Chapter 2

Nadine's voice was soft, yet it seemed to drain every ounce of her strength. Her eyes shimmered with fragile hope. Nonetheless, Hunter only let out a cold laugh as his lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Me? Love you? You think you deserve that?" Then he turned to Serena, his voice softening as he said, "Serena, you're the only one I love." Serena blushed as she stood behind him, her cheeks tinged with a shy flush. "Hunter, don't be like this. Nadine will be hurt," she said. Hunter scoffed, seemingly unmoved. "If she had any shame, she wouldn't have forced me to marry her in the first place." With that, he took Serena's hand. "Ignore her. Let's go pick your room." Nadine's heart twisted violently, and the pain was so sharp that she couldn't breathe. She stepped forward to block their path before asking in a trembling voice, "What are you doing?" Hunter stared at her with an icy gaze. There wasn't a tinge of warmth in his voice. "Serena has just returned to the country, and her place isn't ready yet. She's staying with us for a few days. "Don't go acting like you're the lady of the house, Nadine. If it weren't for your scheming, this position would've been hers." Nadine's face immediately drained of color. It was as if she'd been slapped. She would have erupted into a furious fight with him in the past, but now, she only felt exhaustion. She could only watch helplessly as Hunter walked past her while holding Serena's hand. It was as if she were nothing more than a stranger. That night, Hunter and Serena sat together at dinner. Their intimate gestures made it seem as though Serena were the lady of the house. They whispered and laughed while Nadine was completely ignored. She merely kept her head down as she mechanically lifted food to her mouth, but tasted nothing. The sound of Hunter's cold laughter and Serena's coquettish giggles echoed in her ears, each one stabbing at her heart like countless needles. The pain was so sharp it nearly choked her. It wasn't until late at night, just before bed, that Nadine accidentally overheard Serena on a phone call in the hallway. "Didn't I tell you to kill her? Why is she still standing here, perfectly fine?" Nadine's heart plummeted. The glass in her hand slipped and shattered on the floor with a sharp crash. Serena whirled around at the sound, her face instantly turning paper pale. "You hired that man?" Nadine's voice trembled as her eyes widened in disbelief. Serena's lips parted, but her gaze flickered to something behind Nadine before she could speak. Suddenly, she threw herself to the ground with a staged cry of pain. Hunter rushed over at the commotion. His fury ignited as he took in the scene, and he shoved Nadine aside. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Serena looked up at him with tearful eyes as she clutched Hunter's hand. "Hunter, don't blame her. She's just upset because you confessed your feelings to me today. I don't mind suffering a little if this helps her vent." Hunter shot Nadine a glare so venomous it could have been meant for his worst enemy. Yet with Serena watching, he held back, not wanting to frighten her. Instead, he bent down and scooped Serena into his arms, his voice softening as he said, "Let me take you to get treated." Nadine stood frozen, watching them leave as bitterness flooded her chest. Back in her room, she pulled out the first-aid kit and silently tended to her own wounds. A thin trail of blood marked her wrist—a cut from when Hunter had shoved her earlier. The antiseptic stung as she applied it, but the pain was nothing compared to the ache in her chest. Hunter pushed the door open just as she finished tending to the wound. His face was dark, and his voice was dripping with accusation. "Do you live just to cause me trouble?" Nadine looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes. "Yeah. And what are you going to do about it?" Hunter didn't answer. Instead, his gaze darkened, and there was a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. Nadine knew that look. It was the same harbinger of violence that had preceded every cruel encounter between them. Sure enough, he strode forward the next second, seized her wrists, and slammed her down onto the bed. He tore at her clothes, his movements rough and detached. It was as if she were nothing more than an object for his rage. Nadine winced at the pain but clenched her teeth, refusing to make a sound. Pinned beneath him, she couldn't move and was forced to endure as he took what he wanted. His breath scorched her ear as he growled in a low and icy manner. "Nadine, you'll never have my love." She shut her eyes, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. As it neared the end, her voice came out hoarse and broken. "Hunter… I love you." He stilled for a fraction of a second as his face was still buried in the crook of her neck. Then he let out a derisive snort. "But I hate you." With that, he pulled away and headed to the bathroom, leaving Nadine's cold body alone on the bed.