Chapter 18 -HUNTER'S POV- Caesar's tiny voice shattered the silence like a gunshot . " It wasn't Mommy's fault ! That mean lady made her do it ! " The room froze . Every breath . Every heartbeat . Every single ounce of tension thickened until it felt like the walls themselves were holding their breath . I stared down at the small boy clutching the hem of Celine's jacket , his little fists trembling with rage . His big , glassy eyes burned with something fierce - something raw - as he looked up at her , demanding justice . I wasn't used to that . To people standing up for each other . For the first time in years , I didn't know how to respond . My gaze flicked to Celine . She was still kneeling in the mess , her hands shaking as she pulled Caesar close . Her lips parted like she wanted to say something - explain - but nothing came out . Bianca's scoff broke the moment . " Sir , you can't seriously believe- " I lifted a hand . She shut up instantly . The urge to fire Celine burned through me . I'd been waiting for an excuse to get rid of her . To sever this strange , irritating pull she had over me . But then - Caesar . Caesar , standing there like a tiny , furious soldier , defending his mother like it was the only thing that mattered . And suddenly , I wasn't so sure anymore . I let the silence stretch . Let it sink into every person in this damn room until they felt it . Until they squirmed under it . And then - calm . Controlled . " You want to keep your job , Celine ? " She swallowed hard , nodding . " Yes , sir . " " Fine . " My voice was cold . Final . " Then you'll serve the guests tonight . Personally ." The reaction was immediate . Her breath hitched . The maids exchanged shocked glances . Even Bianca's smug expression faltered for half a second . It wasn't kindness . It was punishment . A way to make sure she stayed right where I could see her . Her hands clenched around Caesar's small shoulders , but she didn't argue . Didn't beg . She just dipped her head . " Understood . " I turned . " Get cleaned up . " And then - 1 walked away . 1/5 9:09 pm Chapter 18 -CELINE'S POV- G I should've seen this coming . Hunter never missed a chance to make my life harder . But this ? This wasn't just difficult . This was cruel . I moved fast , practically running to my tiny room , my breath shaky as I tore off my ruined uniform . The scent of spilled wine clung to my skin , thick and suffocating . I scrubbed at it until my arms burned , but no amount of washing could erase the humiliation . Just one night . I whispered it like a prayer . Like if I said it enough times , it would somehow make this easier . It didn't . Because the worst part wasn't the guests . Wasn't the way Hunter's eyes would burn into me all night , watching , waiting ? The worst part was leaving him . 38 I found one of the kinder maids - the only one who didn't treat me like I was beneath her - and begged her to watch Caesar . At first , she hesitated , her eyes darting around like she knew this was a bad idea . But I was desperate . " Please , " I whispered . " Just tonight ." She exhaled sharply . " Fine . But just for tonight . " Relief hit me so hard that I almost sank to my knees . Instead , I crouched in front of Caesar , cupping his warm little cheeks . I need you to be good , okay ? " My voice was soft , but firm . " Stay here . No trouble ." His lip wobbled . " But I wanna go with you ." My chest ached . " Not this time , sweetheart ." He didn't argue . Just nodded , even as tears filled his eyes . I stood up , took a breath deep enough to hurt , and walked out the door . The night blurred around me - soft murmurs , clinking glasses , careful steps as I wove through the sea of expensive suits and elegant gowns , balancing trays , keeping my head down . Invisible . That was the goal . But then- I felt it . That pull . That weight of a stare pressed against my skin like a slow burn . Him . Even without looking , I knew Hunter's eyes were on me. Watching . Assessing . Taking apart something he probably didn't even want to understand . And suddenly , I wasn't invisible anymore . I swallowed hard , forcing myself to focus , to move , to keep my hands steady as I poured another drink . 2/5 9:09 pm 5 Chapter 18 ט D But I wasn't the only one who noticed . Vincent leaned back in his chair , slow and lazy , like he had all the time in the world to pick apart whatever tension was humming between me and his host . His gaze flicked between us , sharp and knowing . " You're a new face ," he mused , swirling his drink , his voice laced with amusement . I tightened my grip on the tray , keeping my eyes down . Hunter didn't respond . Vincent smirked . " No introduction ? That's not like you . " He tilted his head , watching Hunter closely , reading between the silence . 