Chapter 24 Chapter 24: What are You Doing Here?
Catherine’s P.O.V
I finally scrambled off Hunter, my heart still hammering from the rush of adrenaline and shock. But suddenly, another thought crossed my mind. Why was Hunter here in the first place?
“What… what were you doing here?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. My hands trembled slightly as I took a step back, keeping my distance.
Hunter got up slowly, one hand brushing against the snow-covered ground as if it had left a bruise, wincing faintly. “I… I saw someone in trouble,” he said quietly, his voice calm but steady. “And I came to help.”
He looked at me then, and for a moment, the tension in my chest eased, replaced by guilt. He seemed hurt, physically or maybe emotionally…I couldn’t tell.
“Sorry, I… I didn’t mean to…” I started, but he cut me off before I could stumble through some awkward excuse.
“When someone saves your life,” he said, his voice firm, “maybe instead of questioning them, you can just… thank them for once.” There was no anger in his tone, just this quiet insistence that made me want to shrink back into myself.
I felt a pang of shame, and I took a careful step forward. “You’re right,” I admitted softly, my voice trembling. “I…I’m sorry for snapping at you. I… thank you for saving my life… just now.”
He shrugged lightly, giving me a small, almost imperceptible smile. “It’s alright. I didn’t know it was you. Just… someone in trouble.”
I froze for a moment, taking in what he had said. It clicked suddenly—how could he have known it was me? I was bundled up in layers of winter wear, my face hidden beneath a scarf and hood. Nobody could’ve recognized me from behind, and now I understood that his actions hadn’t been personal.
“I… I understand,” I said softly, almost to myself. “You really didn’t know it was me.”
Hunter’s eyes met mine, and there was a weight in them, something steady and unwavering. “I saw someone who needed help. That’s all. You were just… in trouble.”
I swallowed hard, emotions swirling in my chest. Relief, gratitude, a little embarrassment, and something deeper, something I couldn’t name. “Then… thank you,” I said again, this time with more sincerity.
“I mean it. I owe you for this.”
He nodded once, simply, almost like a quiet acknowledgment. “Don’t think of it that way. You’d do the same if it were me, eventually.”
I laughed softly, a sound that felt foreign in the icy air. “Maybe. But right now, I’m the one who owes you.”
Hunter’s gaze lingered on me a moment longer before he stepped back. “Just… be more careful next time,” he said, half-teasing, half-serious. “I don’t like seeing people I care about… in danger.”
I felt heat rise to my cheeks and quickly looked away, focusing on the snow beneath my boots.
“Yeah… I’ll try,” I murmured, realizing that this encounter had shifted something between us, something fragile and real.
I caught sight of him limping slightly as he tried to adjust the sleeve of his jacket, and my heart clenched.
“Hunter… are you hurt?” I asked, my voice tighter than I intended. My eyes scanned his arm instinctively, searching for any swelling or bruising. “Do you… should I drive you to the hospital?”
He shook his head quickly, forcing a small, almost apologetic smile. “No, Cathy. I’m fine, really. Just… fell on my arm the wrong way. It hurts, but it’s not serious. I’ll just have my doctor do a home visit. There’s no need to make a fuss.”
I frowned, unable to hide my concern. “Are you sure? It doesn’t look fine. You’re favoring it.”
“I’m sure,” he said again, his tone firm but gentle. “I don’t want to waste your time, Catherine. Honestly, it’s just a little mishap. Nothing more.”
I bit my lip, still worried, then softened my voice. “Okay… but, Hunter, do you really want to go into the store now? Instead of going back home and resting?”
He let out a long sigh, the kind that carries a mix of frustration and obligation. “I know it’s inconvenient,” he admitted, “but my extended family just made a sudden visit. They didn’t even give me a chance to prepare. I need some essentials for them… it’s better if I come and see the products myself rather than sending a servant. I want to make sure everything is right.”
I hesitated, feeling a pang of sadness at the way he always put others first, even at his own expense. “You… you don’t have to do that all alone, you know,” I said softly, almost pleading. “You could ask someone else… you don’t have to push yourself.”
He shook his head, eyes firm, but there was a hint of vulnerability there that caught me off guard.
“I appreciate you saying that, Cathy. But I can’t. I have to do this myself. They’re family… and, well… it’s not just about them. It’s about me showing that I care, that I can manage things properly. I just…” His voice faltered for a brief moment before he straightened again. “I just don’t want anyone else doing it in my stead.”
I stayed silent for a second, unsure whether to push further or respect his pride. Finally, I whispered, “Alright… but at least let me come with you. You don’t have to suffer through it alone.”
A small, almost reluctant smile spread across his face. “I’d like that,” he admitted. “Really. It makes it easier, having you around. You’re here to get stuff too, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, my stomach sinking slightly. “Have some things to buy as well.”
“Then let’s unfreeze our asses and get the hell inside already.” He shuddered, dusting off any remaining snow. “It’s good to have a shopping partner so I don’t have to ask the staff for help about every single item.”
I smiled as we pushed open the doors, the cold air giving way to the faint warmth of the store. It felt strangely comforting, like the beginning of some small, mundane adventure. I glanced at him, thinking, we really do think alike.
Hunter grabbed a cart, giving mine a little nudge as if to synchronize our little ritual. Then he looked at me, brow furrowed.
“Why are you here in this freezing cold?” he asked, his tone light, but there was a hint of curiosity there.
I shrugged casually, trying to keep it breezy, the way people do when they’re about to deliver something ordinary yet slightly awkward.
“Just grabbing a few things… for me and the surrogate,” I said, keeping my voice calm, almost too calm, like I was expecting his reaction.
The moment the words left my lips, I felt it…the change in him. His frown deepened, shadows crossing his face in a way that made my stomach twist.
“For her?” His voice was quieter now, but sharp, threaded with disbelief.
I tried to meet his gaze, but I felt myself falter under the weight of it. “Yeah… I thought she might need some things. It’s… it’s just practical.”
Hunter shook his head, almost imperceptibly, and I could see the conflict in his eyes, the battle between wanting to understand and being hurt or angry.
“Catherine… why exactly are you getting things for your surrogate?”