Stuck in The Marriage Pact
Chapter 26: Loraine starts acting up

Chapter 26: Loraine starts acting up

"Let’s not talk about this," said Hunter, massaging Isabella’s arm again. "I’ll pamper you... By the way, your body is really hot. Should we go to the doctor?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No... I don’t like doctors," replied Isabella, moving her head away from Hunter’s lap and looking at the ceiling. "Hospitals, doctor’s rooms... They always remind me of my late father," she continued.

"He must have been a very kind and responsible man because that’s how you are. Maybe you inherited those traits from him."

"You always say I’m kind, always pointing out the good in me... You don’t know much."

"I don’t want to know... I know enough from what I feel, without you telling me. I can sense your good energy..." Hunter smiled reassuringly.

Isabella blushed again and turned her gaze away from Hunter, biting her lower lip as her heart raced.

"I love your long hair," Hunter whispered.

Isabella immediately glanced up at her messy, dry black hair.

"How can you call hair like this beautiful?" she asked, laughing. "The black color makes me look so pale... I don’t like it."

"Let’s change the color together."

"Change the hair color?"

"Yeah..." Hunter nodded, raising his eyebrows. "I like brown hair... I think it would suit you."

Isabella stared at Hunter, imagining her black hair turning brown, which reminded her of the annoying Davin.

"No... I don’t want that," she shook her head. "That color would make you look like Davin. He’s such a jerk!"

"Why do you hate him too?" Hunter laughed until suddenly, they heard a knock on the door.

"Who’s coming?" Isabella asked.

"I don’t know... But I’ll open it." Hunter started to crawl off the bed, but Isabella quickly grabbed his arm.

"Don’t!" Isabella whispered, sitting up. "Let me open it. I don’t want it to be your family, and then they see you standing... That would complicate things," she explained.

Hunter stayed silent while Isabella got off the bed. She positioned herself and slowly opened the door.

"Loraine," said Isabella when she saw her younger brother standing there.

"I want to talk for a bit," replied Loraine, glancing into the room until he saw Hunter on the bed, then smiled at Isabella. "But if you’re still spending time with him, I’ll wait in the living room," he continued.

Isabella rolled her eyes and exhaled sharply. "I’m sick; I’m not having fun with him!"

"Oh... You’re sick?" Loraine was surprised, then touched Isabella’s forehead with his palm. "You have a fever... How did that happen? Were you out too long at night?"

"Noo..." Isabella brushed his hand away. "It’s just a regular fever... Don’t pretend to care about me. Just tell me what you want!" she said harshly.

Loraine laughed.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Isabella pouted, looking at her brother with hatred, feeling that he was enjoying her misery now, only wanting wealth without considering her emotional struggles.

"Loraine?"

Isabella’s attention turned to Hunter, who was walking over. She stepped aside, letting her husband see her brother.

"What happened?" asked Hunter.

"Um..." Loraine acted nervously, biting his lower lip. "I... I just want to ask for permission about something, but... But maybe you should see her."

"Who is she?" Hunter frowned, as did Isabella.

"She... She’s in the living room."

"Alright... Wait here," Hunter said flatly, then went back into the room.

Isabella looked suspiciously at Loraine. "What’s your plan?"

"Nothing..." Loraine shrugged. "I just... I just wanted to ask for his permission to let Kate stay with me in his apartment."

Isabella’s eyes widened.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No... She’s here... But... She won’t stay here immediately because she has to finish her work and other things in Seattle," Loraine explained cautiously, seeing the anger on his sister’s face.

"You leave me speechless..." Isabella exhaled sharply, then entered the room and slammed the door shut.

She stood still, watching Hunter prepare to leave the room in his wheelchair. Tears started to fall as she couldn’t hide her sadness over her brother’s attitude, seemingly taking advantage of her husband’s kindness. She also thought her brother was not ready to live with a lover, especially in her husband’s apartment. It felt unfair to her because she had helped him so much, yet he couldn’t meet her expectations.

"What happened?" Hunter asked, frowning.

Isabella remained silent, showing her sadness.

"Honey..." Hunter got out of the wheelchair, approached Isabella, and cupped her cheeks. "Is there a problem with your brother?"

Isabella sighed and shook her head. "I don’t know if this is a problem or not, but I don’t like it..."

"Can you tell me?"

Isabella looked up, staring anxiously into Hunter’s blue eyes.

"Trust me... I won’t make things worse. Just tell me..." Hunter reassured her.

"He... He wants to ask your permission to let his girlfriend stay with him in your apartment," Isabella whispered sadly. "I... I don’t like it. First, because the apartment belongs to you... And it seems like your parents don’t know that you’re lending it to him. I can’t imagine if your mother finds out... She’ll think I’ve taken advantage of your kindness."

"Then... I don’t like it because Loraine is too young. I mean... living with a lover, acting like husband and wife, I don’t think it’s the right time. He’s still 23... And his girlfriend is only 20. What if she suddenly gets pregnant... That would be crazy. They don’t even have stable jobs yet... They’re far from being ready!" Isabella explained in frustration, shaking her head. "I don’t like it... I don’t want my brother to be a young father... I don’t want to... I don’t even want to imagine it..."

"Honey... Honey, calm down!" Hunter held Isabella’s shoulders, looking deeply into her eyes. "That won’t happen. Okay... they won’t live together in my apartment, or anywhere else!" he reassured her.

Isabella swallowed, looking at Hunter with doubt.

"My brother... He’s stubborn," she said anxiously.

"But that doesn’t mean I have to fulfill all his requests. And I won’t let him disrespect you... I promise!" Hunter reassured her again.

Isabella slowly nodded in sadness.