Chapter 52 — I Hate You

Hands pinned, bodies arched, sheets tangled, and the air filled with moans and groans. Sea-green eyes gazed at me intensely, peeking right in my soul.

Until...

Obscurity took over the iris, horns grew over his head and canines sprouted into fangs. Letting out a hiss he launched towards me.

Gasping, I jolted upright in a sitting position looking around frantically. Thank God, that was a dream.

"Aaah!" I shrieked as my eyes landed on the figure sitting on a chair in a corner of the room with one long leg resting over the other while watching me.

"Hunter! What the heck are you doing here?"

"You are up." He slowly stood up, muscles flexing under his navy-blue waistcoat. "How are you feeling?"

I frowned until I realized the throbbing pain shooting through my head. Groaning I held my temples. "The heck?"

A glass of water and a pill were extended towards me. "Take this and the pain will subside."

But asap my eyes landed on the water my stomach contracted, and a bile rose in my throat. Slapping a hand over my mouth I furiously untangled the sheets from around my legs and jumped down looking around for a certain chamber.

"Here."

I turned to see Hunter standing beside a door, his hand pushing it open revealing the washroom. Dashing inside I got on my knees and bent over the toilet bowl. From behind a hand pulled back all the hair off my face, and another rubbed circles on my back as I emptied my stomach. Moments later with nothing else pushing up my throat I sat back on the floor and wiped my mouth with the tissue he extended my way, residue of the foul, acidic taste disturbing my tastebuds.

"Where am I, and what the heck is wrong with me?" I groaned clasping back my head.

"We are in my penthouse currently. You passed out after drinking too much yesterday."

His words hit me like a brick in the head. "I drank…? I drank! Oh my Gosh!" My eyes went the size of saucers as my fingers touched my lips, a ghost of a remembrance of his possessive lips on mine played in my head.

Oh no! Was that from the dream, or did something really happen between us?

As if reading my thoughts he answered, "Don't worry. Nothing happened between us. I would not take advantage of you."

I looked down at the oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants on me that smelled just like him, and my eyes widened once again. "My clothes!"

"My maid changed you. You were soaking wet," he replied.

Letting out a sigh of relief I leaned on the wall when Christian's words from last night rushed in my head.

He loved Vienna.

He tried to force her.

My eyes slowly turned to him sitting beside on bent knees observing me, his gaze soft and profound.

"Come on. You need to eat and then rest." He began stretching his hand towards me.

"Don't touch me!" I jerked away from him.

The hurt that generated in his eyes reflected in my heart, but I didn't wanna be anywhere near a man who once tried to do wrong to a woman. He extended his hand once again, but I moved away and hurried back to my feet scuttling out of the room.

"Ember?" he called, disbelief and confusion laced his voice.

Not stopping I kept going through hallways and doors to get to the exit but in vain when he gripped my arm from behind and forcefully swirled me around.

"Ember."

"No! Get away from me!" I began twisting my arm.

He clutched my both arms and shook me. "Ember! Listen to me!"

"Why should I?" I snapped.

"Don't you remember anything from last night?" he asked, his eyes hopeful.

I frowned. "What do you mean? What happened last night? Whatever! I don't even wanna remember. Just let me go. I don't wanna be anywhere near you."

His frown deepened. "Why? What is the problem?"

"You are the problem!" Freeing my hands off him I glared. "You disgust me. I hate you, Hunter King," I whispered the last bit as it broke my heart just to pronounce those words.

He stared at me in utter silence, cheeks raised, lips pursed, and a prominent line appeared between his brows. "Why?"

