Chapter 43 -CELINE'S POV- The vacuum hums low in the hallway while the smell of lemon polish trails behind me . Hunter's mother was gone . Thank God . The house feels less like a battlefield this morning and more like an overdecorated museum . Except the head maid is back to barking orders like she owns the place , and I'm starting to think she believes she does . I don't even bother correcting her anymore when she mispronounces my name . It's not worth the breath . I'm dusting the edge of the grand piano when Ana appears in the doorway . She's got that smirk again - the one she only pulls out when something's about to go sideways . " There's someone outside asking for you , " she says , voices all fake - sweet . " Pretty little thing . Looks just like you . " My stomach drops . No. No , no , no . I wipe my hands on the apron and follow her down the hall , my heart already pounding before leven make it to the foyer . She's there . Jesse . Leaning against the column like she belongs here , her hair curled like she spent hours on it , her smile bright enough to blind anyone who doesn't know better . But I do . I know that smile . It's the same one she used when she told me to " suck it up " after Mom kicked me out . The same one she wore while dancing at prom , knowing I was home alone with a newborn . " Celine ! " she sings , arms outstretched like we're the best of friends . I don't hug her . But she doesn't seem to care . " I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by , " she says , stepping inside without being invited. " This place is stunning . I mean..seriously , Wow . This is where you work ? " Her eyes are already scanning the marble floors , the expensive chandeliers , the walls that hold secrets and money like they're alike . " I don't have long , " I say , trying to keep my voice calm . " What do you need ? " Jesse's smile falters , just slightly . We find a quiet corner off the hallway . She waits until we're out of view before her voice drops . " I need some money , " she whispers , eyes darting toward the staircase . " Just a loan . A little one . 1/5 12:02 . Thu , 31 Jul Chapter 43 Iblink . " You showed up to my job ... for money ? " She sighs , frustrated . " it's not a big deal , okay ? I just ... things got tight . You know how it is . " I step back . " No. " Her face hardens the sweetness cracking . " Don't forget , you owe me . " Her hand clamps around my wrist , nails pressing just enough to make a point . I remember , I remember begging her to help when I went into labor early . How she flirted with the doctor , distracted him while I begged them to let me stay even though I couldn't afford it . How she gloated for weeks like she was a hero , while I held my newborn in a cold apartment alone . " That was three years ago , " I say , my voice shaking , " You helped me once , That doesn't mean I owe you forever . " " You wouldn't have made it without me , " she hisses . " You think you're better now ? Working in a rich guy's mansion ? Don't let the paycheck fool you, Celine . You're still the girl with the bastard baby . " Before I can respond ... before I can even breathe ... Hunter's voice slices through the air . " What's going on here ? " I whip around . He's standing just a few feet away . Shirt sleeves rolled up , expression like thunder . His eyes flick to Jesse , then to where her fingers still dig into my wrist . Jesse lets go immediately and switches to a smile that would win an Oscar . " Oh ! Nothing . Just catching th my dear sister , it's been so long ." Hunter doesn't move . Doesn't blink . His eyes stay on her . Unimpressed . Unfooled . Jesse glances between us and doubles down . " I just needed a little help . You know , family stuff . It's not a big deal " " She said no , " Hunter says , his voice low and razor - sharp . " I suggest you leave . " The room stills Jesse's smile wavers . " And who are you to to tell me what to do ? " " Someone who doesn't tolerate people who manipulate others to get what they want . " Boom . That's the moment Jesse realizes he's not a man she can charm . She glares . Her face twists into something ugly and normal The mask slips . But he doesn't flinch . And I don't either . -2/5 Chapter 43 She scoffs . " You're making a mistake siding with her ." Then she storms out , heels clicking like gunshots on the marble . Silence follows . Heavy and stretching . I don't know how to fit . I stare at the floor , heart pounding in my throat , my breath shaky . I don't even realize I'm crying until I feel the first tear slide down my check , Hunter watches me for a beat too long . Then , finally , he speaks . " It wouldn't kill you to stand up for yourself , you know . " It's not cruel . It's not macking . It's ... honest . And it breaks something open inside me . Because he's right . And because no one's ever stood in front of me instead of behind me . No one's ever told me I deserve to fight back The tears fall faster now . I hate that he's seeing them . Hate how naked I feel under the weight of his eyes . But he doesn't look away . And for the first time in years... neither do I. I should be folding laundry. I should be focusing on dusting the damn baseboards . I should be doing anything other than what I'm doing right now . Which is ... watching him . Hunter stands at the far end of the room , leaning over a long mahogany table with a rolled - out blueprint stretched across it . Vincent and the new guy Fabian hover nearby , pointing , adjusting , and mumbling things I don't understand . Architect things . Money things . Things that don't belong in the same world I live in . Hunter's dressed down today . No suit . Just dark jeans and a white button - down that he rolled up to the elbows like he was hallway between boss and boy - next - door . His jaw is dusted with stubble and he keeps running his hand through his hair like it's some involuntary tic he's not aware of He looks ... normal . Approachable , Dangerously human . My hands are still damp from the dishwater as I grip the laundry basket , pretending to fluff the already - fluffed throw pillows on the couch . I don't even realize I'm staring until his eyes flick up..just for a second ... and catch mine . I look away so fast I nearly drop the basket . Vincent's laughter bounces through the house like it owns the place . I glance up just in time to see him winking at Ana , who lets out agiggle that's borderline embarrassing TU TH Chapter 43 A couple of the newer maids are fawning over him too , pretending they have something important to clean near the parlor . He feeds off it . Vincent always does . I disappear around the corner , into the living room where the air feels less charged and Caroline is perched on the cream loveseat like she's never aged a day . Her teacup is delicately balanced between two fingers . Caesar sits at her feet , legs crossed , tongue peeking from the side of his mouth as he concentrates on drawing something in his notebook . I hover near the edge of the room , unsure if I'm interrupting . " He's not bothering you , is he ? " Caroline doesn't even look up . " Not at all . He's good company ." Caesar holds up his sketch . " It's a dragon , but nice . " I smile , my heart softening " He means " knight , I explain , taking a step closer . Caroline chuckles . " I figured . But I wouldn't mind a nice dragon , either . So long as it behaves . " She sips her tea . Her eyes , always quietly sharp , flick to me like she's been waiting to say something . " You know , " she starts , casually. " Hunter doesn't look at women the way he looks at you . " I laugh . Too loud . Too forced . " He barely looks at me at all ," Caroline raises one perfectly shaped brow . " Oh , honey . That man is burning for you , and he doesn't even know how to handle it ." I open my mouth , then close it . I want to argue . Say she's wrong . Say that if Hunter was burning for me , I'd feel it . That I wouldn't be over here wondering if the way he spoke to Jesse , if the way he defended me , was just a moment of kindness , not something deeper . But I can't . Because deep down ... I did feel it . The way his voice wrapped around me like a shield . The way his eyes stayed , not like he was just looking at me , but trying to read me . I bite the inside of my cheek and excuse myself before Caroline can say anything else that might break me open . I head back toward the hallway . The basket is still in my arms , useless . My chest feels like it's been filled with warm concrete heavy , confusing , hard to carry . And that's when I see him . Hunter . Across the hall . Chapter 43 Leaning against the doorframe , one hand tucked into his pocket , the other holding a rolled blueprint like he forgot he was supposed to be doing something with it . He's looking right at me . Not like before . Not by accident . This time , it's intentional . His expression is unreadable . Not soft . Not cold . Just ... focused . Like he's trying to solve a puzzle he doesn't remember starting . Our eyes stay locked for a second too long . Then two . Then three . My fingers tighten on the basket , and turn away before I do something stupid . Like smile. Or cry . Or walk up to him and ask if he meant it when he said " She said no . " Because I'm not ready for that answer . Not yet . Back in the laundry room , I set the basket down and lean against the counter , heart beating like it's racing toward something I haven't dared let myself want . And I wonder ... If Caroline is right - What the hell am I supposed to do with a man like Hunter Reid AD Comment Send gift Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!