38 " You're usually quick to dismiss things that don't matter . " A pause . A longer sip of his drink . Then- " But I suppose it's hard to dismiss something when your eyes keep lingering on her ." My breath caught . For a moment - one impossible , fleeting moment - I glanced up . And met his eyes . A single second stretched impossibly long , the air between us heavy , charged- And then- " She's nothing important , " Hunter said . His voice was cold . Unbothered . A blade slicing through whatever that moment had been . " Just a maid . " I nodded like it didn't sting . It didn't matter . Like I didn't matter . Vincent exhaled through his nose , shaking his head , smirking like he had just uncovered something interesting . " Sure , " he murmured , tipping his glass toward Hunter before taking another sip . " A maid that got you all worked up ? " His smirk deepened . " Right ." Hunter's gaze snapped to him , sharp . A silent warning . But Vincent only leaned back , looking thoroughly entertained . I moved too fast . One second , I was trying to get away from their words , their stares . The next- A glass slipped from my grasp . Water splashed . A sharp gasp cut through the room like a blade . And then- " You clumsy idiot ! " Charlotte Hill shot up from her chair , eyes wide with rage as the cold water seeped into her dress . My heart slammed against my ribs . " I - I'm so sorry ," I stammered , already reaching for a napkin , desperate to undo what couldn't be undone . But she smacked my hand away like I was something filthy . " Don't touch me , " she snapped , her voice dripping with disgust . " Do you even realize how much this dress costs ? " She let out a bitter laugh . " Of course you don't . You don't belong here . Who even let you in ? " 3/5 פ Chapter 18 The walls felt too tight . The air is too thin . I could hear the whispers . Feel the amused smirks pressing against my skin like bruises . I clenched my fists , forcing myself to stay still . To stay small . " I - I didn't mean to- * " Oh , you didn't mean to ? " she mocked , crossing her arms . " Well , that changes everything . " Laughter . Someone covered their mouth , trying to hide their amusement . The head maid rushed forward , her voice frantic . " Miss Charlotte , I am sorry ! She will be dealt with immediately- " But Charlotte's attention had already shifted . To him . To Hunter . " You should fire her , " she spat , flipping her damp hair over her shoulder . " She's an embarrassment . " The breath in my lungs vanished . Slowly , painfully , I lifted my gaze . And met his . Hunter's expression was unreadable . But his eyes- Sharp . Cold . Unwavering . I had no idea what he was thinking . But I felt it . The shift in the air . The way the room hung on his silence . Vincent sighed , taking a lazy sip of his drink . " Alright , Charlotte . That's enough . It was just water ." Charlotte scoffed , tossing him an incredulous look . " Enough ? Do you have any idea how expensive this dress is ? " She gestured toward me , her lip curling . " This pathetic maid doesn't belong here ." Hunter's grip on his glass tightened . And for the first time that night- He looked like he might just break it . He hadn't meant to watch me all night . Hadn't meant to notice the way my shoulders curled in , how my hands trembled as I gripped the tray , how my lashes fluttered against tear - streaked cheeks as I fought to keep it together . But I was right there . Small . Unassuming . But standing . And it pissed him off . Charlotte's voice drilled into his skull , high - pitched and grating , every word like nails against glass . He had tolerated her before - her entitlement , her superiority complex , the way she sucked the oxygen from every room she entered . But tonight ? Tonight , her voice was unbearable . Because it was aimed at me . His fingers flexed . His jaw locked . He needed it to stop . And then- A sharp crack . His glass hit the table with force , a sound that sliced through the room like a blade . 4/5 9:10 pm 13 B Chapter 18 Silence . Everyone froze . Charlotte's mouth hung open in mid - complaint . The guests stiffened . Even Vincent , who never took anything seriously , sat up a little straighter . Hunter stood , slow and deliberate . His gaze cut through the space between us , burning , unraveling , undoing . I swallowed hard , " That's enough . " The words were low , and firm . A warning , But even he wasn't sure who he was talking to . Charlotte sucked in a breath , clearly ready to argue . But something about his stare - something dangerous - made her think twice . No one moved . No one spoke . Hunter took a step forward . And just like that , the night became something else entirely . 5/5 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!