wouldn't let you marry me... She would be very angry, and so would I. It's okay if she knows I'm not paralyzed and not impotent... You can tell her, then she'll be happy or even end the contract with you because she believes I can get a real wife for myself... Not just a wife by contract who can't serve me at all."
Isabella was stunned, looking at Hunter in confusion.
"I don't want to be disadvantaged," Hunter whispered. "A marriage status without granting my rights is not something that satisfies me, so it's better to end it so I can be free... I can start looking for a girl who wants to be with me," he continued.
"Then... Then why did you pretend to be paralyzed all this time? Why did you say we didn't need to..."
"Because I respected you!" Hunter shouted before Isabella could finish her question. "I don't like marriage... I don't like my mom matchmaking me with her friends' daughters... Making me her puppet... That's why I pretended to be paralyzed so no girl would want to be with me!"
Isabella was shocked, not expecting Hunter to make that confession. However, she became confused about why Juliana wanted Hunter to marry and it wasn't for eternity.
"But I really couldn't do anything when she said I had to marry you... And she said you were willing. I was touched, thinking that you would be a real wife to me even though it started from a contract marriage," Hunter said, seriously looking at Isabella's sexy lips. "I really respected you, thinking of continuing to pretend... But what I found out today really made me angry, in my eyes you're just a liar, you're stupid!" he continued angrily, pushing Isabella onto the bed.
"Hunter!" Isabella was surprised, half-lying using her elbow to support her body, looking at Hunter in bewilderment. "I already told you, I have my reasons. I didn't intend to deceive... Besides... Besides, I didn't think you planned to make me your wife forever!"
Hunter remained silent.
Isabella sat back up. "You can't completely blame me... And I won't blame you either... But I beg you, let me be your wife... I will do anything a wife usually does... Besides... Besides, I already said that I am yours for three months," she said anxiously, full of doubt, imagining the duties of a wife.
Hunter remained silent, continually staring at Isabella, unable to stop admiring her beauty and remembering her gentle demeanor, making him unwilling to let her go or even let her meet her boyfriend like today.
"I really need the money to settle all my family matters... I have put everything on you and your mother... Because I signed that contract and didn't think it would turn out like this... I can't ask for help from anyone but you... I'm willing to sell myself to you," Isabella said, looking down, even trembling with her tears falling uncontrollably. 'Forgive me, Joe... This doesn't mean I don't trust you, it doesn't mean I don't believe in your ability to solve my problems. But being with you doesn't guarantee my happiness because you still haven't shown seriousness... Maybe if Hunter is interested in me and even wants me to be his wife forever and can treat me well, securing my future, maybe I would choose him over you,' she thought while imagining Joe's face, recalling their last annoying meeting.
"I want you to meet him and end your relationship as soon as possible," Hunter said, cupping Isabella's left cheek and wiping her tears with his thumb. "But don't act like you're afraid of me... I won't hurt you as long as you don't break our agreement," he continued softly.
Isabella trembled, looking down, feeling strange with Hunter's quick temper but sudden gentleness.
'He... Maybe he's dangerous, he even deceived his family,' she thought anxiously.
"I won't force you to like me now... But don't make me force you to do what you have to do... Don't make me a bad husband... Don't... I don't want to hurt you," Hunter whispered, then stroked Isabella's lips. "I'll wait until you're ready..."
Isabella swallowed, looking at Hunter, who was so close to her.
"But... Don't take too long," Hunter said again, then bent down to kiss Isabella's lips softly.
Isabella closed her eyes, but in an instant, Hunter ended the kiss and left the room. She exhaled deeply, feeling a sudden rise in her body temperature and her hands sweating.
"What... What is this?" she looked around in confusion, recalling her conversation with Hunter. "What should I do now? I... I have to end my relationship with Joe, and then focus on Hunter... But... Is that possible? Will Joe accept this decision when he doesn't like me doing this? But... but if I prioritize him, Hunter will be angry... and maybe I won't have a chance to get the money... Or be loved..."
Isabella sat on the bed with a blank stare. "But... Is he doing this because he really wants me to be his wife forever? But why? Does he... Does he love me?"