Chapter 6

Hunter gripped the glass with one hand, repeatedly running his finger along its rim. The woman pleaded, "Hunter, I'm burning up. Can you come check on me? Just for tonight, I promise. Once you start your vacation tomorrow, I won't bother you at all." Hunter's breath hitched, and his index finger froze on the edge of the glass. Meanwhile, Estrella watched as his eyes darkened. While he did not answer the woman, his silence spoke volumes. Estrella's fingers gripped the door frame tightly. Her eyes remained fixed on Hunter, yet he remained completely oblivious to her presence. Eventually, she numbly returned to her bed. Half an hour later, she heard the front door close softly. Hunter had left, making his way to another woman's bed. Estrella told herself that everything was fine and that she could leave this place in just six days. Hunter had said that he would go crazy without her, and she believed him without question because he had always been a little crazy. It was her arrival in his life that had healed him. But this time, she wanted him to lose his mind completely. ... When Estrella woke up, Hunter had already returned. Although he had already showered, he still carried the scent of camellias. He brought her breakfast and casually said, "Honey, I'm so sorry. Something came up last night, and I had to make a quick trip to the airport." Estrella sat at the dining table, her expression calm. She pretended not to see the red marks peeking from under his collar, the ones he kept adjusting his shirt to hide. Hunter had grown so comfortable with lying. At first, he had been nervous, but now, it came as naturally to him as breathing. She wondered if he had lied so often that he actually believed his own words. Estrella nodded slightly in response. Seeing that, Hunter excitedly grabbed her hand and suggested enthusiastically, "Honey, we haven't traveled in ages! I've taken a week off work. How about we go on a trip?" Hunter observed Estrella's blank expression. He sensed something amiss, but he could not quite put his finger on it. Nonetheless, he convinced himself that he was simply overthinking. After all, the Estrella before him was still the Estrella he loved the most. He habitually pinched her cheek, but she dodged his action again. Estrella watched his puzzled expression before lowering her gaze and signing, "Your hands are greasy." Hunter suddenly realized what she meant and quickly withdrew his hand. "Honey, I'll wash my hands and pack our things. Then, we can head out!" She watched his joyful figure disappear, and only then did she unclench her trembling hands. In her right hand was her phone, which she had been holding tightly. The screen still displayed her conversation with Rowan, though she had never replied to a single message. Yet, the pictures Rowan had sent filled the entire screen. In every single one of them was the man she knew all too well. "He's so good at it, Estrella. Do you know what he says about you?" one message read. "He says that you don't excite him!" "Honey, why are you crying?" Hunter asked as he stared at Estrella in shock. The tears streaming down Estrella's face seemed endless, and they fell one by one into his palm. They were like tiny blades, twisting painfully in his chest. He cooed, "Honey, I love you. Please stop crying, okay?" In the end, Estrella cried herself to exhaustion, and Hunter carried her to the car. She did not want to explain why she was crying, so he simply assumed that she was upset again about being deaf and mute.