Chapter 71: Chapter Seventy

Mirabella walked out of the kitchen to the sound of tiny laughter coming from Rena’s room. She walked closer, only to find Hunter crouched beside their daughter’s little pink stool, helping her brush her teeth.

Rena was still in her nightgown, her tiny dark curls a mess around her sleepy face, but she was giggling.

“Open up, princess. You missed a spot,” Hunter said patiently, his large hand steady as he guided her tiny one holding the toothbrush.

“I didn’t miss it!” Rena protested with a mouth full of foam, puffing her cheeks out.

Hunter laughed, his deep chuckle filling the room. “You did. You’ve got toothpaste all over your chin.”

“Dadaaa,” she complained but let him clean her mouth anyway.

Mirabella leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, watching the two of them. Her lips curved slightly, though she tried to hide the smile.

“You two are loud this early,” she said, shaking her head. Then she looked at Hunter, “didn't know you'd finally dress up."

Hunter turned to her, eyes crinkling with amusement. “I needed to get my princess ready. We’re almost done here.”

Rena waved the toothbrush proudly. “Mama, Dada says I brushed like a big girl!”

Mirabella smiled. “You did, baby. Come on, let’s get your dresses ready so Dada can take you to school.”

“Already did that too,” Hunter said, pointing to the neatly folded uniform on the bed. “We’re way ahead of schedule today.”

Mirabella arched an eyebrow. “Who are you and what have you done with Hunter?”

“I have been doing this baby." He smirked. “Im trying to be the best dad. Someone said I should be more involved in my daughter instead of her.”

“Well, whoever said that must be wise,” she teased lightly, moving closer to kiss Rena’s forehead. “You’ll make your teacher proud today, sweetheart. Huh?”

“I will!” Rena said, bouncing in excitement. “Can I show Miss Clara the new hairpins Aunt Bev gave me?”

“Of course,” Mirabella said. “Now go grab your bag. It’s in the living room.”

Rena dashed out, her tiny footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Hunter stood, stretching lazily. His grey shirt was half buttoned, the sleeves rolled up, showing strong forearms. Mirabella tried not to notice.

“You’re really enjoying yourself, huh?” she asked.

He shrugged. “She’s the most lovable child I know.”

Her chest warmed at that. “She is.”

They shared a small, quiet look before Mirabella cleared her throat. “Right, I'd be heading to the store as you take Rena to school.”

“I would come for you after dropping her at school,” he said with a teasing grin.

“Hunter…”

“I’ll be on my best behavior, promise,” he interrupted, smirking. “Now go handle some shiny things, boss lady.”

Mirabella rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop the faint smile tugging her lips.

By the time they left the house, the morning sun had grown brighter. Hunter took Rena to school while Mirabella took a different turn toward the jewelry store.

The store was buzzing by mid-morning. Fridays were always busy—couples shopping for gifts, last-minute orders, friends picking up pieces before weekend parties.

Mirabella stood behind the counter, helping a young man choose an engagement ring. Beside her, Beverly was packing a few orders for delivery, her long braids swaying as she moved quickly around.

“Honestly,” Beverly muttered as she sealed a box, “Fridays make me question if I should have stayed in school and become a nurse instead.”

“You? A nurse?” Mirabella laughed softly. “You’d faint at the first sight of blood.”

“True,” Beverly said, grinning. “But at least I’d get some hours off every day.”

Mirabella smiled, shaking her head.

Across the room, Hunter sat comfortably near the front window with old Joe. It was such an odd sight that it made her pause. Joe was laughing…actually laughing—his old wrinkled face was bright with amusement.

What on earth was Hunter saying to make Joe laugh like that? The man was usually grumpy until noon.

Beverly returned to the counter, wiping her hands. “You’ve been staring at him for five minutes, Mira.”

“I wasn’t staring,” Mirabella said too quickly.

“Right,” Beverly smirked. “You were… observing.”

“Bev…”

“Shh. I get it.” Beverly winked. “You can’t resist the manly charm of a guy who looks like he could break a wall with one hand. Oh, he has held you with those hands before.”

Mirabella sighed, trying not to smile.

Before she could respond, her phone began to ring from where it was charging behind the counter.

Beverly grabbed it first and squinted at the screen. “Oh oww.”

“What?”

“It’s the she-devil,” Beverly whispered dramatically. “Could it be that she’s here already?”

Mirabella laughed, reaching for the phone. “Don’t call her that. And yes, she was supposed to arrive today.”

Beverly widened her eyes. “Then God help us all.”

Mirabella rolled her eyes and answered the call. “Hey, Aria…”

“MIRA!” Aria’s voice screamed through the speaker so loudly that Mirabella winced and pulled the phone away from her ear.

