Chapter 57: Chapter Fifty-six

He locked the door behind him with a soft click that still felt threatening to her. The sound echoed in the silence of the room, and her heart instantly skipped a beat. Her heart beat ran wild in her chest as she watched him step fully into the room.

Hunter paused, his tall frame leaning slightly against the door for a moment as if controlling his own breathing. God, her scent was so strong in this room. The sweetness of her fragrance mixed with her natural skin, and it was intoxicating. Every fiber in his body wanted to jump on her. Hug her. Kiss her. Whisper in her ear. Hold her close. Touch and play with her body until she melted against him like she always used to.

But he held himself back from reaching out to her. He had to. He knew that if he reached out, if he allowed himself even one step too close to her, he wouldn’t be able to stop. The temptation of her heat, her trembling lips, her watery eyes, would undo every ounce of restraint he had and he would not be able to resist the temptation anymore. He had promised himself before coming here that this time, he would not lose control.

So he walked slowly, deliberately into the room, leaving a careful distance between them. His eyes lingered on her face, on the way her tears were falling freely, her lashes damp and clumped together, her mouth trembling as she fought to form words.

“Stop coming close,” she said sharply, putting out her hands to stop his movement and her voice broke with emotion. Her eyes filled with fresh tears, spilling over, staining her cheeks. “How did you find me? Hell… what are you doing here?”

Her voice was heavy with exhaustion, anger, desperation and hurt. She had always known deep inside that it was impossible to truly hide from him. Impossible to run away from his hold, his control, his dominance. But a foolish, desperate part of her had hoped—hoped that if she disappeared quietly, he might pretend not to know, pretend not to follow, pretend to let her go.

But of course, that hope was crushed the moment he stepped into this room.

Could he not just pretend? Could he not just give her this one chance at freedom? She was so tired—tired of him always imposing himself in her life, tired of fighting a battle that he always wins at the end.

Her heart ached as she stared at him now, her body trembling, she could feel a red shot of anger behind her eyes coupled with the tears that flow freely.

Hunter’s jaw tightened, his lips curling slightly with frustration as he spoke, his voice carrying a low growl. “You should have known right from the beginning that you cannot hide from me forever, babe. I sang it like music every day and every night. I wonder why you decided to do what you did. To provoke me, I suppose. Well, it worked—because I am so damn angry at you right now.”

His voice was sharp with his anger, yet beneath it there was a crack of pain he didn't want to show. The sight of her crying tore at him, ripped straight into his chest. He hated her tears more than anything, but he couldn’t walk away. He wouldn’t.

This was supposed to be the part where he should let her be. Where he should turn around, leave the room, walk away and stop causing her tears and pain. But he couldn’t. He was selfish that way. He had always been selfish when it came to her. Nothing would ever make him want to live life without her. Not even her.

“God,” she muttered, her voice breaking as she angrily raked her hand through her hair. “Can you not just let me be? Can you not just let me have my freedom? Why do you always do this to me?”

He let out a low, painful chuckle, one that sounded more like a sigh from deep in his chest. “Babe, I’m not going to fall for those tears. You don’t have any right to be angry at me right now. I should be the one angry at you—for leaving my side, for running away from me. Do you even know the gravity of your offence? You probably don’t.”

Her eyes blazed at him, the frustration pouring out of her as she snapped, “I hate you! You should just let me go!” Her voice rose with impatience, breaking with the weight of everything she had bottled up.

Hunter tilted his head, unbothered by the force of her words. Instead, he straightened his sleeve casually, his composure did not falter. His voice dropped low and dangerously calm. “If I were you, I’d keep my voice down. We don’t want Rena hearing this. Do we?”

Her eyes narrowed instantly, her teeth gritting at the sound of her daughter’s name on his lips. “It’s not your business. She is not your business. Keep her name out of that hell-hole of a mouth.” Her voice was sharp, but she forced it down to a whisper, anger still spilling through every word.

“Oh really?” he winched first, then smirked slightly, the arrogance flashing in his tone. “But my sperm formed her, so how is she not my business? You heard it too. She called me ‘dada.’ Willingly.”

He watched as her body trembled. She wanted to provoke him, to rile him up, to break the perfect control he always displayed. But she should have known better that he was always in control of his anger around her. And if need be, he would rather be buried deep inside her body whenever he was angry. He'd rather push it into her with every thrust of his hips, every kiss, every bite, and every mark of possession.

But not tonight. Not now. He had come prepared, and this time, he wouldn’t be swayed so easily. He had already made a vow to himself: he wouldn’t take her again until she begged for him. She would have to willingly want him before he would ever bury his cock deep inside her pussy again. Until she said it with her own mouth. Until she admitted she wanted every inch of him. He wants her to want to be with him. Willingly and not because he was forcing his feelings on her. He loves her and she needs to love him and want him just as much as he does.

Of course, he would seduce her. Of course, he would drive her insane with need, push her to the edge of her own desire. But he wouldn’t touch her until she broke first.

“You don’t have any right to her,” she spat, her voice desperate now. “She is not even yours. So don’t bring her into this.”

Her words fell into the air, but even as she said them, she felt ridiculous. It was more than obvious that Rena was his. Anyone who looked at Rena and looked at Hunter would know instantly. The resemblance was insanely undeniable —the eyes, the face. The child was the mirror of her father.

The only features Rena had taken from her mother were her hair color and her long eyelashes. Everything else belonged to Hunter. She could lie to herself all she wanted, but anyone could tell just by looking.

Still, she clung to the lie desperately, hoping maybe, just maybe, he would take it. Hoping he would storm off, furious, and leave her alone. She was dreaming if she thought that would happen.

Hunter’s eyes pinned her like a predator that he was, and his voice was sharp as a blade as he spoke. “Do you even hear yourself talk? You don’t sound convincing—not even to yourself, Bella.” He crocked his head to the side and took a deep breath and he pinned her with a pointed look. “I don’t have time for all this. The only thing I want right now is for you to pack whatever belongings you need. I will take you both back home. Instantly.”

His tone left no room for argument. It wasn’t a request. It wasn’t a plea. It was an order. An order sharp as iron and firm as stone.

Bella’s heart pounded wildly in her chest. Rage surged through her, clashing with her fear, clashing with the desire she hated herself for still feeling whenever he was near.

“No,” she whispered at first, her voice trembling, then she raised it louder, more steady and sharp. “I’m going nowhere with you. My life is here. And I will remain here.”

The words cracked the silence between them, and for a moment, neither of them moved. He stared at her, his eyes unreadable, his jaw tight, his body vibrating with restrained energy. She stood her ground, her shoulders squared, head raised high, though her knees trembled beneath her.