Chapter 53 — What the Heart Wants

My body froze, and I slowly turned around, my heart palpitating. There in his usual black suit and rigid posture stood the man I thought I had lost that day I uttered those hard words. I hated to admit it but a small part in me went ecstatic seeing him.

As the astonishment wore off I clenched my teeth stepping closer to him. "Why are you here? We don't need your help."

"Since the Kings Corp is solely responsible for Mr. Collins's state, all the costs will be handled by the company as amends," he replied, his tone and expression impassive, screaming only business.

I opened my mouth to protest when someone clearing their throat interrupted me. I looked sideways, and an aged man stood there with a staff uniform on and a folder in his hand.

He glanced at Hunter. "Sir, we need your signature in some paperwork. Please, come with me."

Giving a nod of his head the man's way Hunter directed his eyes at me. "I'll be back," he said and left with the staff.

I sensed a presence beside me as my eyes lingered at his retreating back.

"You know you should give him another chance if he's trying to change, sunshine."

I turned and shook my head. "I can't, Matt. I can't be with a man knowing the heinous things he did."

A frown appeared on his forehead. "What did he do?"

I let out a sigh. "Christian told me everything. How Hunter got between his best friend and his girlfriend Vienna, and how he tried to—” I paused for a second, "-do her wrong when she refused his proposal. All this time he hasn't been able to accept me because he still loves her..." I casted my eyes down.

When no reply came from Matt I looked up. He stood there blinking his eyes like a damaged light bulb. "Delgado told you all this?"

I nodded.

His head fell back as he shook from laughter. This time it was my turn to be the flickering light bulb as I watched him confused.

"What- a- fucking liar!" he spewed out between laughs.

"Liar?"

"Oh Ember, you've been fooled."

"What?" I crossed my arms frowning my lips.

He calmed himself down and put on a serious face. "This is exactly the opposite of what really happened."

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"Hunter never got between him and Vienna, rather he's the one who got between them. Vienna was Hunter's girlfriend, had been for seven long years until the day everything changed along with Hunter."

My breathing deepened as my heart rate quickened. "What happened that day?"

"You know his grandpa died in an accident, and then his mother left in the same week?"

I nodded.

"Well...Hunter was a disaster then. He decided to marry the love of his life. But when he reached her house that day he found her with Delgado in bed."

My eyes widened. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Did Christian really? Has he really lied to me? Did Hunter really not do any of those? But he seemed like such a good person to me.

"First his mother, then his girlfriend. That didn't just change him, Ember. It killed a part of him, the happy Hunter I had known my whole life was gone." Sadness took over his features. "And that's the reason he hasn't been able to trust a woman, even you."

My heart began to throb as I grew restless.

"You've done something to him, sunshine. He's started to change. Sometimes I get the vibe of my old friend from him. Don't you think you should stop listening to others and start communicating with him?"

"How do I know you aren't lying about Christian? How do I know you aren't trying to side with your friend?" I uttered the words even after knowing how stupid they sounded because I trusted Matt.

He took a deep breath. "That Delgado is a fraud. He was never even Hunter's best friend. It was me all along. He was just the rival, trying to take over Hunter's place in everything he did." He wet his lips. "Look Ember, I know what Hunter did with you was wrong. It left your trusting process a ruin. But for once try. At least listen to what Hunter has to say."

I stared at the floor not being able to decide who to trust when a pair of heavy footsteps made me look up. On my right stood Hunter, his hard eyes glaring and on my left stood Christian, an apologetic smile adorned his lips.

"I'm sorry for the late, Ember. Something came up. Anyways, how is Mr. Collins?" Christian's expression transformed into one of concerns.

"That's none of your business, Delgado," Matt objected.

"Ah Rainor! Didn't notice you." Mockery laced Christian's voice.

Matt glared.

Ignoring him Christian turned to me. "Ember, if you need any kind of help you know I'm always here."

"That won't be needed. Her husband is still alive." This time Hunter stepped in.

"Really? Last time I checked you were about to divorce her." Christian squared his shoulders.

"That's none of your concern." Hunter loomed closer. Both men looked each other eye to eye, and the hatred they displayed screamed red lights.

