Chapter 2

Estrella's face burned red as she stood frozen, unsure how to escape. Then, a voice she knew better than anyone else's cut through the silence. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she realized that the voice belonged to Hunter, and he was speaking to another woman. While they were talking, they were obviously keeping their hands busy too. The woman's voice was soft and sultry, dripping with seduction as she asked, "Captain Greene, does your wife know about this?" But the moment she said that, Hunter's tone turned ice-cold. His sharp gaze carried a dangerous edge as he warned her, "Rowan, remember that this is a 'no-strings-attached' arrangement. You had better watch your back if you let Estrella find out!" Yet, Rowan did not look the least bit intimidated. Through the small gap in the door, Estrella saw her reach out, her slender fingers gliding over Hunter's hand. Her sultry gaze locked onto him as she guided his palm to rest against her neck. Then, she whispered seductively, "Captain Greene." Hunter's expression darkened, but he did not pull away. He let Rowan lead his hand wherever she pleased. Estrella's face went pale, and her entire body weakened as she slumped against the wall. She did not even remember how she got out of that restroom. Later, she walked out of the airport aimlessly, got into a cab, and mumbled the first address that came to mind. It was not until she stepped out of the car that she realized that she had left her umbrella at the airport. Hunter loved Estrella so openly and fiercely that everyone knew about it. Once, someone had tried to take his life, hiring a reckless hitman to ram a truck straight into his car. Yet, in those split seconds, he did not hesitate and turned the wheel at the last moment, redirecting the impact away from the passenger seat—away from her. Later, the officer on the case told Estrella, "In life-threatening situations, most people instinctively try to protect themselves first." However, Hunter's first instinct had been to protect her. For all the years they were together, he had treated her like the most precious thing in the world. For instance, the kitchen was always off-limits to her, and since she often had cold hands and feet, he would massage her feet every night when he was home. Even after she lost her hearing, his love for her never wavered. Estrella had always believed that she was the luckiest woman in the world, but reality had just slapped her across the face hard. Rain blended with her tears as they streamed down her cheeks and drenched her. She screamed her lungs out, but the only response was the system's trembling voice, thick with sorrow. "Stella, do you want to go home? Let me take you back, okay?" Estrella had never imagined that the first word she would say after regaining her voice would be filled with nothing but despair. She mumbled, "Okay." The system announced, "Host has chosen to leave this world. System reboot in progress. Countdown to departure: seven days." When Estrella got home, she noticed that her phone had been ringing nonstop. Hunter had called her countless times. She simply sent him a single text. Less than 20 minutes later, Hunter burst through the door. Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. His damp jacket soaked through her sleepwear, but he did not let go.