“Jesus, Aria, calm down and tell me what is wrong.”

“What’s wrong? I’ll tell you what’s wrong! There’s a clown standing in your compound saying he’s your bodyguard and that he won’t let me in!”

Mirabella blinked. “I have a… bodyguard?” She turned to look at Hunter. He was already watching her, leaning casually in his seat, with that guilty half-smile.

Aria continued shouting, “you tell me. Who is this bulky man with too much muscle and too little brain?”

“Ok Aria, calm down.” Mirabella groaned. “That must be Tobias.”

“Tobias?” Aria hissed. “He looks like a movie villain. Who is he and what does he want? Why is he in your compound?”

Mirabella sighed, pressing her temple. “Aria, calm down. He’s just…”

“I will not calm down! He told me to ‘state my purpose or leave.’ State my purpose? What does he think this is…a crime embassy?”

Mirabella narrowed her eyes at Hunter who was shaking from a silent laughter. “Aria, listen to me. He’s just…uh…helping out.”

"I will explain it to you later Aria . Ok?" Mirabella said tiredly. No one has told Aria about Hunter's arrival, it was going to be a long night explaining to the woman.

“Well, he wouldn't let me in. I might just have to pluck out his eyeballs." Aria breathed heavily.

Mirabella bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Please put him on the phone. I’ll talk to him.”

“Oh, this demon is not touching my phone!” Aria barked. “He’s been standing here gri6 like a creep the whole time.”

“Grinning?” Mirabella repeated, shocked. Tobias grinning? Things have really changed for the man. She had only seen a real smile on his face the first day he carried Rena.

“He is a psycho Mira," Aria said.

Well not as psychotic as the one looking at her now. Mirabella cleared her throat “just put him on the call let me talk to him."

“You want to talk to him? Go on, you’re on speaker.”

“Ok. That's ok too," Mirabella said. “Hey Tobias, what are you doing to Aria? She is my friend, stop behaving like your boss and cut her some slack,” Mirabella said.

“I’m protecting your home from suspicious ugly-looking people,” Tobias replied smoothly. “This one looks like trouble.”

Aria gasped. “Excuse me?”

“I’m just doing my job,” Tobias continued calmly. “People like her can tarnish your good looks, Mirabella.”

Mirabella nearly choked trying not to laugh. “Tobias, that’s enough. What are you even talking about? She’s my friend. Let her in, she must be tired from the whole journey.”

“Copy that,” Tobias said, voice serious. “But I’ll keep an eye on her. Who knows what she's got under her sleeves? She seems… unpredictable.”

“No need for that, Tobias,” Mirabella said quickly. “...but whatever. It's tiring,” and she ended the call.

Mirabella lowered the phone and sighed.

Hunter was smirking too, pretending to check his phone.

Mirabella turned to him, folding her arms. “What exactly did you tell Tobias to do?”

Hunter lifted his hands in defense with a ‘I have no idea’ look

“You can’t be trusted.”

Coming up to where she was sitting Hunter said, “Come on baby, he was just being protective of his boss’s woman. You can't blame him for his loyalty.” He winked at her.

Beverly clasped her hands together dramatically. “If that wink was directed at me, I swear I’d faint.”

Mirabella shot her a glare. “It’s not. So quit dreaming.” Ok that was too much. It was surely from a place of jealousy.

Hunter chuckled, clearly amused by the entire situation.

Beverly leaned on the counter, teasing and smiling sheepishly, “Ohhh, I see someone does not like me having fantasies about a particular person huh?"

“Beverly,” Mirabella said flatly.

“No, no. I’m serious.” Beverly pointed between them. “You don’t like it when someone else flirts with him. Admit it.”

“No, I don't like it," she confirmed matter-of-factly. She knew this confirmation was too much, given the fact that she was the one pushing him away, but Beverly needed to stop having thoughts about her man.

Well, yes. Her man.

He has always been.

Beverly gasped theatrically. “Finally! She admits it! You need to stop all this resistance game you are playing and embrace your feelings.”

Hunter’s smirk deepened, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at Mirabella. There was something in his eyes—something proud, something satisfied, and something tender all at once.

She caught the look and rolled her eyes quickly, pretending to be busy sorting receipts.

Across the room, old Joe chuckled. “You two argue like an actual married couple.”

Hunter’s grin widened. “That’s because she is my wife.”

Mirabella froze, her heart doing a strange flip. “Don’t start!”

Beverly let out a squeal, fanning herself. “Okay, that’s it. I can’t take this level of tension in the workplace.”

“Then go take a break,” Mirabella muttered, hiding her flushed face.

Hunter leaned closer to her over the counter, lowering his voice. “You didn’t deny it, baby.”

She turned away quickly, pretending to fix the jewelry display. “Why would I?”