"Enough! I don't need anyone's help," I butted in, and turning around I began marching away from those male gorillas reeking of heavy dosage of ego. I had more pressing matters at hand than to play liar detector at the moment.

Reaching mom we sent dad to the operating suite and waited out. Every minute passed seemed like an hour and every hour like a day. My head was swirling with questions, confusions and emotions. If what Matt said was true Hunter really went through hell to be transformed like that. He was heartless; however, his eyes always held the storm his life faced. I was just too naive to put my finger on it.

My heart squeezed in my ribcage for him, whereas my head still had doubts. My mind refused to believe Christian had done all those for he had been a great friend to me for as long as I remembered, but it also refused to believe the allegations put against Hunter. Who was the liar and who was the square shooter? I couldn't decide.

I glanced at Ana and Matt bundled in a corner and sighed. Why did my life have to be so complicated?

Soon the surgery was accomplished successfully, and dad was shifted back in his room. Till then night had befallen. So I sent mom home with Ana to get some rest while I stayed by dad in case he woke up. Sometime in between I fell asleep as well sitting on the chair beside.

In the morning my eyes opened by the creaking of the door. I turned my head, and pain shot through the side of my neck as a groan left my mouth.

"Careful," a deep voice spoke while a hand touched the spot rubbing soothing circles there.

My head snapped to the side once again ignoring the bliss that replaced the ache and came face to face with those alluring sea-green eyes. For about twenty seconds we stared, and then reality hit me as I jerked off my seat stepping one or two feet away from him.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he greeted in his morning husky voice, a ghost of a smile dancing in the corner of his lips.

I choked on my own saliva at the nickname as my heart skyrocketed. I was dreaming, wasn't I?

"No. You are not dreaming," he assured.

That broke my trance as I gulped. "Wh-What are you doing here?"

"Can I not come see my wife?"

I opened my mouth to remind him of the divorce when with one long stride he came closer and placed one elegant finger against my lips making me swallow back the remark, his eyes holding mine in a passionate gaze.

"No. Get that through your stubborn head I'm not divorcing you. Never. I'm here to get you back, to make you mine once again, and this time forever till my last breath you will be only mine, Ember King," he pronounced each word slowly and precisely.

I stood there frozen as those words gradually sank in my head, my breathing heavy.

"I know what I did is unforgivable, but I am willing to make up for that. I'm asking for another chance." He paused as his eyes darted all over my face. "I'm asking for a date."

It was as if everything went still around me except my heartbeat that drummed against my chest as my eyes searched for an answer on his sculpted physiognomy.

"How do I know it's not another of your games?" I breathed.

Without warning he leaned down, his lips brushed against mine softly, delicately, like butterfly wings, just long enough to tell a thousand stories that words could never delineate.

Our foreheads touched. "I'll be waiting for you outside at 12," he whispered against my lips and then like a wind he was gone.

In the next couple hours mom was back, and dad was up. My happiness knew no bound seeing my father healthy once again. Even if I didn't want him to, I was grateful to Hunter for being there when I needed. Though I was still struggling to decide whether to accept his proposal.

A horn from outside the hospital tore me from my thoughts. I glanced at my watch, and it was exactly at 12.

Has he really come?

Restless I shifted in my seat beside dad's bed when a mischievous idea popped in my head.

Wait for me? Let's see how long you can wait. Let's see how much you want this.

I stayed in my spot as time passed. No more horns were heard but sounds of a huge crowd came from outside. Frowning I walked to the window peeking outside, my eyes and mouth widening in unison. As promised he was there leaning against his car with hands in his coat pockets and sunglasses on posing while the paparazzi were going crazy questioning and photographing.

The heck!

Huffing I went back to my seat. I thought I was punishing him while he was there having fun. My eyes went to my dad as his hand held mine.

"What's bothering you, darling?"

I put up a smile. "I'm fine, dad." I didn't wanna disturb him with my shit now.

"Say it, Koala bear."

I gazed at my parents looking at me with questioning eyes and sighed. "There's-There's two things. One a lie, another the truth. But I can't decide which to trust."

They smiled.

"Go with whichever your heart wants."

And I did.

I chose what my heart wanted.