Chapter 8

The cabin was far from downtown, with few permanent residents nearby. It was only in the last couple of years that inns and lodges had been built as tourism developed in the area. Estrella sat listlessly in place. Hunter had said that he was going back to the cabin to get something, but he was taking forever to return. She grew impatient and was about to head back when a pair of hands covered her eyes. Estrella reluctantly followed Hunter's lead as he led her forward. When he finally stopped, he also removed his hands, revealing a heart-shaped arrangement of red and white roses in the thick snow. The flowers looked stunning, with each petal delicately frosted with white snow. "Do you like it?" Hunter signed, his face lighting up with a bright smile. Estrella noticed Hunter's hands, which had turned red from the cold. She slowly raised her gloved hands to sign, "Aren't you cold?" "Yes, but it's worth it," he replied. The snow was scattered around them, with fresh flakes still drifting down from the sky. Meanwhile, Hunter's face held nothing but deep, unwavering affection. He pressed, "Honey, you haven't told me if you like it." Estrella lowered her gaze to the expansive rose display in the snow, not liking it at all. She disliked how Hunter tried to make up for his affair with these guilt-driven gestures. They made her sick. "Countdown: Five days," the system suddenly announced in her mind. Hunter took many photos of the roses in the snow and posted them on social media. Within minutes, likes and congratulatory comments flooded in. One read, "Captain Greene is such a romantic! Look at those red, frozen hands. Mrs. Greene is definitely going to be up all night worrying about him!" "Which airline has the most romantic pilot? Dreamline Airways takes the crown!" "Are those roses from Solisian? Damn, Hunter! Big move! Estrella had better be all over you for this one!" ... Hunter prepared dinner and brought it to Estrella. After seeing all the comments, he proudly showed his phone to Estrella as if seeking her approval. But in that moment of handing over the phone, a familiar profile picture caught Estrella's eye. The comment read, "They are from Solisian. My boyfriend recently bought me a rose estate filled with my favorite Solisian roses." Estrella's expression immediately darkened. After a moment, she smiled self-depreicatingly when she realized that Hunter had bought Rowan an entire rose estate. Now, he had the audacity to use the same flowers symbolizing his love for someone else to deceive her. She lost her appetite completely. Without saying a single word, she turned and went to bed. In the middle of the night, a muscular arm kept reaching up to touch her, but Estrella pushed it away. Even so, Hunter persisted. "Honey, it's me," he whined with a hint of self-pity. "It's been so long since we've been intimate. Are you trying to kill me?" The bright moonlight illuminated Hunter's face. Estrella could not help but snort at his remark. Hunter had his own ways of satisfying himself, so how could he possibly be "dying" from lack of intimacy? Hunter grew uneasy when he saw the smirk on Estrella's face. He covered her eyes with his hand. A second later, he leaned in to kiss her. Estrella turned her face away, so his lips only brushed the corner of her mouth. "Dirty!" She signed the single word with sharp, deliberate movements. Hunter's face instantly turned pale. He instinctively defended himself, "I'm not dirty. I showered." Estrella did not respond. Instead, she rolled over and turned her back to him. Silent tears streamed down her face. Hunter's filth could never be washed clean. Naturally, Hunter had noticed the change in Estrella's attitude toward him. He had even tested her many times.