Chapter 3

Hunter's embrace felt suffocating, so Estrella gently pushed him away. He asked, "Honey, where did you go? Blake said that you came looking for me, but I never saw you." She stared at him, her gaze unwavering. Her eyes held urgency, but beneath it lurked a hint of hesitation. She thought that he was probably testing her, trying to see if she had caught on to his betrayal. A dull ache spread through Estrella's chest, numbing her from the inside out. Like a puppet on strings, she slowly lifted her hands and signed, "I changed my mind at the last minute and went shopping with a friend." Hunter exhaled quietly, his tense shoulders relaxing. Then, as if nothing had happened, he looked at her and smiled his usual doting smile. "Did you find anything you like? Don't be shy about spending money. I make it so you can enjoy it." Since Estrella learned to read lips, Hunter had rarely used sign language. He added, "Honey, your sleepwear's wet. I'll grab you a fresh set." He ruffled her hair affectionately, then casually set his phone down before heading into the bedroom. Estrella glanced at the phone on the table. In all their years together, she had never once checked his phone because she had never believed that Hunter would betray her. Yet, reality had proved her otherwise. Eventually, she waited until he stepped into the shower before picking up his phone and scrolling through his Instagram following list. Then, she memorized Rowan's Instagram handle. Just as she placed the phone back to where it precisely was, the bathroom door suddenly swung open. Hunter stepped out with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist and said, "I forgot my phone." Estrella met his gaze. His hair was damp, and it was clear that he had rushed out the moment he remembered. Nonetheless, she remained calm and raised her hands to sign, "You need your phone even in the shower?" Hunter pinched her cheek lightly. "I want to listen to music while I shower." He went back inside, and soon, music started playing from the speakers. Yet, the song barely made it halfway through before the sound of an incoming video call broke through. Estrella had not expected him to answer, not with her right outside. After all, even if she was still "deaf", she didn't think that he would be reckless enough to take the call in front of her. However, she had overestimated him. Hunter's voice was cold and sharp as he answered, "Rowan, did you forget what I told you?" "Of course not!" Rowan giggled on the other end. "But Estrella is deaf, isn't she?" Her tone was playful and dripping with flirtation as she asked, "Hunter, you took time off and didn't tell me? Does that mean that I won't see you for an entire week? Do you think you can bear it?" On the screen, Rowan's gaze smoldered with seduction as she pouted at him. "Hunter, are you in the shower? What a coincidence—I am too." Just a wall away, Estrella stood frozen, her body trembling as she listened to Rowan's "whines". Every single noise and word from that call rang crystal clear in her ears. The man who claimed to love her was now completely seduced by another woman with just a few flirtatious words. Estrella's eyes burned red as tears welled up, her chest tightening as if an invisible hand was squeezing her heart mercilessly. She cursed at Hunter for being a liar. He had promised to love her for a lifetime, yet five short years of marriage was all it took for that vow to break. He had said that she was the only one who could ever make him feel anything, that even the slightest touch from someone else would disgust him. Yet, five years was all it took for that promise to shatter. ... Hunter did not come out of the bathroom until much later.