Stuck in The Marriage Pact
Chapter 50: their shadows

Chapter 50: their shadows

Feeling hot and restless, Isabella woke up and sat up, immediately turning on the air conditioner with the remote control. She brushed her hair back and grabbed her phone from the nightstand.

In silence, she checked social media. It was so quiet, no messages from anyone, not even her former coworkers. She switched to WhatsApp and found several messages from Estella and, of course, Joe.

I don’t know why I feel so uneasy. I hope you’re okay.

I miss you, sweetheart.

Why aren’t you replying? Are you too busy with your husband?

It hurts so much to even say the word "your husband"... It makes me feel like we’re drifting apart... or maybe we already are?

Overwhelmed by the emotional weight of reading those messages, Isabella couldn’t stop her tears from falling. She tossed her phone aside and crossed her arms, leaning back as she imagined Joe’s face and how disappointed he would be.

You must feel shattered... thinking I left you for my wealthy husband... If only you weren’t so annoying, not always so pessimistic, maybe it would’ve been harder for me to leave you, she thought anxiously, then glanced at Hunter, who was sleeping soundly, shirtless. Hunter proved his love without making me wait so long, he even stood up to his mother for me... I don’t mean to compare, but... But Hunter has done so much for me, even knowing I’m flawed... And after all, we’re married...

She sighed, then gently reached out to stroke Hunter’s head.

"So far, all I see is how good you are to me, how gentle... You’re also honest... And... And I can’t stay calm when I’m away from you. I don’t know if it’s because of love or habit, but I think it’s harder to go through a day without you than without Joe," she whispered with a small smile.

"Mmm..." Hunter stirred, shifting to wrap his arm around Isabella’s thigh, slowly opening his eyes to find his wife sitting up. "Honey... why aren’t you sleeping?" he asked sleepily.

"I can’t sleep," Isabella murmured, stroking Hunter’s hair again. "It’s so hot," she added.

"Then take off your clothes."

"I don’t want to... It’s dangerous."

Hunter smiled. "Why is it dangerous?"

"There’s a predator here," Isabella blushed, imagining the strong, dominant side of Hunter.

"You call your husband a predator?" Hunter chuckled, tightening his embrace around Isabella’s thigh. "But you’re right... You’re so beautiful, too beautiful, that I want to devour you every moment."

Isabella sighed, falling silent, feeling both happiness and guilt as thoughts of Joe lingered in her mind.

"What if Joe gets angry and doesn’t want to let go of me?" she asked spontaneously.

"Then I’ll talk to him until he understands," Hunter replied.

"That would hurt him so much..." Isabella lowered her head with a pout. "I never thought I’d hurt him... after all this time."

"It’s not your fault, it’s his... He’s too foolish as a man!" Hunter said harshly, pulling Isabella back down to lie with him. "Come on, sleep, stop thinking about him. You need to realize he’s only been a burden, always the reason why you’re stressed and frustrated!"

Isabella remained silent, pouting as Hunter hugged her. She tried to close her eyes, but her heart raced every time thoughts of Joe and her mother popped into her head.

"Ugh!" She grunted in frustration, quickly breaking free from Hunter’s embrace and sitting up again.

Hunter woke up once more, watching Isabella as she hurried toward the window. He got up from the bed, running his hand through his hair.

"What’s wrong with you?" he asked as he stood behind his wife.

Isabella stayed silent, crossing her arms.

"How about we just go away?" Hunter suggested, hugging Isabella from behind.

"Where?"

"Somewhere that will help you relax..."

"I don’t want to," Isabella murmured, resting her head against Hunter’s chest. "I just need peace so I can sleep. But it’s so hard, every time I close my eyes, images of Joe and my mother suddenly appear. I keep imagining what it will be like when I face them. I’ve even thought about your mother. Your mother is someone I should respect, someone I fear because she used to be my boss... But now you, her son, have gone against her just for me. I feel like I can’t handle facing her... or any of them... They feel like shadows haunting my life," she continued, her eyes vacant.

"I’m here," Hunter whispered, stroking Isabella’s hair. "When you decided to make this marriage last forever, your problems became mine too... Your challenges are also mine to face. I’ll always be by your side."

"If I meet your mother, maybe I can bring you with me so I won’t be scared... I could do the same when I see my mother. But Joe..." Isabella let out a long sigh. "If I meet him with you by my side, that would make me even crueler to him. He’s never hurt me... I can’t bear to hurt him!" She clenched her fists and turned to face Hunter.

"I’m confused!"

"It’s okay, I understand!" Hunter immediately pulled Isabella into a tight hug, occasionally kissing her forehead. "I know this is hard for you because you’re a kind woman, a gentlewoman, and you don’t want to hurt anyone... But sometimes we have to be firm with those who don’t want to let go because we also deserve the freedom to find another way to be happy. Think of it this way, maybe after he lets you go, he’ll find happiness with someone else."

Hearing about someone else, Isabella’s heart raced as she imagined Joe turning to hate her and then falling in love with another woman.

"What if he does that? What if he loves another woman, and then things don’t work out between me and Hunter? Who will I go back to?" she wondered.

Hunter loosened his embrace. "You still doubt me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Isabella shook her head.

"I will never leave you, no matter what happens... This isn’t just a promise, it’s what I’ve been doing from the start. Even if I know you’re lying, even if I know you still doubt me, as if you’re not in love with me, I will never leave you!" Hunter emphasized, holding both of Isabella’s hands and gazing into her green eyes. "I made a vow to myself, to you, and God... I won’t marry another woman besides you, I don’t want children unless they’re with you... I won’t have sex unless it’s with you."

Isabella looked at Hunter, who kept reassuring her, and she couldn’t help but smile as a sense of warmth enveloped her.

"Thank you..."

"Trust me," Hunter whispered.

Isabella just nodded and let Hunter hug her again, but fear still lingered in her mind, recalling how cruel Juliana was, able to push Sarah out of Hunter’s life before.