Chapter 36 Chapter 36 CELINE'S POV ~ Hunter looks like a mess . Worse than a mess . His shirt is wrinkled , his collar loose , his hair disheveled like he's been running his hands through it all night . There's a dark flush to his skin , the kind that only comes from too much whiskey , too many mistakes . His eyes are glassy but sharp , locked I onto me like I'm the only thing keeping him standing . And I should leave . I should turn around , whisper a quick goodnight , and forget that I ever wandered here in the first place . But I don't . Because the moment stretches too long . Because Hunter doesn't look at me like I'm just a maid . Because despite everything , a part of me wonders if he wants me here . He lets out a slow breath , then rakes a hand through his hair , as if trying to pull himself together . His lips tilt , just slightly . " Are you going to stand out there all night , or do you want a drink ? " I blink . " A drink ? " He gestures vaguely behind him , toward the dimly lit study . " That's what people do when they're too tired to sleep . " I hesitate , every warning bell in my head screaming at me . I shouldn't . I really shouldn't . But instead of walking away , I hear myself say , " I don't think another drink is what you need right now . " It's barely above a whisper , but he hears it anyway . His smirk deepens . " You might be right , " he murmurs . " But I need something . " And before I can change my mind , he steps aside , holding the door open . And I walk in . Hunter's study is nothing like I expected . It's not just a room - it's a sanctuary . The walls are lined with bookshelves , and dark wood stretching up to the ceiling . A fire burns low in the fireplace , casting long shadows across the room . The scent of whiskey lingers in the air , thick and heady . For someone as cold as Hunter , the space is ... warm , Almost intimate . I don't belong here . I wrap my arms around myself , suddenly too aware of how small I feel in the room . Of how present he is . Hunter doesn't say anything as he moves to the bar , pouring himself another drink . His movements are slow , methodical - like he's trying to ground himself . I should say something . Make an excuse . But the words tangle in my throat . 1/4 Chapter 36 " Do you always wander the house at night ? " His voice is casual , but there's something sharper beneath it . I force myself to meet his gaze . " Do you always come home looking like that ? " Hunter smirks , taking a slow sip of his drink . " Touché ." The silence stretches between us , thick and unspoken . Then , without warning , he steps closer . I take a breath , but it catches in my throat . " You're hiding something , " he says , voice lower now . " And I won't stop until I figure it out . " My pulse stutters . I should laugh it off , and make some sarcastic remark , but I can't . Because the way he's looking at me - like he sees straight through me - makes it impossible to hide . I feel the weight of the past pressing down on me . The exhaustion . The loneliness . The years of fighting for a future that was never mine to have . And suddenly , something inside me snaps . " You want to know the truth , Sir ? " My voice is sharper than I planned , but I don't stop . " I've spent my entire life - fighting . Fighting to be seen . Fighting to survive . I worked myself into the ground for a future that never came , and then one mistake - one - changed everything " Hunter goes still . I swallow hard , my chest rising and falling too fast . " I was nineteen ," I continue , my voice barely above a whisper . " One night . That's all it was . And then I had Caesar . And suddenly , my life wasn't just mine anymore . Suddenly , I was a single mother with nothing but a dream I couldn't afford . " . I breathed out , shaking my head . " You think I'm hiding something ? I wish I had something to hide . But this is it . This is my life . And I have spent every second of it clawing my way forward , hoping - praying - that I won't fail the one person who needs me . " Silence . A heavy , suffocating silence . I don't look at him . I can't . I stare at the floor , my chest rising and falling , my entire body trembling from the weight of everything I've just said . And then- Hunter steps closer . Slow . Deliberate . When he speaks , his voice is softer than I've ever heard it . " Tell me everything , Celine ." And for the first time , I see something human in him . ~ HUNTER'S POV ~ Celine is crying . And I don't know what the hell to do about it . Her words still echo in my head . The weight of them . The exhaustion in her voice , the quiet heartbreak behind every syllable . 2/4 1011 Chapter 36 She's curled in on herself on the floor , arms wrapped tightly around her knees like she's trying to make herself smaller . Like she's trying to disappear But I see her . I've always seen her . Her hair falls in front of her face , shielding her from me , and something about that - it just irritates me . I reach forward , hesitating for half a second bartons tucking a strand behind her ear . My fingers graze her skin , and she flinches - just slightly . Not because she's afraid . Because she feels it too . Her eyes flick up to mine , wide and glassy with unshed tears . Confused . Vulnerable . And fuck , she's beautiful . Even now . Especially now . My chest tightens . I hate this . I hate her for making me feel like this . I hate myself more for wanting to pull her closer instead of walking away . in from " S I shift , lowering myself to my knees in Her breath hitches . of her . Neither of us speaks . The room is silent except for the crackling fire and the unsteady rhythm of her breathing . My hand moves before I can stop it , my thumb brushing the tear - stained skin of her cheek . She leans into it . Just barely . Just enough . And suddenly , it feels like the mood between us isn't air at all , but something heavier. Something charged . My fingers trail down , tracing the soft line of her wrist . I feel her pulse hammering beneath my touch . I exhale slowly . " Why do you make me feel like this ? " Celine swallows hard . " Like what ? " Her voice is barely a whisper . I don't answer. Because I don't know the answer . Or maybe I do . Maybe that's the problem . I shift closer . My fingers curl around her wrist . Her lips parted , her breath warm against my skin . And fuck - I want to kiss her . I could . I should . It would be so easy . Just a tilt of my head , a breath of space between us - I'm so close- And then- I curse under my breath , my whole body tensing . And I pull away . Fast . Abrupt . Like touching her was a mistake I can't afford to make again . Her expression flickers . Hurt . Confusion . Something else . I force myself to my feet , running a hand through my hair , already regretting this whole damn night . " Forget this ever happened , " I mutter , my voice sharp . Cold . Like none of this meant anything . Like she doesn't mean anything . Then I turn and walk away . Because if I don't- I might do something I can't take back .. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!