Stuck in The Marriage Pact
Chapter 73: She’s awake

Chapter 73: She’s awake

Two months passed...

Hunter sat in a chair, gazing at the city’s skyline from the balcony of his apartment. Occasionally, he sipped his coffee. He looked calm, warm, and handsome in his gray and white attire, with neatly combed hair.

"Let’s go back to New York."

A woman’s voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned to find Juliana approaching him slowly. He took a deep breath and returned his gaze to the cityscape, his jaw tightening.

"She left you... She’s with her ex-boyfriend, now her husband, and she’s carrying his child. She doesn’t even remember you..." Juliana spoke softly as she reached his side, her eyes fixed on him. "You have no reason to stay here anymore."

Hunter remained silent, sipping his coffee again.

"Hunter, there are better women out there for you than her," Juliana continued, sitting in another chair and frowning at him. "I know you’re angry with me for what I did to Sarah and Isabella. Yes, I committed wrongs by driving them away from you. But indirectly, I showed you they didn’t truly love you—they couldn’t be the faithful women you deserve."

"So you’re saying it was all a test to prove they were worthy of being my partner?" Hunter asked without looking at her.

Juliana shrugged. "Yes, you could say that. I mean... I’m your mother, and I have strong instincts about which women truly love you or not. And guess what? I wasn’t wrong!" she insisted while Hunter stayed silent.

"I knew Sarah liked you for your wealth, and Isabella loved you only after realizing you weren’t paralyzed and would give her everything she wanted. She chose you over her ex because of that. But after—"

"Do you want me to jump?" Hunter abruptly turned to her, catching Juliana off guard.

Juliana narrowed her eyes. "What? What do you mean?"

"I’m tired of hearing you twist facts, disguising your selfishness as care for me. I’m not a child anymore. I’m not stupid, blind, or deaf. I know everything," Hunter said, his expression flat.

Juliana froze, her gaze shifting away.

"Try stopping me again from having what I want, and you’ll find me dead," Hunter added, standing with the aid of his cane, then walking away.

"Hunter!"

Juliana glared at him, clenching her fists, but her son continued walking, limping as he went.

Hunter stopped in the living room, where Collin had just arrived.

"Why are you here? You should be watching Isabella, making sure Joe doesn’t take her away!" he asked irritably.

"I’m here with good news!" Collin replied enthusiastically. "I tried calling you multiple times, but you didn’t answer. So I came here because you need to hear this immediately!" he insisted.

"What is it?" Hunter asked curiously.

"Robert found evidence that the divorce papers Joe submitted were fake. That means you’re still legally married to Isabella, and her marriage to Joe is invalid!" Collin explained, smiling widely.

Hunter sighed, unable to hide his relieved smile.

"And one more thing," Collin added.

"What?"

"Isabella is awake," Collin announced.

Hunter’s eyes widened. "Really?"

"And Joe isn’t there!" Collin exclaimed. "I don’t know where he is, but if he shows up at the hospital, you can call the police. He’s guilty of conspiring with your mother to forge the divorce papers, hiding Isabella, and trying to take her away from you. Plus, he let her condition worsen without proper care. We have plenty of reasons to send him to prison!" he declared enthusiastically.

"You’re right," Hunter nodded. "Let’s go see Isabella. I need to ensure she remembers me." He headed toward the door, Collin quickly following.

Isabella sat quietly, her head bowed, her hand resting on her swollen belly. She looked pale and weak, medical equipment attached to her arms.

’Who is the father of this baby? Could it really be him?’ she wondered, recalling how Hunter tried to convince her he was her husband and the child was his.

"Isabella!"

The voice from the doorway startled her. Isabella looked up to see Joe approaching enthusiastically. He hugged her immediately.

"Oh my God... I’m so happy!" Joe whispered before letting go and sitting on the edge of the bed, gazing at her with tender eyes as he caressed her cheek. "I thought you’d never wake up. I almost lost hope!"

Isabella gave him a faint smile and nodded.

"Don’t worry, I’m fine now," she whispered, staring at Joe. ’Is he lying? Should I just go along with him as my husband? But if he’s not lying, why is there another man claiming to be my husband?’ she wondered.

"What are you feeling now?" Joe asked.

"I’m confused," Isabella replied, frowning as she looked at her belly. "What that man said makes sense. If this baby were yours, my belly wouldn’t be this big after just two months in a coma. It would still be somewhat flat if it were truly yours," she continued, looking back at Joe.

Joe sighed and froze.

"I trust you," Isabella murmured. "But that doesn’t mean you can always deceive me. I know you’ve done so much for me. You’ve made me feel like you’re all I have to lean on. But that doesn’t mean I’ll always be on your side."

"What do you mean?" Joe frowned.

"That limping man wouldn’t come to me just to lie!" Isabella stated firmly.

Joe swallowed hard, his heart racing as he turned away.

"Be honest... Were you truly my fiancé before I lost my memory?" Isabella asked, showing him the ring on her right finger. "You couldn’t afford the hospital where I was treated, but you managed to give me this luxurious diamond ring. Was this really from you, or from that limping man?"

"Isabella..." Joe sighed, looking at her nervously. "You should rest. You’ve just woken up... You shouldn’t think about this. Focus on our baby..."

"No!" Isabella insisted. "I can’t rest until I know what happened!"

Joe fell silent, struggling for words.

"Don’t make me hate you!" Isabella snapped, her eyes glaring at Joe. "Don’t act like a fool. Tell me now. Don’t make me wait. If you let me stay in this agony, I’ll get sick again from the stress. Tell me the truth!"

"Okay, okay!" Joe said quickly, silencing her. "I’ll tell you everything!"

Isabella exhaled deeply, her fists clenched as she watched Joe.

"But... Don’t hate me," Joe whispered, lowering his head.

"I won’t go back on my word," Isabella replied.

"And you must be mine forever," Joe said, softly holding Isabella’s hand.

Isabella remained silent but slowly nodded.

"Yes... I’ll be yours forever," she whispered, though her heart thought otherwise, ’That depends on the truth you tell me!’

"Alright..." Joe sighed. "You... You and I were never engaged. But we were in love before you decided to marry Hunter to pay off your late father’s debts with his mother’s money," he explained, leaving Isabella stunned.

"You might think I’m crazy for letting you marry Hunter just for money. Back then, I couldn’t help you because I was poor. I felt like a useless lover. But I still had hope for us because we thought Hunter was paralyzed and impotent. But the reality was different... You fell in love with him when you found out he wasn’t Paralyzed or impotent,, and he promised you a better life. You left me. I tried to accept it because I wanted the best for you. I was happy you were happy with him. But then I got news about the accident involving you and Hunter, and his mother wanted me to keep you away from him—even to marry you," Joe continued, looking at Isabella’s swollen belly. "At the time, I didn’t know you were carrying his child. But I didn’t care. I was willing to be the father. I’d raise the child with love, as if it were my own. I know I was selfish for taking you from Hunter, but I did it to protect you from his mother, who might hurt you, knowing he couldn’t defend you."

Isabella exhaled shakily, tears welling up as she withdrew her hand from Joe’s grip.

"Please don’t hate me," Joe whispered, his voice breaking, tears in his eyes. "I love you so much. I want us to be together again like we used to be. I promise to make you happy. I’ll work hard so we won’t be trapped in poverty. Most importantly, we’ll be safe. You’ll be safe from Juliana’s evil. If you go back to Hunter... She’ll try to harm you again—even your baby. She’s a madwoman!" he pleaded, reaching for Isabella’s hand again, but she pulled away.

"I can protect you!" a firm voice called from the doorway.