“What was that earlier with Luca?” Hunter heard his mother asking his father. He couldn’t help but feel guilty for causing the trouble. 

Alessandro looked at his son before answering his wife. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing I can’t handle. That dick was just being full of himself. Now that my dad stepped down from his position, that bastard thinks he can threaten him,” Alessandro said with a mocking chuckle. 

“What are they planning? Are the Baresi men using their women to trap my son or what?” She asked, anger and disgust dripping from her words. Hunter choked on his drink again. Cursing loudly, he placed the glass on the table, pushing it away. Alessandro faked a cough to hide his laughter. “Why do you say so, sweetheart? What happened?” He asked his wife, winking at Hunter. The ghost of a smile on his father’s amused face irked Hunter more.. 

Meanwhile, his mother exhaled in anger. “I caught the Baresi women plotting how to get into my son’s pants. Lettica was literally grinding him in front of me, can you believe that? My poor boy, he looked so frightened,” she said and brushed her fingers through Hunter’s hair affectionately. “Mom, stop exaggerating. It was nothing. Besides, the woman was drunk,” Hunter said, annoyed. 

Her perfectly shaped rainbow-like eyebrows rose, challenging him to defy her. “Don’t forget, my boy I’m the woman who pushed you out of her vagina and brought you into this world. I’ve seen you naked countless times since your birth, and I know now that your little penis is not so little anymore. I know when my baby is happy and when he is scared. So you better think twice before defying me,” she said, scolding him. 

‘Ah, that blunt mouth without a filter again.’ 

Whatever Hunter was going to say in reply, got cut off with Alessandro’s loud laughter. He glared at his father for having fun at his expense. 

“What the fuck? I thought Lettica was trying to seduce me!” Alessandro exclaimed, faking hurt as if he was disappointed that Lettica was hitting on his son instead of him. One glare from his wife and he lifted his hands in surrender as his laughter died down in a flash. “Just kidding, sweetheart. I know what Lettica did to our little boy. You know, nothing escapes my X-ray vision,” Alessandro said, pecking her lips. 

Hunter groaned in annoyance while his parents discussed him as if he’s not there. He ignored them and searched for his grandparents. Instead, his eyes landed on Luca Baresi. The man was talking to Lettica who not so surprisingly had her eyes fixed on Hunter. “Who’s Lettica by the way?” Hunter asked no one in particular, his eyes still watching Luca and Lettica. Alessandro told him that she’s Luca’s mistress and the woman talking to his grandma earlier was Luca’s wife. 

Maybe his mother was right. They all were hitting on him or trying to hook up one of their daughters with him. He cringed thinking about the trap his mother mentioned earlier. He needed to get out of there as soon as possible before they could try something nasty. 

Someone tapped on his shoulder and Hunter turned to face a young, pretty girl. The friendly smile she greeted him with said that they’d met before. But for the love of God, he couldn’t remember her. 

“Mr and Mrs Carlo, do you mind if I borrow your son for a while? My parents are busy with your other guests. I am alone and bored. I could use some company,” the girl requested politely with a sweet smile. Hunter watched while his mother smiled at the girl as she nodded her approval. “Why would I mind, honey? He’s all yours tonight. Just bring him back to me in one piece, unless you want me to strangle your neck,” Hunter’s mother said with a playful tone. But the girl didn’t miss the threat hidden behind her sweet smile. 

Alessandro bit back a grin while Hunter just rolled his eyes. 

‘Mother Hen.’

Hunter leaned towards his father, whisper asked him. “A little help, Dad. What’s her name again?” Alessandro smirked, “Honey or baby will do just fine, Junior,” he replied, winking at him. “And if she causes any trouble, don’t hesitate to use your gun,” he said in a warning tone. 

“Oh, he meant the real gun and not the one in your pants,” his mother added, whispering in his ear. Hunter scowled in disapproval. The woman had been eavesdropping on the father and son’s conversation. “Mom, give me a break, will you?” Hunter asked before he walked out of the bar following the pretty girl. 