"Christian told me everything. You love Vienna and how you..." I couldn't even get those words out of my mouth when his posture stiffened confirming my doubts, "Don't bother me again. I don't wanna do anything with you anymore," saying that I turned around and left letting the tears free.

~~~

I sat in my cabin working on a project when the letters on the screen began to blur. Pushing the laptop away I fell back in my seat rubbing my temples. I hadn't gotten an ounce of sleep last night or the nights before. It's been a week since I uttered those harsh words to him. The image of the hurt on his face wouldn't let me be in peace. Perhaps I was too harsh, but I was too disturbed by the fact as well that he'd done something heinous like this.

No more flowers were sent, no more pop-ups at random places, no more calls or anything from him. It was if he completely disappeared from my life, and as much as I knew that I caused it, I hated this altogether. The mere thought of him not being there anymore sent a panic throughout my soul and agony through my heart. As much as I wished to run and hold him tight and tell him that all that I said was nothing but lies, my conscience wouldn't let me.

The vibration of my phone tore me from my thoughts. Picking it up I checked the caller ID and answered.

"Hey, Mum."

"Ember," she sniffled.

I straightened up in my seat, brows creasing and unknown fear inciting through me. "What's wrong, Mom?"

"Your dad..." her voice cracked.

"Dad? What happened to Dad?"

"The pain in Joseph's chest started again, and h-he passed out."

"What! Where are you now?"

"I-I brought him to the city hospital. They're doing check-ups."

"O-Okay. Just stay there. I'm coming!" Hanging up I jumped from my seat rushing out of the office. My hands trembling from panic and eyes moistened from tears threatening to spill. The wound dad got from the accident happened years ago in the Kings factory regenerated, and this time it was worse since he fainted.

I lifted a trembling hand in front of a cab when someone grabbed it and turned me around.

"Ember, are you alright?" Concerned grey eyes observed me.

"Christian! I don't have time. I've to go."

"What happened?"

"My father is in the hospital."

"What! Oh God! Come on. I'll drive you there." He tugged me towards his car.

"Oh! Thank you-thank you!"

On reaching the destination I got out of the car and ran inside towards the receptionist desk not waiting for Christian. Everything inside me was wailing. I couldn't even think about something bad happening to dad.

"Excuse me! Joseph Collins. In which room is he admitted?" I spoke in between pants.

"Em!"

I turned my head sideways to see Ana waving her hand at me from the end of the hallway, beside her stood Matt.

"Here. Come here."

I hurried to them, their worried expression poking at my heart.

"Wh-Where?" I looked around.

"Follow me." She took me through some turns and hallways, and finally I saw her. My mom sat in the waiting chairs with her face buried in her hands while Beth comforted her. Hastening to her, I knelt down.

"Mom."

Opening her eyes, mom embraced me in a hug, her body shaking as she sniffled in the crook of my neck.

"Mom, how is dad?" I asked, my voice shaking as my heart crumbled inside.

Moving off she calmed herself a bit. "They said your father needs to go under surgery immediately."

My heart sank in the deepest pit of my stomach. "What? Oh God! When will they start?"

Another tear rolled down her cheek. "They're preparing now. I-I have paid some with the savings, but I don't know how I'll pay the rest."

"It's alright, mom. Lemme see what I can do. I'll talk to the front desk clerk." I stood up and glanced at my friends. "Beth, Anna, take care of mom. I'll be right back."

She nodded and sat beside mum comforting her while Matt came beside me. "I'll come with you."

Nodding, I walked to the counter desk. Perhaps, I could pay the bills with the money I had been saving for mom's bakery shop. I could earn the money back in no time, but I wouldn't get my dad back if he was gone.

"Ember, look, if you need, I'm here, you know. I can help with the bills," Matt offered.

I shook my head. "Thank you, Matt, but I want to do it myself, without anyone's help."

He nodded. "I understand, but you know, if you—”

"Yeah, I know, thanks."

As we reached the front desk, a woman sat there looking through papers. "Excuse me! Patient, Joseph Collins. I want to know the bill due, please."

She nodded and began scrolling through her computer screen. "Well miss, his bills have been paid already. The doctors are preparing for the surgery."

"What?" I questioned, bewildered and glanced at Matt who had the same expression as me. "Who paid them?"

Not answering, the woman looked behind us and stood up.

"I did."