2:58 pm G ppp . Chapter 13 The Truth Unravels Chapter 13 The Truth Unravels +5 Free Coins For the first time in days , a faint smile flickered in Hunter's eyes . " That means Dana didn't get eaten by the wolves . She must've escaped , right ? " Adrian quickly nodded , grunting with confirmation . Though relief washed over Hunter , one question still gnawed at him : How did Dana leave the island ? He replayed last night's events in his mind over and over until one detail surfaced : when he'd left the island , he thought he saw another speedboat in the distance . " Check it out , " he ordered . " From last night to this morning , who took a boat out of the harbor ? " Adrian took the order , then hung up to get to work . Hunter threw a cold glance at Celine , still slumped dazedly on the floor ; he ignored her completely . Hunter walked to the window and sat down , lighting a cigarette with trembling hands . Behind him , Celine slowly pulled herself off the floor . She wanted to speak , but she knew Hunter's mind was consumed by Dana . Whatever kindness he showed her now , it was only out of gratitude for saving his life . Nothing more . She wasn't stupid . Celine knew better than to provoke him now . Right now , she needed to become invisible , or she might actually die at his hands . Within ten minutes , Adrian called back . " Yes , a speedboat did head toward the island last night . That's probably how Ms. Archer escaped , " he reported . " But whoever picked her up was careful - intentionally covering their tracks . It'll take more time to find out who they were . " " Make it fast , " Hunter said coldly before hanging up . Then he sat in silence . Who could it be ? He mentally ran through every friend Dana had , but none seemed likely . The harder he tried to pin it down , the more his thoughts spiraled - until all that was left was a crushing weight of worry and guilt . Was Dana hurt ? Did the wolves reach her before help came ? Was her wound reopened ? He clenched his fists and blamed him for everything . Why hadn't he seen it sooner - that Dana must have had a reason for not visiting him when he was sick all those years ago ? Why had he needed to torture Dana repeatedly , just to test her love ? Why had he trusted Celine so blindly , hurting the only woman who truly cared about him ? Tears spilled down his face without warning . 1/4 2:58 pm G P P Chapter 13 The Truth Unravels His chest ached so badly , he could hardly breathe . The pressure that had been building inside him for weeks finally erupted . He slammed his fists into the wall - again and again , until blood ran down his knuckles , still numb to the pain . +5 Free Coins Celine rushed out when she heard the noise . The wall was stained red , and Hunter's hand was swollen and twisted from the blows . She ran to him in alarm . " Hunter , what are you doing ? Why would you do this to yourself ? " He didn't even look at her , blasting another punch . " Hunter , please don't do this , " Celine sobbed , clutching his injured hand . " It hurts me to see you do this. Dana's gone - but I'm still here ! You still have me . Don't punish yourself like this . " Hunter yanked his hand free and kicked her hard , sending her sprawling to the floor . His voice rasped with contempt . " You ? Compared to Dana ? You're not even in the same league . " Celine lay there , stunned , tears clinging to her lashes as she stared up at him with disbelief and pain . " Celine ! " several voices shouted in unison from the doorway . Hunter's buddies rushed in and immediately went to her side , helping her up . One of them looked her over anxiously . " Celine , are you alright ? " She shook her head , her expression clouded with sorrow . Another friend turned on Hunter , clearly frustrated . " Seriously , man - how could you do that to her ? If Celine hadn't warned us about the wolves on that island , we wouldn't have found you in time . You'd be dead right now ! " Hunter let out a sharp , bitter laugh . " Yeah ? She warned you about the wolves , sure . But did any of you stop to wonder how she knew there were wolves ? Or better yet - how did those wolves get there in the first place ? " His words struck like a whip , freezing the room into stunned silence . The moment the truth sank in , the group turned to look at Celine , stunned . Her eyes were red as she finally confessed through trembling lips , " It was me . I released those wolves . I wanted her dead - because only if she's gone can Hunter and I truly be together . " Hunter's friends exchanged wide - eyed glances , realizing the weight of her confession . They'd called dozens of times , sent countless messages . What country had reception that 2/4 2:58 pm G P Chapter 13 The Truth Unravels +5 Free Coins bad ? It sounded like a lame excuse , like she just hadn't wanted to come . So when they learned it was Celine , the girl who had always chased after Hunter , who'd stepped up and saved his life - they'd pushed hard to get the two of them together . They mocked Dana . Smeared her name . Now , fired up , they jumped to Celine's defense again . " Hunter , Dana's not worth crying over , " one said sharply . " Maybe Celine went too far , but she did it out of love . How can you shove her aside ? " " Exactly , " another added . " Celine risked her life for you ! And Dana ? Where was she then ? How can you throw Celine away for someone who never even cared about you ? " " Enough ! " Hunter roared . " Get out ! " But they didn't stop ; they kept justifying Celine's actions . In a flash of rage , Hunter grabbed a chair and hurled it at the wall near them . " I said shut your mouths and GET OUT ! " You think you know the truth ? " he shouted . " Dana must've had a reason for not coming back ! You know what's really pathetic? Celine never lost her memory . It was all a lie . One big performance . And you fools ? You were her puppets , helping her deceive me ." The room went still . The men turned slowly toward Celine , their eyes full of disbelief . Celine couldn't defend herself . She quietly lowered her head . Hunter's voice was cold and deep . " Now you know who she really is . I won't hold this against you - she fooled all of us . But if I ever hear one of you calling Dana by that name , I swear I'll make you regret it . Now get out . All of you . " Those men looked at one another , startled and confused . But they could see it in Hunter's eyes - he was seconds away from losing control . If they kept running their mouths , Hunter might forget all past loyalties and show no mercy . None of them dared to say another word . One by one , they turned and left the villa . Hunter rubbed his temple with a bloodied hand , exhausted . He glanced at Celine again , feeling nothing but disgust . Without a word , he summoned a team of bodyguards . " Don't let her leave this house , " he ordered . Then he walked out . Two weeks passed . And Dana ? It was as if she had vanished from the face of the earth . Hunter had spent a fortune and dispatched teams of people searching for her . Still - no sign . Not a single clue . Whoever had taken Dana had to be someone powerful . Someone who knew how to stay hidden . Each day without her felt like a year . Whenever he sobered up , the guilt would come crashing back - memories of everything he'd put her through , every cruel word , every punishment . 3/4 2:58 pm G p p p Chapter 13 The Truth Unravels . So he drowned it in whiskey . Day after day , he drank himself into oblivion . +5 Free Coins Until today . Adrian burst into Hunter's countryside villa , breathless . Hunter stirred from his stupor , groaning as he sat up on the couch . He reached for a bottle and took a heavy swig . " What is it now ? " he muttered . " Boss , " Adrian said , voice shaking . " We found Ms. Archer . "