Chapter 4

Estrella was already lying in bed when the scent of camellias drifted toward her from behind. Her body tensed, and she instinctively shifted away. She used to love it when Hunter would wrap his arms around her from behind, holding her close, but not anymore. Her mind spun out of control, haunted by the image of him with another woman. Suddenly, a wave of nausea rose in Estrella's throat. She threw off the covers and stumbled out of bed, grabbing the trash bin just in time to retch violently. Her whole body trembled as she heaved. She had not eaten all night, yet her stomach kept twisting in agony until a sickly metallic taste coated her throat. The moment Estrella got out of bed, Hunter was already by her side. His warm hand repeatedly patted her back, filled with worry and guilt. His face was tense, his eyes brimming with concern. When Estrella finally lifted her head, he briefly hesitated before hurriedly signing, something he had not done in a long time. "Honey, what's wrong? Is it because you skipped dinner?" She did not respond and simply lowered her gaze. Then, he immediately scooped her up and gently placed her back on the bed. He tucked the blanket snugly around her and handed her a warm glass of water. Out of nowhere, Hunter pressed a soft kiss to Estrella's forehead. The gesture was so tender and careful. It was as if she was the most precious thing in the world. She quickly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. But even though she moved fast, he still noticed. He grasped her hand tightly and wiped them away for her. "Are you feeling really sick? It's my fault for coming home so late. I'll make you something to eat. Just wait for me, okay?" After Hunter gently closed the bedroom door behind him, Estrella reached for her phone. Her face was as pale as a sheet as she typed in a familiar Instagram handle and hit the follow request button. Almost instantly, the request was accepted. Estrella stared blankly at Rowan's profile picture. It was a casual selfie, but in the corner of the image, barely noticeable, was a slender, veined hand resting on Rowan's black-stocking-clad thigh. Estrella recognized that hand all too well. Suddenly, a vibrating sound broke Estrella's train of thought. The previously blank page now displayed incoming messages. It read, "I know who you are. Do you want to know when we got together?" Then came the final blow. "Two years ago." The phone slipped from Estrella's hand and fell to the floor, shattering the silence in the room. She and Hunter had only been married for five years, yet Hunter had been sleeping with Rowan behind her back for two of those years. When Hunter returned, he was carrying dinner plates. Estrella's gaze followed him anxiously around the room. "Honey, what's wrong? Didn't you say that your stomach was hurting from hunger? Let's eat," he said. Estrella stared into Hunter's eyes, not blinking even once. With a broken heart, she signed to him, "Hunter, is there anything you'd like to tell me?" Hunter did not respond immediately. His fingers suddenly curled inward in a telling gesture. A moment later, he touched Estrella's face with seemingly normal composure. He replied, "Yes. Honey, I really, really love you. Without you, I'd lose my mind." Estrella smiled, but her eyes stung, her vision blurring until she could no longer see his face clearly. "Silly, why are you crying from emotion? You've always known that I love you, haven't you?" Hunter asked as he moved to embrace Estrella.