Isabella opened her eyes again after dozing off for a while. She glanced sideways and found Hunter sleeping with his arm wrapped around her bare stomach. They were both covered only by a gray blanket. Gently, she moved his hand aside and got out of bed.
She walked to the dressing room, picked up a black nightgown with open sleeves, put it on, and then headed to the bathroom.
Upon returning, she noticed the lamps were still on, so she turned off the main ones, leaving only the bedside lamp. She grabbed her phone from the sofa, checked WhatsApp, and saw a new message from an unknown number.
It's me, Estella.
I'll be at the penthouse tomorrow.
She sighed, thinking about Estella, who was getting married in a few months, reminding her of her uncertain situation. She looked at Hunter, recalling his gentleness and patience in dealing with her moods.
'I want to take a step and choose you, but what if it only brings new problems? Your mother... I'm not sure she'll accept me. And what about Joe? It feels unethical to leave him when he's done nothing wrong, he's never hurt me.'
Isabella sighed deeply, leaning her head against the back of the sofa, eyes closed, but thoughts of Joe haunted her. She remembered he wanted to talk next week.
'What's he going to say? How will I meet him if I'm busy with Estella?'
Isabella picked up her phone again and tried calling Joe. He answered in just a few seconds.
"Joe..."
"Hey... Babe."
Isabella took a deep breath at the sound of Joe's weak voice. Her body felt limp, and her heart pounded, imagining his handsome face saddened by thoughts of her while she had been enjoying time with another man. But that man was her husband, so it wasn't wrong, right?
"Is the family event over? Is Hunter not near you right now?" Joe asked, sounding so weary.
"Yeah," Isabella murmured, wiping the tears welling up in her eyes. "I… I'm in the dressing room. Hunter's already asleep."
"You must be exhausted, always taking care of him when you're not used to it. Do you also have to help him with his pants… his shirt… even bathing him?"
"Joe..." Isabella shook her head with a faint smile. "That's... um, yeah... I helped him." She lied.
"Wow... You saw another dick..."
"No... Of course not. He wears a towel or a bathrobe. We're very modest, I mean... he doesn't want me to see... see his, um..."
"Oh?" Joe sounded impressed. "Is it because it's too small? He's impotent, isn't he?"
"Yeah..." Isabella nodded, biting her lower lip for a moment. "He's impotent."
"Poor guy. But don't worry... Next week, you'll get what you need. I've booked a hotel for us."
"A hotel?" Isabella frowned.
"Yeah... Of course. I miss you so much... It's been almost a month since we last did it. Even before you married him," Joe explained excitedly. "I miss you so much. I want to kiss you... all over your body... I miss your moans..."
Isabella closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead. The thought of sleeping with Joe made her feel both disgusted and ashamed of herself.
"This is crazy," she blurted out.
"What's crazy?" Joe asked.
"Um... Nothing, nothing..." Isabella replied nervously, noticing Hunter was awake now. "I... I don't think we can do this anymore."
"Why? Don't you want me anymore? Or are you satisfied with someone else? Your husband?"
"No... That's impossible."
"Then what's the reason? Don't make me suspicious. I know you can't go a week without sex... I know you have a high libido!" Joe sounded irritated.
Isabella became even more anxious, her lips stiff, unable to speak.
"Isabella, are you there?"
"Yeah... I'm here. I'm just... I'm just thinking. We can't do this anymore as long as I'm still married to Hunter," Isabella said nervously, turning away from Hunter, who was now silently approaching her.
"That's strange," Joe replied.
"There's nothing strange. I just don't want to get into trouble. You know I'm possibly being watched by Hunter's people... Even though this is just a contract marriage, I still have to take it seriously and maintain his reputation by not appearing intimate with any other man... including you. I don't want things to get messy before I get my money, all of my money," Isabella explained in frustration, clenching her fists. 'I'm becoming a liar now!'
"I know that... That's why I booked the hotel for us!"
"Joe, why don't you understand my situation? Of course, I can't leave him for long... I can't stay in a hotel with you for an extended time!" Isabella insisted angrily, not caring that Hunter was now sitting behind her.
"Don't you miss me?" Joe sounded sad.
Isabella remained silent and decided to end the call. She placed the phone on the table, sitting still in frustration, squeezing her fingers in anger.
"I heard something about a hotel. What does he want with you?" Hunter asked.
"He wants us to meet and spend time at a hotel," Isabella replied flatly, then bowed her head. "I don't want to do it. It's crazy."