Alessandro signalled Mathew to follow his son, and he didn’t waste a second before hovering over Hunter’s shadow. 

At Hunter’s mansion in London: 

Hera was sitting by the window, staring at nothing in particular, lost somewhere in the ugly past, since her last conversation with Hunter. He surely knew how to hit where it hurts the most. 

She cried her heart out after he hung up on her so rudely. Once done with her sobbing spasms, Hera washed her face once again. Her hungry stomach rumbled. She was starving, and all that crying drained her energy out, reducing it to nothing. She got dressed in her peach colour T-shirt and faded blue jeans and went to the dining hall to have her breakfast. Her feet halted and refused to move any further when her eyes landed on the two people sitting at the dining table. 

Bianca, the evil Queen with gorgeous porcelain skin, sat in direct view of Hera. Her fingers thread along the length of her long, natural blonde hair while she talked animatedly. Sitting next to her was her witch of a best friend, Samantha. 

Hera anxiously bit her lip. 

When Bianca’s sky-blue eyes met with hers, they widened in surprise, but an evil smirk immediately graced her thin lips when she noticed Hera’s swollen red eyes. She knew what she had done to her. 

‘Bitch. Her timing could never go wrong.’ 

Hera averted her eyes only to meet Samantha’s death glare. Her almond-shaped baby-blue eyes filled with hatred and her short, button nose scrunched up in disgust. “Ah, you didn’t die yet. Why don’t you already? My life would be so much easier,” she spat in disdain. Samantha’s hateful words didn’t even register in Hera’s mind. Because the only thing she could think of, remember, and feel was Hunter’s heartbreaking words. As soon as she saw Samantha’s face, his angry voice echoed in her ears. Heartbreaking

‘If I fuck her in front of you, If I fuck her, I fuck her…’

Dirty images from the prior memories flashed behind her eyes, and she felt the exact opposite of what he had said earlier. 

‘You won’t go puking all around.’ 

Even before her brain could order her legs to move, her feet automatically turned, and she sprinted off back to the safety of her room. After a few minutes, Hunter’s housekeeper Jessica Lanson came into the room with a tray full of food in her hands. She brought breakfast for Hera, only to find her puking her guts out in the toilet. Immediately she came running to her side. After washing off, she made sure that Hera ate her food. 

“I saw you running back to your room in a hurry. I figured something happened between you and the girls?” Jessica asked. Hera kept quiet while Jessica consoled her with her sweet words and warm embrace. “You know right he is yours to stake ownership? He is only toying with Samantha to get your attention,” said Jessica. 

‘And boy, did it work?’ 

“You don’t have to feel hurt or awkward around her. Just give it back, and she’ll back off. I know that Bianca too acts childish sometimes and all you’ve to do is ignore her,” Jessica tried to console her. Hera smiled sadly, not saying anything. 

Jessica was a lovely lady. But she was a bit young for her job. Hera couldn’t figure out why she’s even working as a housekeeper. All Hera knew was that Jessica Lanson was from New York and was working for Hunter’s parents. They sent her here to take care of their son. She’s very fond of Hunter, and she took good care of his friends as well. They all knew each other from New York, except Samantha. 

Samantha joined Hunter’s team during their seventh grade. She was from Canada and new in school. The bonding between her and Bianca clicked instantly. Jessica knew the tension between Hera and Hunter’s friends. She had always come to her aid whenever Samantha created trouble. But Jessica was lenient towards Bianca because, for Hunter, she’s special. 

Hunter and Bianca’s friendship go a long way back. She had a pretty well-known Surgeons in the whole of the USA for parents, and they work for Hunter’s father. Hera never understood what that meant. Whether her parents were Hunter’s family doctors or they work in their hospital, Hera had no idea, and she never thought to ask either. The only thing she knew for sure was that Bianca was so special, Hunter called her “Sunshine”. 

No need to say the nickname irked Hera to a great extent. 

Hera spent the whole day sitting alone inside the room. Thankfully, she didn’t have to go for lunch because Jessica sent it to her room. She heard a soft knock before the door was pushed open.