hapter 37 Chapter 37 -CELINE'S POV- I notice it immediately . The change . The space . The agonizing silence . Breakfast is usually tense , but today , it's different . Hunter doesn't throw any the table . remarks my way . Doesn't send one of his unreadable glances across He doesn't even look at me . I linger at the dining room entrance , waiting for something - anything - but he just keeps eating , scrolling through his phone like I don't exist . Like last night never happened . Vincent had crashed here , coming back all wasted and puking his lungs out , the head maid had almost lost her wit , trying to get him upstairs to the guest room . And , of course , picks up on it . He always does . " What's with the mood , Reid ? " Vincent smirks , stabbing into his eggs . " Didn't sleep well ? " Hunter doesn't even glance up . " I slept fine . " My hands clench at my sides . Why does this bother me so much ? I tell myself I'm imagining the effect in his voice , the hesitation . That last night didn't mean anything - not to him , not to me . It shouldn't . So why does it feel like something between us has shifted ? I keep telling myself I don't care . But I feel it . The way he moves around me like I'm not even there . If I walk into a room , he leaves . If I speak , he barely responds . That afternoon , I bring him coffee - his usual order . He takes it without looking up , fingers curling around the cup like it appeared there by magic . No glance . No , thank you . For the first time since I started working here , I wonder what would happen if I just ... took it back . If I grabbed the cup from his hands and left . Would he notice then ? Would he care ? But I don't do it . Instead , I let out a quiet breath , turned on my heel , and walked away . Like he did . I found him in the study that night . He's standing by the window , a drink in his hand , staring out at the city like it holds all the answers . I know he hears me enter . I know he feels me there . But he doesn't turn . Doesn't acknowledge me . Just like all day . And maybe if I were someone else , I'd let it go . Maybe if last night had meant nothing to me , I'd pretend it didn't exist . But I'm not someone else . So I don't . I take a step forward , crossing my arms . " Are you going to ignore me forever ? " Hunter exhales , setting his drink down . Slowly , finally , his gaze flickers to me . 1/4 10:45 Wed , 30 Jul GO Chapter 37 For a second , I think I see something there . A hesitation , a crack in the mask he's been wearing all day . But then it's gone . " I don't know what you mean . " His tone is flat . ! let out a quiet , bitter laugh . " You've looked at me all day ." He leans back against the desk , arms s crosse studying me . The silence between us is heavier than words . Finally , he speaks , voice low . " Last night was a mistake . " The words hit harder than I expected . I should be relieved . I should thank him for making things clear . But my chest tightens anyway . I swallow hard . " A mistake ? " His expression is unreadable , but his hands clench slightly against the desk . " Yes . " 0 Then he moves . Steps closer . Not too close . But closer . " And I don't repeat mistakes . " I lift my chin , forcing a smile , even as something inside me twists . " Then you don't have to worry , " I say lightly . " Because I won't make that mistake either . " I turn , my pulse hammering , my thoughts spinning . But before I can reach the door - Hunter suddenly grabs my wrist . " Celine- " His voice is softer this time . Almost ... regretful . I freeze . Our eyes meet . For a second - just a second - I think he's going to take it back . Maybe he doesn't believe his own words either . But then - He lets go . Like touching me burns . Like it never happened . I walk out without another word . And as soon as the door closes behind me , I hear it . The quick , broken exhale . Like he's barely holding himself together . ~ HUNTER'S POV ~ Celine does exactly what I told her to do . She stays away She stops bringing me coffee . Stops sneaking glances at me when she thinks I'm not looking . Stops speaking unless necessary . She treats me like t don't exist . And I should be fine with it . Hell , I should be relieved . But I'm not . At first , I pretend not to notice . She's just a maid . Her silence shouldn't affect me . It doesn't matter that she doesn't look at me anymore . She barely even acknowledges my presence . I tell myself I don't care . But then I see her . Smiling more . Laughing more . At him . At Cole . 2/4 10:45 Wed , 30 Jul G Chapter 37 I catch it in moments . Little things that I never used to pay attention to . Like the way , her eyes c s crinkle when Vincent says something ridiculous at breakfast . Or how she tilts her head back when she laughs , completely unaware of how it shifts the entire room's energy . Like how Cole has suddenly become the funniest damn guy in the world . I watch as he leans in too close , whispering something in her ear . She swats at his arm , laughing softly . It's not forced . Not polite . It's real . And I hate it . More than I should . That evening , I stepped into the hallway just in time to see them together . Celine is handing Cole a tray of drinks for the staff , but instead of just taking it , he lets his fingers brush against hers - too slow , too intentional . And she lets him . She smiles at him like he's charming . Like he's worth smiling at . My grip tightens at my sides . Then Cole says something that makes me see red . " You work too much , Celine . Let me take you out sometime . You deserve a break . " Celine hesitates . Her eyes flicker to the floor . And she looks like she might consider it . Something in me snaps . Before I can stop myself , I close the distance between us , my presence swallowing the space . Cole barely has time to react before my voice cuts through the moment , sharp and cold . " She doesn't have time for distractions . " Celine's head jerks up , startled by my sudden presence . Cole raises an eyebrow , amused . Not intimidated . " I don't think that's your decision , Hunter , " he says smoothly . . I don't look at him . I look at her . Her lips parted slightly , eyes searching mine as if she were trying to figure out why the hell I was doing this . She sees it . The possessiveness . The frustration . The thing I won't say out loud . And then , without thinking , I do something reckless . I reach for her wrist and pull her away . " Excuse us , " I mutter, my grip firm but careful . Celine barely has time to react before I drag her down the hall , away from Cole , away from everyone else . She yanks her arm free the second we're alone . " What the hell was that ? " she demands , eyes blazing . I blew out sharply , running a hand through my hair . I don't have an answer . I just know I didn't like seeing her with someone else . I didn't like the way Cole touched her . Didn't like the way she let him . I grit my teeth . " Don't go with him . " Celine stares at me , incredulous . " Why not ? " I clench my jaw . Because I'm selfish . Because I don't want her to . Because the thought of her being with someone else makes my blood boil . But instead of saying any of that , all that comes out is - ༢ / à Chapter 37 " Because I said so . " Her eyes widen . And then- She laughs . Not a happy laugh . A sharp , bitter one . " Right , " she says , shaking her head . " You don't want me , but you don't want anyone else to have me either . Got it . " " You don't get to do this sir " she muttered as she bit her lower lips in frustration . She turns her heel , walking away without waiting for a response . Because there isn't one . Not one I can say . Not one she would accept . I stand there , watching her leave , my pulse hammering in my ears . 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