"Why? What makes you think it's crazy?"
Isabella turned to face Hunter. "Because I'm your wife! How can a wife meet another man at a hotel? Spend time together... get intimate... It's crazy, it's the same as cheating!" she explained angrily.
Hunter just smiled faintly. "You could do that... After all, this is just a contract marriage, and you have freedom."
"What do you mean by saying that?" Isabella stood up, looking at Hunter in annoyance. "You want me to act like a disloyal wife? Did you forget what I said before? I can't find peace with him anymore because I always remember you as my husband!" she emphasized sharply, but suddenly, Hunter pulled her onto his lap, hugging her.
She immediately pushed him away, trying to stand, but he pulled her back.
"Hunter! You're making me angry!" she shouted.
"I know, I was just joking!" Hunter responded with a laugh.
Isabella pouted.
"I'm very jealous, even more than jealous," Hunter said softly, resting his chin on Isabella's shoulder. "What he said was so inappropriate... He doesn't realize how much it burdens you, and it's also a sign of disrespect towards you," he continued.
Isabella remained silent, frowning.
"I don't mean to influence you to leave him but understand this... A man like him doesn't deserve you," Hunter added, then gently lifted Isabella from his lap to sit beside him. He looked at her seriously, sighed, and said, "Listen to me... He has no right to demand that you always be there for him, and always follow his desires. He has to remember that he's your ex, not your boyfriend anymore. He should respect that status, and give you the space to focus on our marriage. Isn't that what you both agreed upon?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
Isabella nodded.
"Then why does he want you with him at a hotel? He knows that could get you into trouble! A good man wouldn't do that to a woman he loves... He would always respect her, and her decisions, not make her life harder. He knows your situation, but he doesn't seem to care because he just wants you to always understand him, and always be there for him. And after all, he's just an ex... Even when he was your boyfriend, you weren't obligated to fulfill his desires to satisfy his lust!" Hunter firmly stated, then took a deep breath and leaned back on the sofa, still looking at Isabella, who was now looking down. "Honey... You deserve better."
Isabella only nodded sadly.
"Don't do anything he asks if it burdens you," Hunter said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "You're valuable, love... You shouldn't be a slave to love for a man like him. You deserve to be treated like a queen. You've been through enough hardship, so let go of what makes your life harder," he continued with a compassionate look, but their attention was interrupted by Isabella's phone ringing.
Isabella grabbed her phone and saw a call from Loraine, quickly answering it.
"Loraine?"
"Hi..."
"You finally called me? Where are you? Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, while Hunter silently observed her.
"You don't need to worry about me. I'm not a five-year-old who can't take care of myself," Loraine replied, sounding curt.
"I know... But you're my little brother... Of course, I worry about you, I love you!"
"Just... don't worry about me."
Isabella sighed, picturing Loraine's face, remembering their misfortune of no longer having their parents' love.
"Loraine... I know you're disappointed in me, but please understand the situation," she said softly.
"I do, that's why I left."
"Where are you now?"
"Canada... I'm at our mom's husband's house."
Isabella froze, her body weak after hearing Loraine's confession, her mind racing with memories of their mother's face, remembering her bad treatment toward their father, and her affair scandal.
"I know you won't like this, but I don't have a choice. I can't burden you to help me achieve success. I can't rely on you or your husband... I realize now, I was wrong for expecting so much from him when I know he may not be your husband forever... I won't bother you anymore. I'll work hard to become successful... You've been through enough already, bearing the family's debt... If I had a lot of money, I would give it to you," Loraine said again, his voice soft as if he were sad.
Isabella felt a deep sorrow as tears fell from her eyes. "Then what are you doing over there?" she asked, biting her lower lip.
"These past few days I've just been staying at home while waiting for our stepfather to find a job for me. And he did find something that matched my talents, working directly on a big project. So, I'll be really busy," Loraine explained.
Isabella gave a faint smile. "That's good. You can earn a lot of money from your first paycheck later."
"Yeah..."
"Alright... Take good care of yourself... You can come here anytime you want, and don't feel awkward around Hunter anymore... He didn't mean to be stingy with you," Isabella said, then glanced at Hunter, who kept watching her.
"I know... But you have to be careful... Don't get too caught up in his kindness. I don't want it to end up hurting you."
"Don't worry..."
"Actually... Mom wants to talk to you, but maybe tomorrow because she's already asleep now."
Isabella was stunned, imagining having to talk to her mother after shutting her out for so long. It made her heart race, unable to stop thinking about the betrayal her mother had committed.